Festival highlights of 2026
26 August 2026 - 31 August 2026
Ani sang Siargao 2026
Siargao Island · Philippines · Asia
Ani sang Siargao, the second Siargao Food & Wine Festival, concludes on 31 August 2026 across Siargao Island, Philippines. Its six days contain sixteen gatherings spread among the island's nine municipalities.
27 August 2026 - 30 August 2026
2nd TRIETHNÉS Festival
Prespa region · Greece · Europe
The 2nd TRIETHNÉS Festival runs from 27 to 30 August 2026 across the Prespa region, at the border area shared by Greece, Albania and North Macedonia. Its programme places contemporary music in dialogue with Balkan musical traditions.
28 August 2026 - 30 August 2026
27th Summertime Blues Festival
Alcamo · Italy · Europe
The 27th Summertime Blues Festival takes place from 28 to 30 August 2026 in Piazza Ciullo, Alcamo, Sicily, Italy. Admission is free and the programme comprises six concerts over three nights.
29 August 2026 - 5 September 2026
BRICS Africa Festival 2026
Durban · South Africa · Africa
The BRICS Africa Festival runs from 29 August to 5 September 2026 in Durban, South Africa. It combines sport, culture and business meetings involving BRICS and African countries.
30 August 2026 - 7 September 2026
Black Rock City 2026: Axis Mundi
Black Rock Desert · United States · Americas
Black Rock City 2026 rises from 30 August to 7 September in Nevada's Black Rock Desert, United States. It is Burning Man Project's principal annual gathering and its 2026 theme is Axis Mundi.
1 September 2026 - 4 September 2026
BIGSOUND 2026
Brisbane · Australia · Oceania
BIGSOUND 2026 runs from 1 to 4 September in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Australia. The 25th-anniversary edition combines four days and three nights of live showcases, an industry conference and international delegations.
2 September 2026 - 12 September 2026
83rd Venice International Film Festival 2026
Venice Lido · Italy · Europe
Organised by La Biennale di Venezia and directed by Alberto Barbera, the 83rd Venice International Film Festival took place on the Lido in Venice, Italy. Its 2026 edition brought together international cinema, restorations, immersive work and industry meetings.
3 September 2026 - 9 September 2026
Orkney International Science Festival 2026
Kirkwall · United Kingdom · Europe
Orkney International Science Festival brings research, island heritage, music and film together in Orkney, Scotland, United Kingdom. The 2026 edition connects astronomy and physics with archaeology, food and island life.
4 September 2026 - 6 September 2026
16th International African Diaspora Film Festival in Paris
Paris · France · Europe
FIFDA Paris runs from 4 to 6 September 2026 in Paris, France, with thirteen sessions, discussions, and opening and closing receptions.
5 September 2026
Braemar Gathering 2026
Braemar · United Kingdom · Europe
Braemar Gathering takes place on 5 September 2026 in Braemar, Scotland, United Kingdom, with Highland games, dancing and massed pipe bands.
6 September 2026
Palio di Asti 2026
Asti · Italy · Europe
Palio di Asti takes place on 6 September 2026 in Asti, Italy, with a historic parade, flag throwers and horse races in Piazza Alfieri.
7 September 2026 - 17 September 2026
Peñíscola Patron Saint Festivities 2026
Peñíscola · Spain · Europe
Peñíscola, Spain, honours its patron saint, the Virgin of Ermitana, with a programme of around one hundred events in 2026. Traditional dances, religious ceremonies and music bring together the town's local associations.
7 September 2026 - 10 September 2026
Florence Rificolona 2026
Florence · Italy · Europe
Rificolona lights up Florence, Italy, from 7 to 10 September 2026 with lanterns, processions, workshops, music and district events.
7 September 2026 - 8 September 2026
Malta Victory Day 2026
Valletta and Birgu · Malta · Europe
Malta marks Victory Day on 8 September 2026 with ceremonies in Valletta and Birgu, masses, commemorations and the traditional Grand Harbour regatta.
