Culture festivals
The world's best Culture festivals — where and when to go.
Québec Winter Carnival
The world's largest winter carnival, led by Bonhomme.
Diwali
The festival of lights — millions of lamps, fireworks and family.
DÃa de los Muertos
Marigolds, sugar skulls and joyful parades honouring the departed.
Chinese New Year
Lion dances, lanterns and fireworks welcome the lunar year.
Nyepi
Bali's Day of Silence — the whole island stops.
Venice Carnival
Elaborate masks and Baroque costume along the canals.
Inti Raymi
The Inca festival of the sun, re-enacted at Sacsayhuamán.
Pingxi Lantern
Sky lanterns carrying wishes over the mountains.
Pushkar Camel Fair
50,000 camels, traders and pilgrims in the desert.
Naadam
The 'three manly games': wrestling, horse racing and archery.
Timkat
Ethiopian Orthodox Epiphany, a dazzling water celebration.
Mardi Gras
Beads, brass bands and float parades before Lent.
Holi
The festival of colours — pigment thrown in joy at the arrival of spring.
Songkran
Thai New Year, celebrated as a nationwide, days-long water fight.
St Patrick's Day
A city (and a planet) turns green for a day.
Gion Matsuri
Kyoto's grand month-long festival of towering floats.
Notting Hill Carnival
Europe's biggest street festival, a Caribbean explosion.
Rio Carnival
Samba schools, sequins and the biggest street party on earth.
Yi Peng
Thousands of glowing sky lanterns released into the night.