The year 2025 promises a diverse array of festivals that span across continents, cultures, and genres. Whether you’re a music enthusiast, a history buff, or someone who just loves to experience the world’s most unique traditions, there’s a festival for every traveler. In this guide, we’ll curate a list of the must-attend festivals for 2025—from iconic celebrations like Mardi Gras and Glastonbury to niche cultural festivals that transport you to another world.
1. Mardi Gras, New Orleans (USA) – February 17, 2025
Known worldwide for its extravagant parades, vibrant costumes, and electric atmosphere, Mardi Gras in New Orleans is an unmissable event. This world-famous festival brings together thousands of revelers every year to celebrate the start of Lent. It’s a feast for the senses, with jazz music spilling onto the streets, masked balls, and dazzling floats. In 2025, expect even more creative floats and extravagant parties as the city returns to its full, pre-pandemic grandeur.
- Highlights: Parades, bead-throwing, masquerades, and street performances.
- Why Attend: The energy and tradition make Mardi Gras an iconic event for those looking to immerse themselves in a truly unique cultural celebration.
2. Glastonbury Festival, Pilton (UK) – June 26-29, 2025
For music lovers, Glastonbury is the ultimate festival. Held in the scenic fields of Somerset, England, this iconic festival has hosted legendary artists like Beyoncé, Radiohead, and The Rolling Stones. In 2025, Glastonbury will likely continue its legacy of being a hub for global music, art, and culture. Expect an eclectic mix of performances across multiple stages, from chart-topping bands to up-and-coming indie artists.
- Highlights: Live music, immersive art installations, and a blend of performances that span from rock to electronic.
- Why Attend: The atmosphere at Glastonbury is unparalleled, offering an authentic chance to see global superstars alongside indie acts in an iconic, family-friendly environment.
3. The Lantern Festival, Various Locations (Asia) – February 15, 2025
Asia’s Lantern Festivals are some of the most visually breathtaking cultural events in the world. In cities like Pingxi (Taiwan), Chiang Mai (Thailand), and parts of China, lanterns of all shapes, sizes, and colors light up the night sky. The event marks the final day of Chinese New Year celebrations, symbolizing the release of past grievances and the welcoming of new beginnings. The festivals are a blend of spirituality, art, and celebration.
- Highlights: Lantern releases, traditional performances, cultural ceremonies, and light displays.
- Why Attend: The sight of thousands of glowing lanterns in the night sky is a mesmerizing experience that blends beauty and culture in a serene, peaceful atmosphere.
4. Oktoberfest, Munich (Germany) – September 20 – October 5, 2025
Oktoberfest in Munich is arguably the world’s most famous beer festival, attracting millions of visitors from around the globe. For two weeks every year, the city transforms into a massive celebration of Bavarian beer culture, food, music, and traditions. In 2025, the festival promises to be as lively and spectacular as ever, with its famous beer tents, traditional Bavarian cuisine, and carnival rides.
- Highlights: Beer tents, traditional Bavarian food (pretzels, sausages, and schnitzels), lively folk music, and the annual parade.
- Why Attend: Oktoberfest offers a genuine cultural experience with a side of fun and festivities, making it a must-visit for beer lovers and those keen to experience one of Europe’s largest cultural gatherings.
5. La Tomatina, Buñol (Spain) – August 27, 2025
La Tomatina is one of the most fun and unconventional festivals in the world. Held annually in the small town of Buñol, Spain, this messy and wild event involves thousands of participants hurling tomatoes at each other in the streets. What started as a spontaneous food fight in 1945 has become one of the world’s largest and most famous food festivals.
- Highlights: A massive tomato fight in the streets of Buñol, followed by a celebratory atmosphere.
- Why Attend: If you’re looking for a festival that’s fun, messy, and full of energy, La Tomatina is the ultimate adventure. Just don’t forget your protective goggles!
6. Up Helly Aa, Lerwick (Scotland) – January 28, 2025
Held on the last Tuesday of January, Up Helly Aa is a Viking fire festival in Lerwick, Shetland, that celebrates the island’s Norse heritage. The event culminates in a torch-lit procession, with participants dressed in elaborate Viking costumes, followed by the burning of a Viking longship. The fire, costumes, and rituals create a dramatic atmosphere that is unlike any other festival.
- Highlights: Viking processions, fire displays, and traditional music and dances.
- Why Attend: For history enthusiasts and those interested in unique cultural rituals, Up Helly Aa is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The sheer spectacle of the torch-lit parade and longship burning is awe-inspiring.
7. Diwali, India (Worldwide) – November 1, 2025
India’s Festival of Lights, Diwali, is a time of celebration, reflection, and joy. While it is celebrated across the entire subcontinent, cities like Jaipur, Varanasi, and Delhi go all-out with fireworks, lights, and special ceremonies. The festival signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance, and it’s a deeply spiritual occasion for millions of people.
- Highlights: Fireworks, decorated streets, temple ceremonies, and family gatherings.
- Why Attend: The atmosphere of joy, combined with the stunning displays of lights and fireworks, makes Diwali one of the most colorful and heartwarming festivals in the world.
8. Carnival of Venice (Italy) – February 8-25, 2025
The Carnival of Venice is renowned for its elaborate costumes, elegant masks, and centuries-old traditions. For centuries, this masked ball has been one of Europe’s most prestigious and visually stunning festivals. In 2025, you can expect grand masquerades, classical music performances, and even the traditional Volo dell’Angelo (Flight of the Angel) which marks the official start of the carnival.
- Highlights: Elaborate masks, glamorous balls, parades through the picturesque streets of Venice, and classical music performances.
- Why Attend: Venice’s timeless beauty, combined with the mystique of the masks and the elegance of the events, creates an atmosphere that feels like stepping into another world.
9. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (USA) – October 4-12, 2025
This one-of-a-kind event is the largest hot air balloon festival in the world, drawing thousands of visitors and balloon enthusiasts to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Over the course of nine days, over 500 hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes fill the sky. The sight of these vibrant balloons rising at dawn is breathtaking and offers a unique photo opportunity.
- Highlights: Hot air balloon ascensions, special shape balloons, evening glow events, and balloon competitions.
- Why Attend: If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing a field filled with colorful balloons floating into the sky, this is the festival for you. The sheer beauty and scale of the event make it a truly magical experience.
10. Fête de la Musique, Paris (France) – June 21, 2025
Fête de la Musique, or World Music Day, is an annual music festival that takes over the streets of Paris and many other cities around the world. What makes this festival unique is that musicians of all genres, both professional and amateur, are invited to perform free of charge in public spaces. The city becomes a giant concert hall, with performances spanning from classical music to jazz, electronic, and folk.
- Highlights: Free concerts in public squares, parks, and streets across Paris.
- Why Attend: If you’re a music lover, the chance to enjoy performances from emerging talent in the streets of Paris makes Fête de la Musique an unforgettable experience.
A Festival for Every Traveler
2025 promises a rich tapestry of festivals that cater to every type of traveler. Whether you’re reveling in the wild fun of La Tomatina, experiencing the grandeur of Mardi Gras, or finding serenity in the glow of lanterns, these festivals offer more than just an event—they offer an opportunity to connect with cultures, history, and people from around the world. Mark your calendars, pack your bags, and get ready to make 2025 your year of unforgettable festival experiences!