Unique cultural festivals around the world

From historic indigenous traditions to stories told through performances, these festivals are often bigger than life. Taking place across multiple days, these events celebrate culture, history, and ancient traditions. Given the size of these celebrations, it is important to plan your travel well ahead.

Image courtesy of San Fermin Pamplona, Navarra tourism.
Cover image: Kurentovanje festival in Slovenia. Image by Marko Pigac, Slovenian Tourist Board.

Running of the Bulls, Festival of San Fermín

Pamplona, Navarre, Spain
July 6 – July 14, 2025
More information on pamplonafiesta.com and visitnavarra.es

This week-long celebration includes concerts, dance parties, fireworks, exhibitions, performances, and culinary events all across Pamplona. Naturally, the most notable part of San Fermín is encierros, running of the bulls, which only takes about 3-4 electrifying and unforgettable minutes. Best observed from the balcony seats, but street-level engagement is an option. 

The festival also includes a daily parade with Gigantes and Cabezudos (big heads) strolling through the streets past the crafts stalls in the Taconera gardens. Enjoy a hot chocolate with a churro, grab an aperitivo at your will, or take a guided tour to learn more about the city and the celebrations.

Marquesas Islands Arts Festival: on the left is a Marquesas Bird Dance; on the right, a Tahuata tattooed warrior. Images courtesy of Tahiti Tourisme

Marquesas Islands Arts Festival

Tahiti, French Polynesia 
Bi-annual, December 16 – 20, 2025
More information on tahititourisme.ca 

The festival, called Matavaa o te Fenua Enata in the Marquesan language, has been running since 1986. The event promotes Marquesan culture in French Polynesia and was originally held every four years across three main islands. Today, it is a biennial event taking place on Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Ua Pou, Ua Huka, Tahuata and Fatu Hiva islands. 

The celebrations offer a rare opportunity to see the vibrant traditions of Polynesian culture and heritage through dance performances, intricate tattoo artistry, and traditional crafts.

Fiestas de los Diablitos 

Boruca and Rey Curré, Costa Rica
December 30 or 31 – January 2 and 3 variable days in February, 2026
More information on ranchobrugra.com

A festive event during which the Boruca, a Costa Rican indigenous community, come together at the end of every year to tell an alternate history of Spanish conquest. Celebrated in Boruca and Rey Curré, it is a way of preserving the traditions of Indigenous peoples. Cabrú Rojc is the game or dance of the little devils that serves as a symbolic representation of the struggles between indigenous people against the Spanish invaders. 

The event has been taking place in Rey Curré since 1979 and involves dance and performances in traditional masks and clothing made with banana leaves of gangoche, in addition to traditional textiles. The entire game involves specific characters going through specific stages from the birth to the search and the celebration of victory. 

Fasnacht: Carnival

Basel, Switzerland
March 2026, exact dates TBA
More information on basel.com and fasnachts-comite.ch

Rumour has it, Basel prepares for this three-day festival the entire year. On the Monday after Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), the city wakes to the sound of the Morgestraich, and the celebrations begin. The streets, illuminated by lanterns, are occupied by thousands of piccolos, drums, and masked members of the carnival parade. 

The members of the parade travel by foot, on carnival floats and horse-drawn carriages carrying lanterns with chosen sujets – special carnival topics. Oranges, confetti, and colourful sheets of paper (zeedel) are thrown or exchanged during the procession. 

Left and center: Fruit parade at The Fête du Citron 2022, Ville de Menton, images by Sabry Ardore. Right: Fruit parade, Rock et Opéra float, 2023, images by Marine Marrec, courtesy of the festival.

The Fête du Citron 

Menton, France
February 14 – March 1, 2026
More information on fete-du-citron.com

Menton is a lovely corner of the French Riviera, just a short distance away from Italy. Lemons are a popular commodity, and the festival has been a part of the community since 1934. Citrus float parades make their way along the Menton seafront, Promenade du Soleil and in the Biovès Gardens.

The festival stretches over the course of 15 days, attracting thousands of visitors from across the globe. Celebrations include a crafts market, the infamous Golden Fruit Parade where citrus comes to life, carnival-style Night parades, a spectacular Citrus Pattern Exhibition, and an Orchid and Flower show.

Kurentovanje, Shrovetide Carnival

Ptuj, Slovenia
February – March, 2026, exact dates TBA
More information on slovenia.info and kurentovanje.net

Held in the country’s oldest town, Kurentovanje is its most unique and vibrant festival. The main characters are the Kurenti figures (the good demons) dressed in sheepskin costumes and distinctive bells. The event celebrates the arrival of spring and showcases Slovenia’s rich ethnographic heritage. 

Kurenti perform door-to-door visits throughout town as processions. This visit brings good fortune for the year ahead, unless they roll on the ground in the yard. In return for this performance, the locals offer them treats (pork meat, sausages, handkerchiefs). Kurenti have an entourage including the Prince of the Carnival, whip crackers, log haulers, and ploughmen.

Fremantle International Street Arts Festival

Fremantle, Australia
April 3 – April 6, 2026
More information on streetartsfestival.com.au

The festival first launched in 1999 as a busker weekend and has since grown into a world-class celebration. The festival gathers visitors and talent from across the globe for three days of celebrations across venues and on the streets of Fremantle. The event is a celebration of the extraordinary, entertaining, weird, wacky, unusual, and just plain fun. The showcases include musical performances, costumed stilt walkers, dance and acrobatic showcases, and much more, totalling over 70 performances.