8 September 2026 - 13 September 2026
Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa 2026
Johannesburg · South Africa · Africa
Shakespeare Schools Festival brings 17 groups and abridged plays to Joburg Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 8 to 13 September 2026.
9 September 2026 - 13 September 2026
Ars Electronica Festival Linz 2026
Linz · Austria · Europe
Ars Electronica brings art, technology and society together in Linz, Austria. Its 2026 theme, Negotiating Humanity, examines definitions of humanity amid technological, ecological and political change through exhibitions, discussions, performances and workshops.
9 September 2026 - 13 September 2026
Berlin Art Week 2026
Berlin · Germany · Europe
Berlin Art Week held its 15th edition in Berlin, Germany, with 125 participating partners and more than 300 events. The contemporary art festival brought together museums, private collections, galleries, independent spaces and Positions Berlin Art Fair.
9 September 2026 - 20 September 2026
FIBA Buenos Aires 2026
Buenos Aires · Argentina · Americas
FIBA brings international theatre, dance, music, performance and interdisciplinary arts to Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 9 to 20 September 2026.
10 September 2026 - 13 September 2026
O-FEST Moscow 2026
Moscow · Russia · Europe
O-FEST brings experimental film, video art, performance and new media to Moscow, Russia, from 10 to 13 September 2026.
10 September 2026 - 12 September 2026
WOW Cairns Festival 2026
Cairns · Australia · Oceania
WOW Cairns Festival brings talks, film, workshops, performances and comedy to Cairns, Australia, from 10 to 12 September 2026.
11 September 2026 - 20 September 2026
Heritage Open Days 2026 in England
England · United Kingdom · Europe
Heritage Open Days celebrates the heritage of England, United Kingdom, through locally organised free events. The 2026 theme, Everyday Histories, focuses on working lives, crafts, routines and everyday rituals.
11 September 2026 - 17 September 2026
59th PIF International Puppet Theatre Festival 2026
Zagreb · Croatia · Europe
The 59th PIF brings international puppet companies to Zagreb, Croatia, from 11 to 17 September 2026 for shows, parades and workshops.
11 September 2026 - 20 September 2026
Zermatt Music Festival & Academy 2026
Zermatt · Switzerland · Europe
Zermatt Music Festival & Academy brings orchestras, academy musicians and soloists to Zermatt, Switzerland, from 11 to 20 September 2026.
12 September 2026
OdeGand 2026 in Ghent
Ghent · Belgium · Europe
OdeGand fills central Ghent, Belgium, on 12 September 2026 with concert routes, a city procession, an open orchestra and an audiovisual finale.
13 September 2026
Hombroich : Raketenfestival 2026
Neuss · Germany · Europe
On 13 September 2026 the festival brings international electronic and experimental music to Raketenstation Hombroich in Neuss, Germany.
15 September 2026 - 19 September 2026
AFIN International Film Festival 2026
Brisbane · Australia · Oceania
AFIN brings 35 films from 12 countries to three screening nights and an awards event from 15 to 19 September 2026 in Brisbane, Australia.
16 September 2026 - 19 September 2026
Reeperbahn Festival Hamburg 2026
Hamburg · Germany · Europe
Reeperbahn Festival combines live music and industry meetings in Hamburg, Germany. Its four-day 2026 programme is spread across around 70 venues, particularly in the St. Pauli district.
16 September 2026 - 20 September 2026
Villa Medici Film Festival 2026 · Italy
Rome · Italy · Europe
The sixth Villa Medici Film Festival presents nearly forty screenings in Rome, Italy, from 16 to 20 September 2026, spanning an international competition, Focus sessions and open-air evenings.
16 September 2026 - 20 September 2026
Visioni dal Mondo 2026
Milan · Italy · Europe
Visioni dal Mondo presents its 12th edition of Italian and international documentaries from 16 to 20 September 2026 in Milan, Italy.
