8 Of the world's largest festivals: 2026/2027 season dates and tickets
In the fall you can still catch Oktoberfest, and a couple of months later the new carnival season kicks off. The dates for these events shift every year: some depend on the lunar calendar, others on the organizers' decisions. It's better to lock in your fall plans now.
We put together a calendar for the 2026 and 2027 season and added verified dates, ticket guidance, and accommodation pointers. Use the table below as a starting point, and check the sections for details on each event.
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Festival calendar for the 2026 and 2027 season
💡 In short:
- The next event of the season: Oktoberfest in Munich.
- In winter, carnivals and film festivals return: Venice and Rio in February, Berlinale in mid-February.
- Dates and tickets: 09/2026, verified on the official Oktoberfest website and the Berlinale website
Festival | When | Where | Tickets and entry |
|---|---|---|---|
Venice Carnival | January 31 to February 17, 2026 | Venice, Italy | balls and costumes are paid, program |
Rio de Janeiro Carnival | February 13-21, 2026 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Sambadrome stands, dates |
Berlinale | February 12-22, 2026 | Berlin, Germany | screenings require tickets, dates |
Holi | late February or March | India | street processions are free, calendar |
Comic-Con | July 23-26, 2026 | San Diego, USA | badges by registration, Comic-Con website |
Edinburgh Fringe | all of August | Edinburgh, Scotland | some shows are free, tickets on the official website |
Oktoberfest | September 19 - October 4, 2026 | Munich, Germany | table reservations, dates |
Day of the Dead | first days of November | Mexico | street processions and altars are free |
1. Venice Carnival
The 2026 carnival ran from January 31 to February 17 (as of 09/2026, Venezia Unica). The season's theme was called "Olympus" and tied to the Olympic year: the organizers connected the city's history, art, and sport (according to the Venice municipality).
The theme changes every year, so people plan their look well in advance. You'll find masks and costumes in the city's workshops, but balls and opera evenings need to be booked months ahead. The program is packed with parades in the squares, performances, and processions along the canals. To see Venice without the crowds, come at dawn: by midday the waterfronts are already packed.
© Abxbay · CC BY-SAPhoto: Abxbay, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons- Who it's for: theater and history lovers, because for two weeks the city turns into one big stage.
- The catch: balls are expensive, and hotels raise their prices noticeably above February levels during these days.
2. Carnival in Rio de Janeiro
Rio hosts Carnival from February 13 to 21, 2026, with the main samba school parades running three nights in a row, from February 15 to 17 (as of 09/2026, The Rio Times). The center of events is the Sambadrome, a stadium built specifically for the processions.
Each school brings floats with sets onto the runway, with 100 to 200 performers on them. The jury judges not only dance technique but also appearance: nobody steps onto the runway in last year's costumes. For a week, the city becomes the center of samba, and beachfront hotels are booked almost a year in advance.
The Sambadrome is on Marquês de Sapucaí street in the Cidade Nova district, a half-hour walk from the central neighborhoods.
© Sergio Luiz · CC BYPhoto: Sergio Luiz, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commonshotels in Rio de Janeiro on Trip.com
3. Berlin international film festival
Berlinale 2026 ran from February 12 to 22, marking the 76th edition of the festival (as of 09/2026, official Berlinale website). The top prize, the Golden Bear, is awarded in the final days, and the program is divided into sections: Competition, Panorama, Encounters, and Berlinale Shorts.
Berlinale remains an open film festival. Some screenings are available to audiences without accreditation, so getting in is easier than at many European festivals. In February, bear figures appear on the streets, referencing the top prize, and the city becomes a platform for discussions about cinema. Tickets for popular screenings sell out in the first days, so plan your trip and accommodation in advance. The next edition will take place in February 2027.
© Maharepa · CC BYPhoto: Maharepa, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons4. Holi
Holi has no fixed date: the festival is tied to the full moon of the month of Phalguna, so it falls in late February or March (according to India's tourism portal). The festival usually lasts 1-2 days.
On the evening before, an effigy of Holika is burned: the ritual signifies letting go of bad memories and events. In the morning, the streets turn into one colorful blur, as people shower each other with powders and splash water. Choose clothes you don't mind throwing away and cover your hair: the dye stays on fabric and skin for several days.
© Achary K Krishnan · CC BY-SAPhoto: Achary K Krishnan, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commonstours of India on GetYourGuide
5. Comic-Con
Comic-Con International in San Diego ran from July 23 to 26, 2026, with Preview Night on the evening of July 22 (as of 09/2026, date overview). The event started as a comic book convention, and today it's a world of anime, manga, video games, movies, and TV series.
