50+ Festivals, Concerts and World Events to Travel for in 2026

There are so many reasons to travel — from discovering a destination’s rich history and experiencing different ways of life to meeting new people. But travelling also gives you the opportunity to follow your passions (aka your favourite musicians, sports stars and chefs) around the globe for the biggest concerts, food festivals, sports tournaments and cultural celebrations.

Get ready to fill your calendar pages! When you look at this list of world events, 2026 is shaping up to be epic and we don’t want you to miss out.

• Concerts and music festivals
• Major sporting events and tournaments
• Deliciously quirky food festivals
• Art and cultural celebrations

With Beyoncé playing massive stadium shows and Oasis hitting the road for a reunion tour, 2025 was a big year for concerts. And it looks like 2026 is shaping up to be just as good. See top country music stars at Stagecoach, catch Ariana Grande in June, July or August (it’s her first tour in seven years!), or fly across the pond to watch Bon Jovi live in Dublin, Ireland.

If you love to dance just as much as you love travelling the globe, make sure your future plans involve attending these shows.

When: Mar 12–18, 2026
Where: Austin, Texas

When: Mar 19–Apr 11, 2026
Where: Cities across Canada, including Abbotsford, Calgary, Halifax, Kelowna, Laval and Ottawa

When: Apr 10–12 and Apr 17–19, 2026
Where: Indio, California

When: Apr 16–Aug 22, 2026
Where: Cities across Europe, North America and the United Kingdom, including Belfast, Denver, Leeds, Los Angeles, Manchester and Vancouver

When: Apr 24–26, 2026
Where: Indio, California

When: Jun 6–Aug 23, 2026
Where: Cities across North America, including Austin, Boston, Brooklyn, Montréal and Oakland, as well as London, England 

When: Jun 10–Jul 10, 2026
Where: Cities across Europe and the United Kingdom, including Berlin, Lisbon, Liverpool, Oslo, Paris, Vienna and Warsaw

When: Jul 7–Sept 9, 2026
Where: Cities across the United Kingdom, including Dublin and Edinburgh, as well as New York City

Not seeing your favourite artist listed above? Musicians are always adding new dates and ticket options to their tour schedules, so don’t lose hope! Rumours are also swirling that U2 and Justin Bieber will be announcing tours soon… especially since the latter is headlining Coachella in April.

2026 is going to be a beautiful year to watch a beautiful game (or several) as many they-only-happen-every-four-years sports events have all aligned in the calendar. Hop over to Italy to watch the Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympic Games, cheer for your team at the FIFA World Cup in Mexico, or watch your favourite Blue Jays players at the World Baseball Classic in Puerto Rico and Japan.

Whether you’re a diehard sports fan or are just keen to hop on the bandwagon, there are plenty of sports worth travelling for in 2026. 

When: Feb 2–8, 2026
Where: Scottsdale, Arizona

When: Mar 6–15, 2026
Where: Host cities across Lombardy and Northeast Italy, including Cortina d’Ampezzo, Milano, Tesero and Verona

When: Apr–Jun, 2026
Where: Cities across North America, depending on teams that qualify

When: May 11–17, 2026
Where: Newton Square, Pennsylvania

When: Jun 11–Jul 19, 2026
Where: Cities across Canada, Mexico and the United States, including Dallas, Guadalajara, New York, Toronto and Vancouver

When: Aug 31–Sept 13, 2026
Where: New York City, New York

Since we still don’t know exactly what teams will be playing in some major sporting events and tournaments, such as the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Super Bowl, you might want to consider travelling for a regular-season game or qualifying round. Get in touch with our Travel Experts and we’ll take care of all the logistics, so you can focus on getting your face paint juuust right.

Food festivals are always worth the journey as they not only allow you to sample diverse food and wine in perfect settings, but also give you the opportunity to join in some pretty quirky activities. Watch a group of brave men and women chase after a wheel of Gloucester (or become a participant in the cheese rolling yourself!), hit the high seas on a culinary cruise adventure across the Caribbean or throw tomatoes during the world’s biggest food fight in Spain.

Want to visit fantastic sites and enjoy some of the world’s best bites? Get your tickets for these foodie events. 

When: May 25, 2026
Where: Gloucester, England

When: Jun 19–21, 2026
Where: Aspen, Colorado

When: Aug 26, 2026
Where: Buñol, Spain

When: Sept 25–27, 2026
Where: Galway, Ireland

When: Nov 6–11, 2026
Where: Cayman Islands and Jamaica aboard the Norwegian Joy cruise ship

It’s important to note that many food festivals are hosted in multiple destinations. Take the Food & Wine Classic, for example — it was held in both Aspen and Charleston last year. And even though Oktoberfest originated in Munich, this event is obviously celebrated across Germany. If you’re interested in one of the festivals mentioned above but it doesn’t match your travel plans, there might be other options for you!

Are you the type of person who travels in order to experience new cultures and traditions? If so, these annual culture days, holidays and parties are for you. Pay tribute to the dead during Día De Los Muertos in Mexico, immerse yourself in Peruvian dance and music at the Sun Festival (aka Inti Raymi) or get soaked during Songkran in Thailand.

Don’t just explore a destination — get an authentic feel for the world’s unique people and places by travelling during these celebrations.

When: Jan 31–Feb 17, 2026
Where: Venice, Italy

When: Mar 4, 2026
Where: India

When: Mar 19–May 10, 2026
Where: Tulip fields and gardens across Amsterdam

When: Feb 5–7, Mar 27–29, Jun 18–21 and Oct 23–25
Where: Doha, Qatar; Hong Kong; Basel, Switzerland; and Paris, France

When: Jun 24, 2026
Where: Ecuador and Peru

When: Aug 7–31, 2026
Where: Edinburgh, Scotland

When: Nov 2, 2026
Where: Mexico

One of the best things abut cultural events is that they’re held and celebrated every year. In other words, visitors like you have more than one opportunity to experience them — whether you’re planning to travel in January 2026, May 2027, December 2030 or some other month in the future. Plus, many of them are free to attend!

So, what concerts, sports tournaments, food festivals and cultural celebrations will you be travelling for this year? No matter which world event has inspired your next trip, our Travel Experts can help book the flights, hotels and excursions you need to make the most of it. Connect with us today or subscribe to our newsletter to be among the first to know when deals drop.