17 September 2026 - 21 September 2026
Brasil International Tap Festival 2026 in São Paulo
São Paulo · Brazil · Americas
The Brasil International Tap Festival holds its 24th edition from 17 to 21 September 2026 with Brazilian and international artists in São Paulo, Brazil.
17 September 2026 - 20 September 2026
Pan-African Festival ELEFANTES BAY 2026 in Benguela
Benguela · Angola · Africa
The Pan-African Festival ELEFANTES BAY runs from 17 to 20 September 2026 with cultural, musical, sporting and youth activity in Benguela, Angola.
17 September 2026 - 20 September 2026
World Music Festival Bratislava 2026 · Slovakia
Bratislava · Slovakia · Europe
Bratislava, Slovakia, hosts World Music Festival Bratislava from 17 to 20 September 2026, bringing together international concerts, a family workshop and a professional conference.
18 September 2026 - 20 September 2026
Chronosphere Festival 2026 in Góis · Portugal
Góis · Portugal · Europe
Chronosphere brings 30 electronic music artists to Góis, Portugal, from 18 to 20 September 2026. Set in woodland beside the River Ceira, the festival is for adults aged 18 and over.
18 September 2026 - 19 September 2026
Jardín de las Delicias Madrid 2026 · Spain
Madrid · Spain · Europe
Jardín de las Delicias returns for its seventh edition on 18 and 19 September 2026 at the Complutense University's Cantarranas site in Madrid, Spain. Concerts and DJ sets take place on the Endesa and Bosque Ahorramas stages.
18 September 2026 - 20 September 2026
Riot Fest 2026 in Chicago · United States
Chicago · United States · Americas
Riot Fest brings more than one hundred international punk, rock, metal, hip-hop and alternative artists to five stages in Douglass Park, Chicago, United States.
18 September 2026 - 26 September 2026
74th San Sebastián International Film Festival 2026
San Sebastian · Spain · Europe
The San Sebastián International Film Festival holds its 74th edition in San Sebastián, Spain. Its 2026 catalogue brings the Official Selection together with new filmmakers, Latin American cinema, film heritage and project development activities.
18 September 2026 - 27 September 2026
Warsaw Autumn 2026 · Poland
Warsaw · Poland · Europe
Warsaw Autumn turns Warsaw, Poland, into a major contemporary-music stage from 18 to 27 September 2026, with concerts, installations, talks, radio and work for younger audiences.
19 September 2026 - 4 October 2026
Munich Oktoberfest 2026
Munich · Germany · Europe
Munich, Germany, hosts the 191st Oktoberfest on Theresienwiese. The 2026 municipal festival combines beer tents, fairground rides, parades and music with the historical Oide Wiesn area at the southern end of the grounds.
21 September 2026 - 27 September 2026
24th Tirana International Film Festival 2026
Tirana · Albania · Europe
The 24th Tirana International Film Festival takes place in Tirana, Albania, under the theme Bring It Back! Humanography. It combines features and short films with retrospectives, training and industry activity.
22 September 2026 - 27 September 2026
Mad About Music 2026 in Warsaw · Poland
Warsaw · Poland · Europe
Mad About Music opens Sinfonia Varsovia's refurbished home in Poland with six days of orchestral and chamber concerts, recitals, jazz, early music, family activities and accessible events.
23 September 2026 - 25 September 2026
Belief on Screen 2026 in Copenhagen · Denmark
Copenhagen · Denmark · Europe
The 21st European Belief on Screen festival brings eighteen works selected from seventy-five entries across twenty-two countries to Copenhagen, Denmark, for screenings, discussions and awards on religion, faith and ethics.
23 September 2026 - 27 September 2026
POP Montreal 2026 · Canada
Montreal · Canada · Americas
The 25th POP Montreal brings more than two hundred performances, screenings, exhibitions, talks and family activities by local and international artists to Montreal, Canada.
24 September 2026 - 26 September 2026
AVA London 2026 · United Kingdom
London · United Kingdom · Europe
AVA London brings international artists, cultural leaders and innovators together in London, United Kingdom, for three days of keynotes, workshops, forums, production sessions and electronic-music nights.
