Events, Festivals and Exhibitions

Festivals in Europe

Discover amazing world festivals, events and exhibitions
 
  • Poblet de Nadal (Christmas Village) 2025, Andorra la Vella, Andorra

    Plaça del Poble & Centre Històric (core areas of the Christmas Village) Andorra la Vella, Andorra

    Andorra la Vella’s Christmas Village, the ‘Poblet de Nadal’, turns the capital into a festive playground with wooden stalls, family shows and glittering installations. Centred on Plaça del Poble and

    Free
  • Merano Christmas Market 2025, Merano, Italy

    Passeggiata Lungo Passirio / Kurhaus area Merano, Italy

    Merano pairs alpine scenery with belle‑époque elegance, and its Christmas Market makes the most of both. Rows of cosy huts line the Passer river, with warming mulled wine, Südtiroler specialities,

    Free
  • Bressanone (Brixen) Christmas Market 2025, Bressanone (Brixen), Italy

    Piazza Duomo / Domplatz Bressanone (Brixen), Italy

    Bressanone’s Christmas Market unfolds beneath the cathedral towers on Piazza Duomo, with wooden huts selling artisan gifts, tree decorations and regional delicacies. Expect choirs, brass bands and a leisurely, family‑friendly

    Free
  • Porvoo Christmas Path 2025, Porvoo (near Helsinki), Finland

    Various spots along the city centre & Old Town, Porvoo Porvoo (near Helsinki), Finland

    Porvoo, one of Finland’s prettiest wooden towns, strings a festive ‘Christmas Path’ through the centre on weekends from 29th November to 21st December 2025. Expect cosy stalls, carousels and mulled

    Free
  • Tampere Christmas Market (Joulutori) 2025, Tampere, Finland

    Keskustori (Central Square), 33100 Tampere Tampere, Finland

    Tampere’s Joulutori fills Central Square with wooden cottages, crafts and daily entertainment from 29th November to 22nd December 2025. Arrive a week earlier for the pre‑market atmosphere, then return for

    Free
  • Yulefest Kilkenny – Christmas Market 2025, Kilkenny, Ireland

    The Parade (in front of Kilkenny Castle) Kilkenny, Ireland

    Kilkenny’s Yulefest brings a welcoming, small‑city vibe to Christmas with a market on The Parade against the backdrop of Kilkenny Castle. Weekend stalls showcase Irish makers, seasonal bakes and warming

    Free
  • Fira de Santa Llúcia 2025, Barcelona, Spain

    Avinguda de la Catedral / Pla de la Seu Barcelona, Spain

    Dating back to 1786, the Fira de Santa Llúcia spreads out before Barcelona Cathedral with rows of stalls selling trees, decorations and Catalan traditions like caganers and Tió de Nadal.

    Free
  • Vilnius Christmas Market Lithuania 2025

    Cathedral Square Vilnius, Lithuania

    If you are thinking of a slightly alternative Christmas market in Europe away from Vienna, Salzburg and Dresden you would do far worse that considering the Vilnius Christmas market. Vilnius

  • Riga Christmas Market (Dome Square) 2025, Riga, Latvia

    Doma laukums (Dome Square), Old Town Riga, Latvia

    Riga’s Old Town hosts one of the Baltics’ most atmospheric Christmas markets, centred on Dome Square beneath the towers of Riga Cathedral. Expect artisan gifts, woollens and wooden toys, along

    Free
  • Dubrovnik Winter Festival (Christmas Market) 2025, Dubrovnik, Croatia

    Stradun (Placa) and various sites from Lazareti to Lapad Dubrovnik, Croatia

    Few places feel as cinematic at Christmas as Dubrovnik’s Old Town. The Winter Festival strings lights along Stradun, the polished limestone promenade, and scatters wooden kiosks and performance stages through

    Free
  • Village de Noël 2025, Calais, France

    Place d’Armes Place d’Armes, Calais, Hauts-de-France, France

    Calais runs two festive hubs rather than one long linear market. The Village de Noël takes over the covered hall on Place d’Armes with a seasonal ice‑rink (30‑minute sessions), a

    Free
  • Old Town Square Christmas Market 2025, Prague, Czechia

    Staroměstské náměstí (Old Town Square), 110 00 Praha 1 Prague, Czechia

    Prague’s Old Town Square hosts the Czech capital’s flagship Christmas market, flanked by the gothic Týn Church and the baroque St Nicholas. Wooden chalets heap with hand‑painted baubles, carved toys

    Free
  • Wenceslas Square Christmas Market 2025, Prague, Czechia

    Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square), 110 00 Praha 1 Prague, Czechia