Studios bring announcements to the festival, actors meet fans, and guests' costumes are judged in competitions. Lines form at the convention center halls even before opening. Come in the morning. Badges are sold in advance through registration, and popular days almost sell out. Pair the trip with the city's beaches and parks if you have a spare day.
© Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America · CC BY-SAPhoto: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commonshotels in San Diego on Trip.com
6. Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Fringe (Edinburgh Festival Fringe) takes up nearly all of August and turns the Scottish capital into the main stage for performers from around the world. There are no genre restrictions: the lineup includes theater, circus, cabaret, opera, exhibitions, musicals, and dance.
Stages are set up right in the city: halls, pubs, courtyards, and streets. Both established artists and newcomers perform, so price and show quality don't always match. Some performances are free, with artists collecting donations after the show. Grab a program on the first day, leave a free window for unexpected discoveries, and you'll see more than you planned.
© Festival Fringe Society · CC BY-SAPhoto: Festival Fringe Society, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commonsaccommodation in Edinburgh for August
7. Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest 2026 runs from September 19 to October 4 at Theresienwiese in Munich (as of 09/2026, dates and program). The festival opens with the brewers' parade: tent owners and their families ride through the city on carts with barrels, and the mayor taps the first keg.
Beer for the festival used to be brewed in March, which is where the Märzenbier tradition comes from. Festival beer is still stronger than a regular lager today. The cultural program is packed too: a traditional costume parade, family days, a church service, and orchestra performances. Tables in the tents are booked in advance, because popular evenings can fill up, and drinking standing up isn't the done thing here. Order pretzels, sausages, pork knuckle, or potato salad with your beer.
- Who it's for: large groups, because tent tables are set up for parties.
- The catch: without a reservation, you risk spending the evening on your feet.
© Heribert Pohl --- Thanks for half a million clicks! from Germering bei München, Bayern · CC BY-SAPhoto: Heribert Pohl --- Thanks for half a million clicks! from Germering bei München, Bayern, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons8. Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead is celebrated in the first days of November, and it is not a sad holiday at all. Mexicans believe that during these days the souls of deceased relatives return home, so every family sets up an altar with water, candles, flowers, and the departed person's favorite food.
On the first day, people remember children who have passed away. The second day is dedicated to older relatives. At night, people put on costumes and paint their faces. They walk to the cemetery singing songs. Shops sell bread of the dead, skulls, and even personalized little coffins, which are considered good-luck souvenirs. If you are going to Mexico City or Oaxaca, leave a free evening for the decorated streets and city altars.
© Tomascastelazo · CC BY-SAPhoto: Tomascastelazo, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
When does the next Oktoberfest start?
Oktoberfest 2026 opens on September 19 and closes on October 4 (as of 09/2026, festival page).
Do I need to buy festival tickets in advance?
Some events are free for spectators: Holi street processions, carnival parades, and Day of the Dead altars. Paid screenings, balls, and Sambadrome stands are best booked several months ahead, because popular dates sell out first. Check sales on official festival websites and book accommodation together with tickets.
Which festivals are good for traveling with kids?
Oktoberfest holds family days, and the Edinburgh Fringe has programs for young audiences. For Holi, bring clothes you don't mind getting stained and eye protection for the crowd. Day of the Dead works well for teenagers, and at night processions hold children by the hand and pick an area closer to your hotel.
When is the best time to book hotels for a festival?
Three to six months before the date, because hotels near the venues get snapped up first. During carnival days and Oktoberfest, prices for that period are noticeably higher than usual. Look at options near metro and tram lines: you'll get to the center in 15-20 minutes and pay less for the room.
Do I need a visa to go to a festival?
It all depends on your passport. EU citizens don't need a visa for Brazil or Mexico. For the UK, they need an ETA electronic authorization. For a trip to the US for Comic-Con, you apply for ESTA. For India, you usually get an e-visa in advance. Entry rules change, so before buying tickets, check the requirements on your country's consulate website.
In short: what's worth booking
If you have a free week in September, go for Munich and the Oktoberfest tents. For winter warmth, choose Rio; for a packed February, Venice and Berlin work well; and Edinburgh can fill an entire August. Hotels near the venues get snapped up first, so compare options in advance. Book accommodation together with tickets and check rooms in Munich on Trip.com. Take the dates from the table above and build a plan around your vacation.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.