25 September 2026 - 27 September 2026
Autumn Music & Cultural Festival 2026 in Kuala Lumpur · Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur · Malaysia · Asia
The Autumn Music & Cultural Festival brings music, traditional dance, cultural fashion, food, crafts and participatory activities to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as part of Visit Malaysia 2026-2027.
25 September 2026 - 27 September 2026
Create! Festival 2026 in Trenčín · Slovakia
Trenčín · Slovakia · Europe
Create! Festival turns Trenčín, Slovakia, into an intergenerational space for games, toys, stories, film, music and workshops within the 2026 European Capital of Culture programme.
25 September 2026 - 27 September 2026
Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival 2026 · Ireland
Galway · Ireland · Europe
The Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival marks its 72nd year in Galway, Ireland, from 25 to 27 September 2026 with oysters, seafood, street entertainment and oyster-opening championships.
25 September 2026 - 4 October 2026
VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2026 · Austria
Vienna · Austria · Europe
The 20th VIENNA DESIGN WEEK turns Vienna, Austria, into a city of design through exhibitions, installations, workshops, tours, presentations, talks and parties at its headquarters and dozens of partner venues.
26 September 2026
Derby Feste 2026 · United Kingdom
Derby · United Kingdom · Europe
Derby Feste turns central Derby, United Kingdom, into a free stage for dance, aerial circus, street theatre and walkabout performance by UK and international companies from 11:30 into the evening.
26 September 2026 - 11 October 2026
Dublin Festival of History 2026 · Ireland
Dublin · Ireland · Europe
The fourteenth edition brings more than 300 free events to Dublin, Ireland, with Irish and international historians, debates, tours, workshops and family activities.
26 September 2026 - 11 October 2026
Wild Things International Kids Festival 2026 · Australia
Sydney · Australia · Oceania
The inaugural edition transforms the Sydney Opera House in Australia for 16 days with performances, workshops and play for audiences aged 0 to 14, created by companies from Europe, North America, the United Kingdom, Asia and Australia.
30 September 2026 - 11 October 2026
32nd Athens International Film Festival · Greece
Athens · Greece · Europe
The 32nd edition brings international independent cinema, competitions, documentaries, premieres, masterclasses and guest events to eight cinemas and cultural venues in Athens, Greece.
1 October 2026 - 11 October 2026
Vancouver International Film Festival 2026 · Canada
Vancouver · Canada · Americas
The 45th edition brings 150 features, 90 shorts, live performances, talks and industry sessions featuring cinema from many countries to Vancouver, Canada.
2 October 2026 - 4 October 2026
International Edgar Allan Poe Festival 2026 · United States
Baltimore · United States · Americas
The ninth edition brings performances, readings, film, exhibitions, tours, art, books and the Saturday 'Visiter' Awards to Baltimore, United States, celebrating Edgar Allan Poe's work and cultural influence.
2 October 2026 - 10 October 2026
66th International Theatre Festival MESS · Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Europe
The 66th edition brings productions from six countries to theatres across Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a main programme, MESS premieres, small stages, children's theatre, readings and fringe events under the motto 'We know. What now?'.
3 October 2026 - 11 October 2026
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2026 · United States
Albuquerque · United States · Americas
The 54th edition fills Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, United States, with mass ascensions, dawn patrols, special-shape balloons, competition flights, glows, drones and fireworks.
3 October 2026 - 9 October 2026
5th Idromeno International Film Festival · Albania
Shkodër · Albania · Europe
The fifth edition brings seven days of international competition, features, animation, filmmaker conversations, panels, industry workshops and national cinema strands to Shkodër, Albania, under the theme Voices of the Earth.
5 October 2026 - 11 October 2026
10th DokuBaku International Documentary Film Festival · Azerbaijan
Baku · Azerbaijan · Asia
The tenth edition brings seven days of documentaries, filmmakers, conversations and special programmes to Baku, Azerbaijan, under the theme 'Stellar Civilization', with local and international work.