    Wenceslas Square complements Old Town’s headline market with a lively strip of chalets selling seasonal snacks and gifts along the historic boulevard. With two metro stations on the square and

    Free
  • Advent Zagreb 2025, Zagreb, Croatia

    Trg bana Josipa Jelačića (Ban Jelačić Square) and multiple city-centre sites incl. Zrinjevac & European Square Zagreb, Croatia

    Advent Zagreb is Croatia’s flagship Christmas celebration and one of Europe’s most decorated festive events. The city centre becomes a constellation of themed zones, with cheerful market stalls, street food

    Free
  • Advent Rijeka 2025, Rijeka, Croatia

    Korzo (city promenade) and Trsat Castle Rijeka, Croatia

    Rijeka’s waterfront city centre comes alive for Advent with a chain of installations and kiosks along Korzo and up at Trsat Castle. Expect street performances, regional flavours and sparkling decorations

    Free
  • Debrecen Advent 2025, Debrecen, Hungary

    Kossuth tér & Piac utca, 4025 Debrecen Debrecen, Hungary

    Nestled in the heart of eastern Hungary, the historic city of Debrecen dresses itself in festive splendour each winter for the beloved event known as Debrecen Advent. As the days

    Free
  • Sigtuna Christmas Market (Sundays) 2025, Sigtuna (near Stockholm), Sweden

    Stora torget & Stora gatan, 193 30 Sigtuna Sigtuna (near Stockholm), Sweden

    Sigtuna’s Christmas Market unfolds on four Advent Sundays—30th November, 7th, 14th and 21st December 2025—turning Sweden’s oldest town into a festive promenade along Stora gatan. Expect choirs, Lucia processions and

    Free
  • Fairytale Celje (Pravljično Celje) 2025, Celje, Slovenia

    Glavni trg & Old Town, 3000 Celje Celje, Slovenia

    Celje’s ‘Fairytale City’ returns with weeks of free events, concerts and children’s shows spread across the historic centre. As European Christmas City 2025, Celje puts on an especially elaborate programme,

    Free
  • Tartu Christmas City 2025, Tartu, Estonia

    Tartu Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats) Tartu, Estonia

    Tartu’s Town Hall Square becomes a snug winter village, with lights strung above glass pavilions and a daily programme that keeps the square lively throughout Advent. Expect Estonian handicrafts, warming

    Free
  • Interested in Festivals in Europe?

    Given the diversity of the continent, it will come as little surprise that there is a breadth and diversity amongst the festivals in Europe celebrated each year. Some of our European Festivals are world-renowned, but others featured in our pages, such as the White Nights Festival in St Petersburg and the Dour Festival in Belgium might need an introduction.

    Music Festivals in Europe

    Each summer, the whole continent seems to explode into a festival of music, with everyone taking to the outdoors to enjoy the music. One of the largest and most popular European music festivals is the Sziget Festival in Hungary, held each August. Other events include Tomorrowland Europe, Pukkelpop in Belgium and Zurich Tanzt, a celebration of music and dance. If you are a fan of jazz, then Jazz Brugge or Vinterjazz in Copenhagen could be just the ticket for you. Or, why not try the Tallinn Music Week in Estonia?

    Beer, Wine and Food Festivals

    If you wish to want to avoid the crowds at Oktoberfest then perhaps you should head to Belgium for either the Bruges Beer Festival or Zythos Bier Festival. Wine lovers looking for something a bit different could try the National Wine Day Moldova in the capital city of Chisinau, or for a food festival with a twist then how about the Onion Market in Weimar, in Germany, or Spain’s Gran Festa de la Calçotada, if spring onions are your thing.
    Carnivals in Europe
    While you might be forgiven for associating the carnival with South America, Europe has many a carnival that predates Rio. One of the oldest is the Venice Carnival, although the Nice Carnival and Cologne Carnival (Fastelovend) are also well worth a visit. Or if you like your carnival descending into a historical food fight then the Battle of Oranges in Italy is a must. Alternatively, try the typically Belgium quirky Carnaval de Binche.

    Christmas Markets and Winter Festivals

    In the build up to Christmas, most of Europe is a frenzy of Christmas Markets and Winter Festivals. Salzburg Christmas Market provides a typically Austrian take on the festive occasion, while Dresden Christmas Market and Vienna Christmas Market are equally steeped in tradition. Alternatively, if you are not in a festive mood then you can always visit the Amsterdam Lights and watch the capital of the Netherlands major winter festival turn the city on.And don't worry, we haven't forgotten that the UK is part of Europe, as we have a separate page for Festivals in the UK.