Instead of just passing through a city on the usual sightseeing route, planning a trip around a major festival means you’ll get to see that destination place at its best, most lively moment. For many annual traditions around the world, crowds gather, parties spill out into the streets, and the atmosphere is impossible to replicate on any other ordinary week.
If you’re looking for an excuse to book your next trip, these seven festivals should be on your 2026 calendar and promise to have you returning home with a few extra stories to tell.
Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo, Japan — February 4–11, 2026)
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For a whole week each February, northern Japan welcomes massive sculptures, elaborate light displays, and a slew of visitors during the Sapporo Snow Festival. You can find life-size ice sculptures all over the city, along with tons of food stalls, special events, and plenty of family-friendly activities.
Much of the event takes place in the Susukino neighborhood, while Odori Park is filled with detailed carvings that look especially great when lit up at night. At the Tsudome, you’ll find snow slides, tubing, and indoor play areas, which are great for kids. This annual tradition began in 1950 with a few snow statues built by local students and has since grown into a citywide event that now draws over two million international visitors each year.
Most visitors try to rope the festival into a bigger ski trip, which makes sense, given that some of Japan’s best mountains surround Sapporo. However, flights into the area tend to book up quickly, and train connections to the mountains can be limited and/or sold out during the festival week.
Still, if you can figure out the logistics, combining the snow festival with a few days on the slopes will definitely be worth it. Book early and expect to have to haul your gear between numerous shuttles, trains, and buses.
Las Fallas (Valencia, Spain — March 15–19, 2026)
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Every March, neighborhoods across Valencia construct elaborate fallas, towering wooden art sculptures designed by local artists and installed throughout the city. You’ll find daily firecracker shows, light displays, music, and late-night street parties that take over the city during this world-famous celebration, which honors Saint Joseph.
The most significant part of the celebration happens when these massive sculptures are burned during La Cremà on March 19. Still, in reality, the festivities stretch on for nearly three full weeks beginning in early March, all leading up to the main event.
To be in the heart of it all, consider staying near Ciutat Vella or Ruzafa. Both are central and walkable to most major events, but be forewarned — you might not catch much sleep. Earplugs can be a lifesaver, especially during the daily mascletàs and fireworks that go off well past midnight nearly every single night.
Stagecoach (Indio, California — April 24-26, 2026)
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A week after the Empire Polo Club grounds in Indio, California, host Coachella comes another major festival — but this time, instead of EDM headliners and hippie flower crowns, you’ll find more bluegrass music and cowboy boots.
Stagecoach is one of the United States’ largest annual country music festivals, and even though it reuses the same venue and infrastructure as Coachella, it feels like an entirely different experience. And because the venue infrastructure has already been tested by two packed Coachella weekends, by the time Stagecoach rolls in, things are usually running like a well-oiled machine.
You can either fly directly into Palm Springs or make the 2-3 hour drive from Los Angeles (traffic permitting). The closer you stay to Indio, the less time you’ll spend waiting on shuttles, or you can even camp onsite if you want to be in the middle of it all. Either way, be sure to pack layers for all types of desert extremes — hot days, cold nights, and plenty of wind that is sure to kick up some dust.
Inti Raymi (Cusco, Peru — June 24, 2026)
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Cusco celebrates the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere with this special one-day event honoring the Sun God. Locals dress in elaborate, brightly colored costumes, and a massive procession weaves its way around the city, eventually ending at the central plaza for the final ceremony. The day is full of music, dance, and other Inca traditions, and the sheer scale of the event is unlike anything else you’ll find in the Andes.
Arrive in Cusco at least a few days before the festival so that you can acclimate to the 11,000-foot altitude. Those who try to rush straight into things are at risk of headaches, nausea, and fatigue. Instead, spend a few days slowly wandering the city’s historic center, visiting nearby ruins, and watching the town set up for the main event while you take your time adjusting. Hotels and flights also sell out quickly around late June, so book well in advance if you want to stay within walking distance of the action.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Edinburgh, Scotland — August 7–31, 2026)
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The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a must-do for any theatre lover, a citywide event that transforms the Scottish capital every August. With thousands of performances across the city — ranging from Broadway-caliber shows to impromptu poetry readings in dive bars- the event offers something for all tastes and guarantees that you will laugh, cry, and stumble upon several surprises.
Travel tips: Edinburgh is hilly, and way more spread out than it might seem on a map, that, along with the crowds during the festival, mean you should probably double whatever time Google Maps tells you it will take to get from point A to B. Don’t schedule shows too close together unless they’re in the same area, and if you don’t mind a short commute, an accommodation just outside the city center can be a great way to give you a break from the crowds at the end of each day.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (New Mexico — October 3–11, 2026)
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Every October, hundreds of massive hot air balloons launch over Albuquerque in one of the most significant events of its kind anywhere in the world. The main event, also known as the Mass Ascension, takes place early each morning, with more than 500 balloons launching in waves just after sunrise. It’s a colorful, breathtaking sight, and one that is sure to make the early wake-up call, freezing temperatures, and large crowds worth it.
The event runs for nine days, and while the main event obviously takes place each morning, the nights are also packed with activities. You’ll find light shows, live music, food vendors, fireworks, and notable balloon launches scattered throughout the week.
Travel tips: If possible, try to stay for the entire length of the festival. Balloon launches are extremely weather-dependent, and you don’t want to plan a quick visit and miss the spectacle entirely due to wind or fog. Albuquerque also fills up during the event, but staying near one of the Park & Ride locations can make your mornings easier, as official shuttles will drop you off right at the Balloon Fiesta Park gates and save you from sitting in traffic or searching for parking in the dark.
Día de los Muertos (Oaxaca, Mexico — November 1–2, 2026)
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Oaxaca is worth visiting at any time of year. Still, the city comes alive in late October as it fills with colorful decorations, floral art installations, and citywide events leading up to Día de los Muertos. Altars covered in candles and bright marigolds are set up in homes, restaurants, and public spaces to honor loved ones who’ve passed. While somber at times, it’s also a festive atmosphere, marked by parades, street parties, mezcal, and fireworks.
On the night of November 1, many families visit the cemeteries of their loved ones to leave offerings of favorite foods or other meaningful items at their graves. Most cemeteries are open to the general public, as long as visitors are respectful, give local families their space, and understand this is an important cultural tradition, and not a Halloween party.
Travel tips: The city of Oaxaca is on the smaller side, and accommodation options in the heart of the action can be somewhat limited, especially if you wait to plan your trip until the last minute. The Oaxaca airport offers connections to many other Mexican cities and even a few direct flights to the U.S. However, make your reservations early to secure the best deals, as the city experiences a significant influx of visitors at the end of October, unlike any other time of year.
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