Festivals and events worth travelling for in 2023

2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Australia and New Zealand

Thirty-two nations are competing between ten stadiums across nine cities in this global showpiece. See teams play in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Dunedin, or in multiple cities across the ditch. Until August 20, 2023. See: fifa.com

Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland

Theatre, comedy, music, dance, circus, cabaret and more are represented in the programme for this massive month-long celebration of arts and culture. August 4-28, 2023. See: edfringe.com

Buenos Aires Tango Festival, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Said to be the world's largest tango festival, this annual event features dance shows and competitions, art exhibitions and milonga dance parties. August 7-21, 2023.

Wellington On a Plate, New Zealand

The Southern Hemisphere’s biggest food festival is back with more than 200 burgers (including one filled with crayfish and caviar) and two-day craft beer extravaganza, Beervana. August 11-27, 2023. See: visawoap.com

Burning Man, Nevada, USA

Giant burning effigies and performance art are just two reasons why visitors flock to this event in the Nevada desert. This year’s theme is Animalia, celebrating the animal world and our place in it. August 27 to September 4, 2023. See: burningman.org

La Tomatina, Buñol, Spain

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Revelers celebrate and throw tomatoes at each other as they participate in the annual Tomatina festival.

Over 100 tonnes of tomatoes are thrown by more than 20,000 participants at this festival in the Valencian town of Buñol. Bring a change of clothing if you plan on taking part in the giant food fight. August 30, 2023. See: tomatofestivalspain.com

Brisbane Festival, Australia

There’s something for everyone at Brisbane’s three-week arts and culture festival, from an all-ages circus spectacular, to a floating art experience along the Brisbane River. September 1 to 23, 2023. See: brisbanefestival.com.au

Regatta Storica, Venice, Italy

Held since 1825, this historic water event sees the city's gondoliers join a procession and then race down Venice's canals on the first Sunday of September. September 3, 2023.

2023 Rugby World Cup, France

Twenty teams are set to compete in the tenth men's rugby world championship. The tournament is scheduled to take place in nine venues across France. September 8 to October 28, 2023. See: rugbyworldcup.com

Floriade, Canberra, Australia

Drawing between 300,000-500,000 visitors every year, Floriade is the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere, taking over Australia’s capital with flowers walks, musical performances, yoga classes and cabaret. September 16 to October 15, 2023. See: floriadeaustralia.com

Oktoberfest, Germany

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Oktoberfest draws over a million visitors.

The world’s biggest folk festival is back for its 188th year in Bavaria’s second-largest city. Expect traditional beer, as well as costume parades and amusement rides. September 16 to October 3, 2023. See: oktoberfest.de/en

Round Rarotonga Road Race, Cook Islands

Sandy beaches and turquoise lagoons make up the scenery for this 31km run. Those not keen on the main event, or the challenging cross island run, can take part in a shorter 10km fun run. September 19-27, 2023. See: dmck.com

La Mercè, Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona's largest street party is known for parades filled with papier maché giants, extravagant fireworks displays, and the competitive spectacle of castells or building human towers. September 23-35, 2023.

Mid-Autumn Festival, China

Coinciding with the autumn harvest and the full moon in the Chinese lunisolar calendar, Mid-Autumn Festival is seen as a time to honour the moon by displaying lanterns and eating mooncakes. September 29, 2023.

Berlin Festival of Lights, Berlin, Germany

Berlin’s most famous landmarks come to life with illuminations, projections and 3D mapping in this free annual event. October 6-15, 2023. See: festival-of-lights.de

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, New Mexico, USA

For nine days, hundreds of hot air balloons fill the sky above New Mexico’s largect city. The mass launch of all the participating balloons is a highlight. October 7-15, 2023. See: balloonfiesta.com

2023 Cricket World Cup, India

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Ten teams will compete in the tournament.

The 13th edition of the cricket tournament will see 10 teams take bat to ball in India, including the 2019 defending champions, England. Venues are located in different ten cities. October 10 to November 26, 2023. See: cricketworldcup.com

SXSW Sydney, Australia

The pop culture and tech conference is staging its first event outside the US, bringing all the hottest developments in gaming, music, screen, tech and innovation to Sydney. October 15-22, 2023.

Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney, Australia

The Bondi to Tamarama Beach coastal walk is transformed into a 2km-long sculpture park, with more than 100 sculptures from around the world. It is thought to be the world’s largest free sculpture exhibition. October 20 to November 6. See: sculpturebythesea.com

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival

Hong Kong's Central Harbourfront transforms into an outdoor food and drink celebration across four days, featuring wineries and brewers from around the world with dishes from local culinary masters. October 26 to 29, 2023

Day of the Dead, Mexico

Not the Mexican version of Halloween – this traditional holiday is reserved for honouring friends and family members who have died. Revellers make offerings to loved ones and dress up for parades and parties across the country. November 2, 2023.

Diwali, India

For several weeks, India lights up with millions of twinkling diyas or lamps, symbolising the victory of light over darkness, of good over evil, of knowledge over ignorance. In the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur expect street performances, shopping festivals and extravagant feasts. November 10-14, 2023.

Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration, Massachusetts, USA

Celebrating the harvest and blessings of the year past, the coastal town of Plymouth hosts three days of historical reenactments, themed concerts, parades and a food festival dishing up traditional New England cuisine. November 17-19, 2023. See: usathanksgiving.com

Queenstown Marathon, New Zealand

This annual running festival in the Queenstown Lakes district is considered one of the most scenic marathons in the world. There are four distances to choose from: 42km, 21km, 10km and 2.2km. November 18, 2023. See: queenstown-marathon.co.nz

Pushkar Camel Fair, Pushkar, India

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Around 50,000 camels, horses and cattle appear at Pushkar.

Nearly 200,000 visitors and around 50,000 camels, horses and cattle descend on the edge of the Thar Desert in the Indian state of Rajasthan for this mela filled with races, stalls, carnival rides and traditional competitions. November 20-28, 2023.

Loy Krathong/Yi Peng, Thailand

Celebrated throughout Thailand, this traditional festival sees locals send thousands of floating krathong, or decorated baskets fashioned out of leaves, down rivers to thank the Goddess of Water. In Northern Thailand, illuminated lanterns are released into the sky as part of Yi Peng. November 28, 2023.

Art Basel Miami Beach, Florida, USA

Galleries and dealers from five continents bring their best contemporary art to Miami Beach in this massive Swiss-born art fair. The event draws crowds up to 100,000 each year. December 8-10, 2023. See: artbasel.com

Hogmanay, Edinburgh, Scotland

Thousands of revellers gather in Scotland’s capital to ring in the new year with a programme of live music, fireworks, street parties and family events. December 31, 2023.

Réveillon, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Around two million people head to Copacabana Beach to ring in the new year. The lively festival is known for its spectacular fireworks, vendors selling caipirinha cocktails and Brazilian pop music. December 31, 2023.