Nowhere does festivals and events like Europe and 2024 is shaping up to be a banner year on the continent. Any of the following 15 great European events would make a perfect add-on to an already-existing trip itinerary or an anchor for a trip of a lifetime.
From concerts to folk festivals and art gatherings, there's a little bit for everyone.
Carnival float in Cologne. (Photo via cobalt / iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus)
Carnival
From flying fruit to mask-wearing fun, Carnival is a continent-wide party that takes place in the lead-up to Fat Tuesday each year (Feb 13 in 2024). Cologne is revered for its "Crazy Days" in the lead-up to the big day; Venice welcomes masked merrymaking and cities like Cadiz, Nice and Basel also offer up a combination of parades, parties and fun traditions. Then, there's Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands, which throws a colorful bash that will have you thinking you landed in Brazil and Ivrea, Italy where the locals take part in an orange-throwing war.
St. Patrick's Festival Parade. (Photo Credit: Scott Laird)
St. Patrick's Festival
On Sunday, March 17, the iconic St. Patrick’s Festival Parade will once again grace the streets of Dublin. This vibrant procession will weave its way from Parnell Street in the north to Kevin Street in the south and will be filled with performers, musicians, dancers and artists, all showing off the best of Irish culture. No, you won't find any green beer at the pubs afterward, but you will experience a remarkably authentic St. Patrick's Day celebration.
King's Day celebrations in Amsterdam. (Photo Credit: Remi Mathis / Wikimedia Commons)
King's Day
What's your wardrobe looking like in the, erm, orange department? Well, you're going to want to stock up, because it's practically required clothing in The Netherlands on April 27. That date marks King's Day each year, and while the mention of the monarch in its name may make the holiday sound reserved, you'll quickly find out that King's Day is anything but boring. The towns and cities of the country come alive with social gatherings, fun flea markets and floating parties on canals. Amsterdam is the most popular among travelers, but cities like Utrecht, Eindhoven and The Hague throw proper parties, too.
Art Basel
A global gathering for the art community, Art Basel (June 13-16) features works from over 250 leading galleries, showcasing the creations of over 4,000 artists and providing the setting for many art-focused talks and discussions. But you don't have to be an art aficionado to get a kick out of Art Basel, as this underrated Swiss city and its surrounds all come alive with a host of expos and events during the festival, making it a true highlight of the summer social calendar in Switzerland.
A group of cheering soccer fans (Photo via ViewApart/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
The Euros
European Soccer's popularity shows no sign of slowing down, and this summer, the sports world is sure to be transfixed by The Euros (June 14 - July 14), the quadrennial soccer tournament that determines the champions of European soccer. In 2024, the tournament will be hosted by Germany and games will take place in Berlin, Munich, Dortmund, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Cologne, Leipzig, Dusseldorf, Gelsenkirchen and Frankfurt. The atmosphere inside and out of the stadiums is sure to be electric and the tournament will be the perfect excuse for sports fans to come over and experience summer in Europe.
Danube Island Festival
With its wealth of historical & cultural attractions, Vienna's modern social scene gets overlooked all too often, but one visit to this annual celebration on an island in the Danube will set things straight. The Danube Island Festival (June 21-23) turns the city into a happening hub of music, culture and unadulterated summertime joy as the free (free!) three-day festival typically attracts over a million revelers. Expect an eclectic mix of live performances spanning various genres from world-renowned artists to emerging talents in addition to a delicious range of food.
Crowd at Glastonbury Festival. (Photo Credit: Paul Holloway / Wikimedia Commons)
Glastonbury Festival
Arguably the world's most iconic summer music festival, "Glasto" will once again take place on Worthy Farm in the beautiful Somerset countryside of western England. This year's concert will take place on June 26-30 and while the roster of artists is yet to be released, you can bet it will be full of big current names and all-time greats. Glastonbury is so much more than just a concert, as the atmosphere and kinship among fans are just as revered as the tunes.
Montreux Jazz Festival
Celebrating its 58th edition this year, the Montreux Jazz Festival (July 5-20) will once again take place on the shores of Lake Geneva. For this year's festival, a striking stage will be erected on the lakeshore—beneath the Place du Marché—which will provide all festival goers with a most unforgettable view. The festival will also feature numerous free stages, which will no doubt help attendance reach upwards of 250,000 festival-goers again. And if you're wondering, no, it's not just jazz, as the artists that appear at Montreux span the musical spectrum.
Stage at Tomorrowland Festival. (Photo Credit: Tomorrowland / Wikimedia Commons)
Tomorrowland
This annual festival in Boom, Belgium is nothing short of a cultural phenomenon, filling two summer weekends with some of the best electronic dance music in the world and a year's worth of positive vibes. Tomorrowland 2024 will take place over two weekends (July 19-21 & 26-28) and will center on the theme 'LIFE,' which is being touted as a prequel to the 2016 'Elixir of Life' theme. Expect verdant, nature-inspired stages & decorations and a schedule of performers loaded with A-list talent.
A rendering of the Olympic celebration along the Seine in Paris. (Photo Credit: Paris 2024)
Summer Olympics (July 26 - August 11)
The world's most revered athletic championships come to the City of Light this summer in what will be the highlight of the summer sporting calendar in Europe. The Opening Ceremonies will take place on the River Seine and see all national teams arrive by boat, much to the delight of fans who will line the riverside. The sporting competitions that follow will just be part of the fun as there's certain to be a magical feeling in Paris during the entire length of the games.
Sziget Festival
Budapest presents this divine annual bash on one of its Danube river islands again this summer. Sziget Festival (August 7-12) promises another year of excellent acts, with this year's announced artists including the likes of Sam Smith, Stormzy, Big Thief and Martin Garrix among many others.
Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. (Photo Credit: FooTToo / Stock / Getty Images Plus)
Oktoberfest
Europe's most famous fall festival, Oktoberfest (September 21 - October 6) in Munich is an absolute juggernaut. Over two weeks, the world descends on the Bavarian city to eat, drink and be merry and you are invited to join them. You may come for the beer and the singing & dancing, but odds are you'll leave remembering the people you met and the laughs you shared with new friends even more.
La Mercè
Barcelona's grandest yearly celebration, La Mercè (date to be confirmed, but typically takes place in late September) encapsulates the essence of what makes this city so special. During the festival, streets come alive and the air is filled with the sounds of concerts, mesmerizing light displays, eye-catching acrobatics and vibrant parades—most notably the awe-inspiring procession of "giants." This is to say nothing of the incredible castells, which are human towers that defy gravity. At night, the atmosphere becomes even more electric as fiery street performances and rhythmic drumming bring a buzz to Barcelona that you won't find any other time of year.
Festival of Light
Each December, the French city of Lyon is illuminated by brilliant lights that breathe life into the dark December nights. Dates are yet to be announced for the 2024 edition, but the Festival of Light typically takes place in early December, turning the buildings of Lyon into canvases for brilliant displays of light and the background for brilliant "light tunnels" and other displays.
Fireworks over Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo Credit: Robbie Shade / Wikimedia Commons)
Hogmanay
As 2024 draws to a close, Scotland will once again be the place to be for its annual celebration of the new year. The largest Hogmanay gatherings will take place in Edinburgh, where you'll find torchlight processions, concerts, fireworks and of course, renditions of "Auld Lang Syne", the nation's gift to New Year's. Other locations that also throw great parties (often with unforgettable fire processions) include Stonehaven, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
