Travel in 2026 is shaping up to be truly unforgettable, with world events to travel for in 2026 including iconic cultural festivals, massive concert tours, once‑in‑a‑generation sporting events, and wonderfully quirky food celebrations.
From electrifying music festivals and international sports tournaments to quirky food festivals, cultural celebrations, and breathtaking natural spectacles, this guide covers it all. Whether you’re a music fan, sports enthusiast, foodie, or culture lover, you’ll find more than 50 compelling reasons to start planning your 2026 adventures.
50+ Festivals, Concerts, and World Events to Travel for in 2026
In this guide, we’ll explore the best travel experiences of 2026, including must-visit music festivals, iconic sporting events, cultural celebrations, and unique food festivals around the world.
🎶 Concerts & Music Festivals Worth Traveling For
With major global tours and legendary festivals, 2026 rivals any year in recent memory for live music lovers.
Bad Bunny — DeBí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour
When: Jan 9 – Jul 22, 2026
Where: Asia, Australia, Europe, South America & the UK (Buenos Aires, Düsseldorf, Lima, Madrid, Stockholm & more)
SXSW Music Festival
When: Mar 12 – 18, 2026
Where: Austin, Texas
Goo Goo Dolls with Dashboard Confessional — Canada Tour
When: Mar 19 – Apr 11, 2026
Where: Major cities across Canada
Tomorrowland
When: Mar 21 – 28, 2026
Where: Boom, Belgium
Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
When: Apr 10–12 & Apr 17–19, 2026
Where: Indio, California
Lewis Capaldi World Tour
When: Apr 16 – Aug 22, 2026
Where: Europe, North America & the UK
Olivia Dean — The Art of Loving Live
When: Apr 22 – Oct 17, 2026
Where: Europe, North America, Australia & the UK
Stagecoach Country Music Festival
When: Apr 24 – 26, 2026
Where: Indio, California
Ariana Grande — Eternal Sunshine Tour
When: Jun 6 – Aug 23, 2026
Where: North America & London
Foo Fighters — Take Cover Tour
When: Jun 10 – Jul 10, 2026
Where: Europe & the UK
Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
When: Jun 25 – Jul 4, 2026
Where: Montréal, Canada
Bon Jovi — Forever Tour
When: Jul 7 – Sept 9, 2026
Where: UK, Ireland & New York City
Rumored tours: U2, Justin Bieber
🏟️ Major Sporting Events & Tournaments
2026 is a landmark year for sports, with multiple world‑class tournaments aligning on the calendar.
Australian Open
When: Jan 12 – Feb 1, 2026
Where: Melbourne, Australia
WM Phoenix Open
When: Feb 2 – 8, 2026
Where: Scottsdale, Arizona
Winter Olympic Games
When: Feb 6 – 22, 2026
Where: Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo & Northern Italy
Super Bowl LX
When: Feb 8, 2026
Where: Santa Clara, California
World Baseball Classic
When: Mar 5 – 17, 2026
Where: USA, Puerto Rico & Japan
Winter Paralympic Games
When: Mar 6 – 15, 2026
Where: Northern Italy
Formula 1 World Championship
When: Mar – Dec 2026
Where: Global circuit (Abu Dhabi, Austin, Melbourne, Monza & more)
NCAA March Madness
When: Mar 17 – Apr 6, 2026
Where: Cities across the USA
Stanley Cup Playoffs
When: Apr – Jun 2026
Where: North America
PGA Championship
When: May 11 – 17, 2026
Where: Pennsylvania, USA
FIFA World Cup 2026
When: Jun 11 – Jul 19, 2026
Where: USA, Canada & Mexico
Wimbledon
When: Jun 29 – Jul 12, 2026
Where: London, England
Commonwealth Games
When: Jul 23 – Aug 2, 2026
Where: Glasgow, Scotland
US Open (Tennis)
When: Aug 31 – Sept 13, 2026
Where: New York City
🍽️ Deliciously Quirky Food Festivals
Food festivals combine travel, culture, and unforgettable flavors.
