15 Festivals Around the World That Celebrate Humanity

Festivals are how communities remember who they are—and invite you to join the story. They compress history, values, music, food, and neighbors into a few charged days of color and connection. The best ones don’t just entertain; they soften borders, teach us to listen, and remind us that people everywhere love, grieve, hope, and dance.

Why These Festivals Stand Out

The 15 celebrations here were chosen for what they reveal about people in community—gratitude, remembrance, inclusion, creativity, renewal. They’re not a checklist of the biggest parties on earth. They’re windows into how different cultures hold one another, welcome the seasons, honor ancestors, and make space for everyone at the table. If you go, go to learn—and to contribute. A respectful guest becomes part of the festival’s fabric, not just a spectator.

Rituals of Renewal and Light

Holi (India and the diaspora)

Holi is the joyful chaos of color that welcomes spring across India and wherever Indian communities gather. The festival is rooted in myths of resilience and the triumph of good, but what you feel on the street is forgiveness and play—people chase, laugh, and smear each other with powdered gulal. Strangers become teammates for a day.

• Where and when: Across India; late February or March (date follows the lunar calendar).

• How to join: Wear clothes you don’t mind staining. Buy herbal colors, ask before applying to someone, and protect your eyes and phone.

• Respect: Women may prefer to enjoy Holi in organized events with security; consent matters. Avoid water waste and synthetic dyes.

Diwali (India and worldwide)

Diwali, the festival of lights, is five nights of lamps, sweets, and family reunions across India and the global Indian diaspora. It’s about dispelling darkness—literal and metaphorical—through acts of care, charity, and togetherness. You’ll see rangoli patterns at doorways, exchange of mithai, and temples glittering with diya lamps.

• Where and when: India, Nepal, and diaspora communities; October or November (new moon of Kartik).

• How to join: Visit markets, share sweets, admire neighborhood displays, attend temple open houses.

• Respect: Mind fire safety and local fireworks rules; air quality can be poor in some cities—carry a mask if you’re sensitive. Dress modestly at religious sites.

Nowruz (Iran, Central Asia, and beyond)

Nowruz is the Persian new year tied to the spring equinox, celebrated across Iran, Afghanistan, Kurdish regions, Tajikistan, parts of the Caucasus, and diaspora communities. Homes glow with a Haft-Seen table, each item a symbol—rebirth, patience, prosperity. The mood is fresh start meets family marathon, anchored by big meals and visits.

• Where and when: Iran and many neighboring regions; around March 20–21.

• How to join: Learn the symbolism of the Haft-Seen, exchange “Nowruz mobarak,” and try sabzi polo (herb rice) and fish.

• Respect: Chaharshanbe Suri, the pre-Nowruz fire-jumping night, is about letting go of the old—watch safely, don’t block emergency services, and avoid disruptive photography.

Songkran (Thailand)

Songkran is Thailand’s water festival marking the traditional new year with cleansing, temple visits, and citywide water fights. Locals pour water over elders’ hands for blessings, then spill into the streets for a friendly deluge. In the heat of April, it’s pure relief and laughter.

• Where and when: Nationwide in Thailand; April 13–15.

• How to join: Use clean water and small buckets or water guns. Waterproof your gear and avoid using ice or dyed water.

• Respect: Dress modestly (quick-dry shirts and shorts), never splash monks, babies, or motorcyclists, and visit a temple early to see the gentle, ceremonial side.

Honoring Ancestors and Memory

Día de los Muertos (Mexico)

Day of the Dead is not Mexican Halloween; it’s a tender, vivid remembrance. Families build ofrendas with photos, marigolds, favorite foods, and sugar skulls to welcome the dead home. In places like Oaxaca, Mexico City’s San Andrés Mixquic, and Pátzcuaro, candlelit cemeteries glow all night while bands play the songs of people who are missed.

• Where and when: Mexico; November 1–2.

• How to join: Visit public altars, sample pan de muerto, and attend parades or comparsas organized by communities.

• Respect: Cemeteries are intimate spaces—ask before photographing people, avoid stepping on graves or touching altars, and skip caricatured costumes.

