Cultural festivals around the world 2024

If you dream of travelling in the new year, there’s plenty of opportunity to experience cultural, religious and national events around the world.

2024 offers a host of fantastic experiences from traditional celebrations to colourful festivals.

We’ve put together a selection of cultural festivals around the world here.

Rio Carnival – 9–17 February

Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is a riot of brightly coloured feathers, salsa rhythms and people partying during the annual traditional Carnival.

With fantastic costumes, lively parades and an unrivalled energy, millions of people from all over the world celebrate the euphoria of Carnival every year.

During the Carnival, you’ll experience samba parades with several thousand dancers and large-scale street parties, the so-called blocos, where people party to samba rhythms day and night.

Chinese and Vietnamese New Year – 10 February

Both the Chinese New Year and the Vietnamese New Year (Tết Festival) fall on 10 February in 2024.

The New Year is determined by the lunar calendar and always falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, which varies from year to year.

In Vietnam, the New Year is celebrated with firework displays, feasts and colourful processions. Chinese New Year also involves lots of fireworks, but it’s also about being with your family.

Semana Santa – 24–30 March

Easter in Latin America is called Semana Santa and is something very special.

In most Latin American countries, there are special Easter traditions that are definitely worth experiencing.

Semana Santa is celebrated with religious processions and colourful decorations, and in Argentina there is even an Easter egg hunt like in the UK.

Songkran in Thailand – 13–15 April

Songkran is the Thai New Year, which is known, among other things, for being the world’s largest water fight.

The Thais celebrate the New Year with water in many ways, such as spraying on family members and strangers alike and pouring perfumed water on Buddha statues. The water symbolises purification and new beginnings.

The Thai New Year also includes a host of other traditions such as closeness and togetherness with the family.

Inti Raymi – Peru – 24 June

Every year in June, the traditional and religious ceremony Inti Raymi is held in Cusco, the capital of Peru.

The festival is held in honour of the Inca sun god Inti and is also known as the “Festival of the Sun”.

Inti Raymi brims with beautiful, traditional Inca costumes and performances of dance and music.

Hermanus Whale Festival in South Africa – 26–29 September

Every year, nature lovers and whale enthusiasts from all over the world gather in the coastal town of Hermanus in South Africa to participate in the magnificent Hermanus Whale Festival.

The festival celebrates the majestic whales and is a unique experience that combines culture, nature and conservation.

In addition to offering whale watching and the opportunity to see the huge animals up close, during the festival you can also take part in workshops and lectures that teach you more about the conservation of whales and the marine environment around them.

Day of the Dead in Mexico – 2 November

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican tradition that honours the dearly departed.

Graves are decorated and festive processions fill the streets as people remember their loved ones with music, food and festivities.

The day of celebration can be experienced all over Mexico, where you’ll see beautifully decorated sugar skulls, people dressed as skeletons and large parades.

Loy Krathong in Thailand – 27 November