
Nabana no Sato Japanese Light Festival
Nabana no Sato, a botanical garden in the Japanese prefecture of Mie, is home each year to one of the country’s best and biggest winter light festivals. During several months, magical light tunnels,

Nabana no Sato, a botanical garden in the Japanese prefecture of Mie, is home each year to one of the country’s best and biggest winter light festivals. During several months, magical light tunnels,

Stuttgart Spring Festival brings beer-tent culture to the Cannstatter Wasen as the city launches into festival season. Held from 18 April–10 May 2026, Stuttgarter Frühlingsfest combines classic marquees with a

Prepare to be enchanted by world-class theatre at the Stratford Festival Ontario Canada. This renowned theatre festival celebrates the works of William Shakespeare alongside a vibrant mix

The PALP Festival celebrates the music, culture and gastronomy of the Swiss canton of Valais in a series of events held across the summer from April to September. PALP is a wonderful Alpine

The Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, is an international music festival running from 30 April to 10 May, 2026 in the Caribbean island. Headlining the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts

A traditional religious parade Romerias de Mayo Holguin Cuba has added modern touches, with artists from Mexico, Canada, France and, of course, Cuba. A week of colourful parades and a

Since Foodies Festival was started with the Foodies Festival Edinburgh in 2006, it has grown into what the organisers claim is the largest food and drink festival in the UK.

Budapest Beer Week (BPBW) turns the capital into a citywide celebration of modern craft beer. Running from 4–10 May 2026, the week blends brewery-led happenings around Budapest with the headline

The RHS Malvern Spring Festival (or Malvern county show) will once more be held at Worcestershire's Three Counties Showground in May. The four-day celebration of everything horticultural is a highlight

Home-made rockets roaring into the skies, dirty humour, cross-dressing parades, mud fests and lots of rice wine – the centuries-old Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival Thailand, or Bun Bang Fai,

The family friendly, UK food festival returns to Roundhay Park in Leeds, West Yorkshire in May. The North Leeds Food Festival celebrates local and international food, with artisan markets, live

The Isle of Wight Walking Festival 2026 will take place from 9 to 17 May and 3 to 11 October 2026

The Newbury Spring Festival is a mix of classical, jazz, folk and chamber music thrown in for good measure. It will take place from 9 to 23 May 2026. Concerts will be performed at St Nicolas’ Church

Probably the most famous – and certainly the most glitzy – film festivals in the world, the Cannes Film Festival, or Cannes Festival to give its official title, is held at the coastal town in southern France

Cambodia celebrates King Sihamoni’s birthday annually with a public holiday on May 14. Until 2020, the event was marked with a three-day public holiday. This has since been slashed to

The Spring Joshua Tree Music Festival is a family friendly, immersive and rejuvenating independent event in the heart of California's stunning desert. From 14 to 17 May 2026, festival-goers will

The 27th International Literature Festival Dublin (ILFD), will be held from 16 to 25 May 2025 in the heart of this most literary city. Where else in the world could be more appropriate

The Bridlington Kite Festival close to the popular Yorkshire coastal resort is held in May 2024. There will be a wide array of kites in various different colours and designs over the two days

If you are a fan of cress then Hampshire is the place to head for this May. Held on 17 May, the 2025 Alresford Watercress Festival will see fifteen thousand

RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the world's most famous horticultural show, returns from 19-23 May, 2026. As the climate crisis bites it affects gardeners and nature in numerous ways. This show