Obon (Japan)

Obon welcomes ancestors back with lanterns, food offerings, and community dances known as Bon Odori. Cities host evening festivals where anyone can join, moving in slow, simple steps around a yagura tower. Lantern-floating ceremonies (tōrō nagashi) near rivers or the sea are understated but deeply moving.

• Where and when: Across Japan; mid-July or mid-August, depending on region.

• How to join: Follow Bon Odori leaders, visit temple fairs, and sample yakitori and kakigōri from stalls.

• Respect: Keep voices low at cemeteries and ceremonies, avoid drone photography, and dress conservatively for temple visits.

Parades of Joy and Inclusion

Rio Carnival (Brazil)

Carnival in Rio is samba schools telling stories at stadium scale, plus thousands of street parties (blocos) that turn the city into a marching band. Costumes shimmer, drums thunder, and entire neighborhoods cheer on their local escola. It’s an art form and a community project wrapped in feathers.

• Where and when: Rio de Janeiro; four days before Lent (usually February).

• How to join: Buy Sambadrome tickets well in advance or dance with a bloco (many post routes online). Carry a small bag and hydrate constantly.

• Respect: Support local vendors, avoid street glass, and be mindful of pickpockets in crowded blocos. Learn a few lyrics—Cariocas light up when you sing along.

Notting Hill Carnival (United Kingdom)

Born from Caribbean communities asserting pride and presence, Notting Hill Carnival is Europe’s largest street festival. Steelpan bands, mas bands in elaborate costumes, and sound systems turn West London into a weekend of joy and resistance. Sunday is family day; Monday goes late.

• Where and when: London; August bank holiday weekend.

• How to join: Arrive by public transit, pick a sound system or parade route and settle in. Try jerk chicken and sorrel from local stalls.

• Respect: Don’t touch costumes without permission. Litter overwhelms the area—bring a small trash bag and use toilets at designated spots.

Pride (Global)

Pride began as protest and remains a call for safety, dignity, and equal rights for LGBTQ+ people. The celebration—parades, marches, trans and queer-led performance—welcomes allies who show up to listen and support, not center themselves. Every city has its own flavor, from San Francisco and São Paulo to Taipei and Johannesburg.

• Where and when: Worldwide; many in June, some in other months.

• How to join: Check the local Pride calendar for accessibility info, sober spaces, and community events beyond the parade.

• Respect: Ask for pronouns, avoid photographing people in sensitive contexts without consent, and donate to local organizations, especially in places where rights are under pressure.

Creativity Without Borders

Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Scotland)

The Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival: thousands of shows in theaters, basements, and back rooms—comedy, drama, dance, circus, spoken word. For three weeks, the city hums with queues, flyering artists, and audiences taking chances on unknown acts. It’s democratic art in motion.

• Where and when: Edinburgh; throughout August.

• How to join: Mix ticketed shows with free or “pay what you want” performances. Book lodging early or consider nearby towns and trains.

• Respect: Tip at free shows, keep phones off, and be patient with crowds. Fringe fatigue is real—build breaks into your schedule.

Burning Man (United States)

Burning Man is a temporary city built by its participants in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, guided by principles like radical inclusion, gifting, and leave no trace. Art cars roam, monumental sculptures glow at night, and strangers help each other when dust storms hit. The event’s spirit is generosity and improvisation.

• Where and when: Black Rock City, Nevada; late August to early September.

• How to join: Prepare like you’re camping on Mars—water, goggles, masks, shelter. Bring offerings or skills to share; there’s no vending.

• Respect: Pack out every scrap, minimize MOOP (matter out of place), and support consent culture—ask before photographing or hugging.

Fête de la Musique / Make Music Day (Worldwide)

On the summer solstice, cities around the world turn sidewalks and plazas into free concerts. Professionals and beginners share the same streets, and audiences wander from jazz quartets to school choirs to techno DJs. It’s the purest invitation: play, listen, belong.

• Where and when: Global; June 21.

• How to join: Check city listings, but also follow your ears. Bring small cash to support community groups and buskers where allowed.

• Respect: Leave room for passersby, keep glass off the pavement, and thank volunteers—they make the logistics work.