🍽️ Dine Out Vancouver — Canada (Jan 21 – Feb 8)
This citywide culinary celebration invites diners to experience Vancouver’s diverse food scene through prix-fixe menus at top restaurants.
What it brings: Affordable fine dining, local ingredients, and food-focused travel during winter’s quieter season.
👨🍳 Yes Chef Food Fest — Los Angeles (Mar 14–15)
A chef-driven festival celebrating bold flavors, live cooking demos, and curated tastings from some of LA’s most exciting culinary talents.
What it brings: Interactive experiences, chef meet-and-greets, and a creative, modern food culture vibe.
🧀 Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling — England (May 25)
One of the world’s quirkiest traditions, this event features competitors chasing a wheel of cheese down a steep hill in Gloucestershire.
What it brings: Unmatched local character, adrenaline-filled fun, and a truly unforgettable travel story.
🍷 Food & Wine Classic — Aspen (Jun 19–21)
A prestigious festival bringing together world-class chefs, winemakers, and culinary experts in a scenic mountain setting.
What it brings: Luxury dining experiences, tastings, seminars, and a blend of food, wine, and outdoor adventure.
🍍 Kapalua Wine & Food Festival — Maui (Jun 25–28)
Set in paradise, this festival showcases Hawaiian cuisine alongside international wines and celebrated chefs.
What it brings: Ocean views, island flavors, relaxed luxury, and farm-to-table dining experiences.
🍅 La Tomatina — Spain (Aug 26)
The world’s biggest food fight sees thousands of participants throw tomatoes through the streets of Buñol.
What it brings: Pure fun, cultural tradition, and a high-energy festival unlike anything else in the world.
🍺 Oktoberfest — Munich (Sept 19 – Oct 4)
The original and largest Oktoberfest features massive beer tents, Bavarian music, traditional dress, and classic German food.
What it brings: Cultural immersion, social celebration, and one of Europe’s most iconic festivals.
🦪 Galway International Oyster Festival — Ireland (Sept 25–27)
Celebrating Ireland’s seafood heritage, this festival combines oyster tastings, live music, parades, and coastal charm.
What it brings: Fresh Atlantic flavors, lively atmosphere, and authentic Irish culture.
🍫 Salon du Chocolat — Global (All Year)
A traveling celebration of chocolate featuring tastings, fashion shows, workshops, and artisan chocolatiers.
What it brings: Sweet-focused travel experiences across multiple cities worldwide.
🚢 Chefs Making Waves Cruise — Caribbean (Nov 6–11)
A floating food festival at sea, this cruise pairs luxury travel with culinary events hosted by top chefs.
What it brings: Multi-destination travel, exclusive dining experiences, and immersive food-focused entertainment.
🎭 Cultural & Artistic Celebrations
Venice Carnival — Italy (Jan 31 – Feb 17)
Venice Carnival transforms the floating city into a theatrical spectacle of ornate masks, elegant costumes, and grand balls, celebrating centuries-old traditions along its historic canals.
Rio Carnival — Brazil (Feb 1 – 21)
Rio Carnival is the world’s most famous party, featuring samba parades, street bloco celebrations, dazzling costumes, and nonstop energy that takes over the entire city.
Mardi Gras — New Orleans (Feb 17)
Mardi Gras brings New Orleans to life with colorful parades, live jazz, elaborate floats, and bead-throwing traditions that reflect the city’s rich cultural heritage.
Lunar New Year — China & Asia (Feb 17 – Mar 3)
Lunar New Year marks the start of a new year across Asia with lantern displays, dragon dances, fireworks, family feasts, and festive street celebrations.
Holi — India (Mar 4)
Holi, the Festival of Colors, celebrates the arrival of spring with joyful gatherings, music, dancing, and vibrant clouds of colored powder filling the streets.
Tulip Festival — Netherlands (Mar – May)
During tulip season, the Netherlands bursts into color as millions of flowers bloom across gardens and fields, creating one of Europe’s most picturesque spring experiences.
Songkran — Thailand (Apr 13 – 15)
Songkran celebrates Thai New Year with massive water fights, temple visits, and street festivities symbolizing cleansing, renewal, and fresh beginnings.
