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9 of the best global festivals and events for 2026!

9 of the best global festivals and events for 2026!

by Storyteller Travel in Blog

At Storyteller we love festivals and events! They give us a new experience and help us visit a culture. Check out our awesome happy-mood festivals and events around the world!

1. Coachella


Starting off with one of the biggest music festivals in the world. With the biggest names in music, Coachella is a great place for incredible music and a great atmosphere. In recent years, the likes of Frank Ocean and Ariana Grande have headlined which shows the level of artists who are here each year! Alongside the music, Coachella offers vintage markets, art studios and the tastiest food vendors.

Where: California, USA

When: 10 Apr 2026 – Sun, 19 Apr 2026

2. Rio Carnival

Giant parades, colourful costumes and incredible best vibes - this must mean only one thing, Rio Carnival!  Rio Carnival is one the world’s biggest festivals, with nearly 2 million people from all over the globe hitting the streets of Rio during the celebrations. Given it’s the largest celebration, it’s no surprise the party never stops.


Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
When:  13-17 February 2026  

3. Holi Colour Festival

The most colourful festival you ever will see, Holi is one of the most celebrated festivals in India. Huge amounts of colour shower across India for the Holi Festival in celebration of positivity and the victory of good over bad. Communities around the whole of India unite to show the love and respect they have for one another, all showcased through the magic of these powdery colours.

Our tip: Bring a change of clothes and be ready to rock some pink and yellow in your hair for a short while as it takes a while to wash out!

Where: All over India
When: 4 March 2026 

4. St Patrick's Day

A global day of celebrating true Irish culture, where do we sign up? Not only Ireland, but also most places in the world with an Irish community is sprinkled with green on a day which has guaranteed fun with street parties and fancy dress leprechauns aplenty. It usually also includes large quantities of Guinness!

Where: Celebrated globally, but Dublin is a must
When: 17th March 2026

5. BaliSpirit Festival

BaliSpirit Festival is the ultimate positive vibes festival in the world. Set in the breathtaking rice fields, the BaliSpirit festival is guaranteed to help you re-energise and includes a whole host of experiences.  The experiences include traditional Bhakti music concerts, breathing class and of course, plenty of yoga!

Where? Ubud, Bali
When? 15-19 April 2026

6. Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival is all about the new faces and names in comedy and theatre. The streets are full of performers showing off their incredible talents – from comedy acts to tap dancing and plays. And if it couldn't get any better, it runs for a whole month in August each year!

Where: Edinburgh, Scotland
When: August 2026

7. Glastonbury Festival

There will be tents, mud and a long line to access the bathrooms, but despite this, Glastonbury is the ultimate music festival experience. Based in the beautiful English countryside, you will hear the most talented musicians along with the hottest comedy acts. An amazing 72 hours of everything!

Where: Glastonbury, England
When: TBC

8. Mardi Gras


Vibrant and colourful, Mardi Gras in New Orleans is one you just have to experience.  Mardi Gras means 'Fat Tuesday'. Parade celebrations and masquerade balls go on over two weeks and always finish on the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of lent. The celebration is in aid of eating the remaining rich foods before the Lent season of fasting begins.

Where: New Orleans, USA
When: 13-17 February 2026

9. La Tomatina

Easily our favourite event of the year. La Tomatina dates back to 1945 and is dedicated to tomatoes! Each year 50,000 people hit the streets of Buñol and throw tomatoes at each other for the ultimate festival. Good vibes, great times and a street coloured red. P.S watch out for the huge trucks that follow the festival unleashing huge amounts of water to clean up the mess!

Where: Buñol, Spain
When: 26th August 2026

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