New Beginnings and Community

Lunar New Year (East and Southeast Asia)

Lunar New Year—Chunjie in China, Seollal in Korea, Tết in Vietnam—is the biggest family migration of the year. Red envelopes, reunion dinners, temple fairs, lion dances, and firecrackers (where permitted) set the tone: sweep out the old, welcome the auspicious. For many migrants, it’s the only time to go home.

• Where and when: Across East and Southeast Asia and diasporas; late January to mid-February.

• How to join: Enjoy public parades and markets, try traditional dishes, and learn local greetings (Gōngxǐ fācái, Chúc mừng năm mới, Saehae bok mani badeuseyo).

• Respect: Family meals are private; avoid intruding. Wear red or bright colors, and don’t gift clocks (bad luck in some cultures). Fireworks rules vary—observe local law.

Timkat (Ethiopia)

Timkat commemorates the baptism of Jesus and centers on tabots—sacred replicas of the Ark—processed through cities like Gondar and Addis Ababa. Priests in embroidered robes chant as crowds in white netela garments follow, then gather at water for blessings. The energy is reverent and jubilant.

• Where and when: Ethiopia; January 19 (January 20 in leap years).

• How to join: Dress modestly in light clothing, cover shoulders, and wear comfortable shoes. Arrive early for a good view along the processional routes.

• Respect: Be discreet with cameras, never push toward clergy, and avoid standing on structures or trees that could collapse under crowd weight.

Inti Raymi (Peru)

Cusco’s Inti Raymi honors the Inca sun with a daylong reenactment culminating at the Sacsayhuamán fortress. Dancers in brilliant attire and musicians trace a narrative rooted in Andean cosmology, while locals and visitors fill the hillsides. The winter solstice setting adds punch to the sky’s sharp blue.

• Where and when: Cusco, Peru; June 24.

• How to join: Buy seats through official channels or watch free from designated public areas. Acclimatize to altitude and bring sun protection and water.

• Respect: Stay off archaeological walls and platforms, and don’t block processions for selfies. Support artisan cooperatives rather than mass-produced souvenirs.

How to Be a Good Guest at Any Festival

Festivals magnify a place’s joys and stresses. A little planning helps you leave a positive footprint and a trail of thank-yous.

• Book early, stay local: Reserve lodging months ahead, ideally with small guesthouses or homestays in the neighborhood. You’ll spread income and get local insight.

• Learn the basics: A few phrases, key rituals, and what not to do. It shows care, and doors open.

• Dress for the context: You’ll see everything from sequins to solemn white. When unsure, aim a notch more modest and observe first.

• Ask before touching: Costumes, altars, people—including kids—aren’t props. Consent applies to color, water, hugs, and photos.

• Support the culture: Buy from community vendors, tip performers where appropriate, donate to local organizations, and attend daytime cultural events, not just the party.

• Manage your stuff: Carry only what you need in a small cross-body or fanny pack. Use refillable bottles and avoid single-use plastics.

• Pace yourself: Crowds and heat can burn you out. Build in quiet moments—a temple courtyard at dawn, a café off the parade route, a cemetery walk with no camera.

• Respect the cleanup: Use bins, bring a pocket trash bag, and consider joining a volunteer cleanup hour. It’s a fast way to earn smiles.

Choosing Your Festival Journey

If you’re mapping a year of celebration, align the festival with what you want to learn:

• Renewal: Holi, Diwali, Nowruz, Songkran, Lunar New Year. You’ll witness how communities reset together.

• Remembrance: Día de los Muertos, Obon. These teach a gentle way to hold grief in public life.

• Inclusion and joy: Pride, Notting Hill, Rio Carnival. Expect protest wrapped in dance and community pride.

• Creativity: Edinburgh Fringe, Burning Man, Make Music Day. You’ll leave with a renewed faith in people making art for one another.

• Deep heritage: Timkat, Inti Raymi. Powerful windows into living tradition—go humbly, listen more than you speak.

The festivals on this list won’t just fill your camera roll. They’ll make you a better listener, a kinder traveler, and a more hopeful neighbor. Pick one, prepare well, and show up ready to share—your attention, your help, your gratitude. That’s how humanity gets celebrated, one gathering at a time.