Cannes Film Festival — France (May 12 – 23)
The Cannes Film Festival draws filmmakers, celebrities, and cinema lovers to the French Riviera for red-carpet premieres and world-class international films.
Inti Raymi — Peru & Ecuador (Jun 24)
Inti Raymi, the ancient Incan Festival of the Sun, features traditional music, colorful costumes, and ceremonial reenactments celebrating indigenous heritage.
Boryeong Mud Festival — South Korea (July)
This playful summer festival invites visitors to enjoy mud slides, mud wrestling, and beach parties, combining fun, wellness, and seaside entertainment.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe — Scotland (Aug 7 – 31)
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival, filling the city with comedy, theatre, music, street performances, and creative energy.
Day of the Dead — Mexico (Nov 2)
Día de los Muertos honors loved ones who have passed through vibrant altars, parades, traditional food, and colorful decorations celebrating life and remembrance.
🌍 Nature, Seasonal & Iconic Global Experiences
🌌 Northern Lights — Iceland & Norway
The Northern Lights are one of nature’s most breathtaking displays, lighting up Arctic skies with waves of green, purple, and pink during winter months. Iceland and Northern Norway offer some of the world’s best viewing conditions thanks to dark skies and minimal light pollution.
What to do: Join guided aurora-chasing tours, soak in geothermal hot springs like the Blue Lagoon, stay in glass igloos or wilderness lodges, and explore ice caves, fjords, and snowy landscapes while waiting for the lights to appear.
🐘 The Great Migration — Kenya & Tanzania
The Great Migration is often called the greatest wildlife spectacle on Earth, as over two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles move across the Serengeti and Maasai Mara in search of fresh grazing lands. River crossings and predator encounters make this a truly dramatic natural event.
What to do: Go on safari drives, witness Mara River crossings, stay in luxury tented camps, enjoy sunrise balloon safaris, and learn about local Maasai culture while immersed in Africa’s wild landscapes.
🌸 Cherry Blossom Season — Japan
Cherry blossom season, or sakura, marks the arrival of spring in Japan, turning cities and countryside into seas of soft pink blooms. The fleeting beauty of the blossoms symbolizes renewal and the appreciation of the present moment.
What to do: Enjoy hanami picnics under blooming trees, visit parks and temples in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, take scenic river cruises, attend seasonal festivals, and sample limited-time sakura-themed foods and drinks.
🎈 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta — USA
The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is the world’s largest hot air balloon event, with hundreds of colorful balloons filling the sky each morning against the backdrop of New Mexico’s desert landscape.
What to do: Watch mass ascensions at sunrise, walk among balloons during “balloon glows,” take a hot air balloon ride, enjoy local food and craft markets, and explore nearby attractions like Santa Fe and the Sandia Mountains.
🌅 White Nights Festival — Russia
Held during early summer in Saint Petersburg, the White Nights Festival celebrates the city’s near-constant daylight, when the sun barely sets. The season is filled with cultural events, open-air performances, and festive nightlife.
What to do: Attend ballet and opera performances, enjoy outdoor concerts, take midnight canal cruises, watch the famous bridge openings over the Neva River, and explore museums late into the night.
✈️ Why 2026 Is the Perfect Year for Event‑Based Travel
- Rare alignment of global sports tournaments
- Major international concert tours
- Multi‑country hosting opportunities
- Strong post‑pandemic travel momentum
- Increased airline routes and festival tourism
🧠 Planning Tips for 2026 Event Travel
- Book accommodation early
- Check visa requirements
- Plan transport around venues
- Mix events with sightseeing
- Stay flexible for better pricing
🌟 Final Thoughts
Traveling in 2026 is about more than attending an event—it’s about immersing yourself in unforgettable moments, cultures, and shared global experiences. From dancing at a music festival and cheering at a World Cup match to celebrating centuries‑old traditions, these world events to travel for in 2026 turn trips into lifelong memories.
Let 2026 be the year you travel for experiences, not just places.
