Is there a better way to experience a country than by attending one of its festivals? There are thousands of different festivals held annually around the world, from food-focussed to music or religious festivals. Some people will head to a specific destination to attend a festival. They offer an immersion into local culture and a deeper look at local life. There are of course a wide range of festivals which also offer up a platform to see a range of global megastars all in one place. Below are a selection of festivals in some of our favourite destinations, from the foodie-friendly Sani Festival in Halkidiki, Greece, to the more holistic Mauritius Wellness Festival. 

Cannes Film Festival: 

Cannes Film Festival, previously known as the International Film Festival, is filled with glitz and glamour and there is no better venue for it than the chic town of Cannes, France. Showcasing documentaries, world-cinema hits and blockbuster films, Cannes is the place for celebrities and the elite film world to be seen, it is an invite-only festival for the cinematic world. 

This doesn’t however mean that during the annual festival generally held in May, that Cannes is reserved exclusively for celebrities. It is the perfect place to spot the rich and famous. With upwards of 200,000 extra guests arriving in Cannes during the film festival it can be excellent for a day trip to soak up the ambience as well as for staying for the whole festival.

Junkanoo Festival: 

Is there a better time to be in the Bahamas than over Christmas and New Year? The sunny weather is absolutely perfect for an ideal festive break and there’s also so much fun to be had as the Junkanoo Festival takes ahold of the country. 

The Junkanoo Festival is at its biggest and best on the island of Nassau and the carnival takes over with thousands of colourful costumes, dancers and musicians parading through the streets. The streets come alive when the Junkanoo parade comes to town. With months of planning, it is a spectacle to behold with performances throughout the day and the night during the festival. There are prizes to be won for the best music, best costume and best overall group presentation taking part in the parade.

Knysna Oyster Festival:

Knysna is a waterfront town in the heart of the Garden Route in South Africa. The annual Knysna Oyster Festival takes place around the end of June to early July and is a celebration of oysters. It is also a chance to embrace the fun and festivities which attracts tourists and locals alike. Ironically Knysna is actually no longer home to oyster farms and most oysters come from along the coastline from Algoa Bay and Saldanha Bay. However the festival has been celebrated for over 30 years and shows no signs of stopping!

The festival typically runs for just over a week and combines cuisine, sport and culture. There’s a wide range of events put on including fun run races, mountain bike tours, snorkelling, surfing, children’s art competitions, balloon parties and promotional offers at local restaurants where sampling the seafood is a must. Make sure to pair some South African oysters with a beautifully crisp South African white wine!

Lucca Summer Festival: 

In Italy’s Tuscany region, the city of Lucca has been hosting an annual summer festival for over 20 years. A celebration of popular music, the festival has hosted some big names in recent years including Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Florence and the Machine. 

However, this is not a traditional music festival. Forget the wellies and muddy fields, this festival oozes style. Many of the artists perform in Lucca’s historic main square and the balmy summer evenings are the perfect setting. Tie this in with a holiday to Tuscany and enjoy the delicious food and wine in this picturesque setting. A more grown-up festival that takes place in June and July each year it is one to add to your wish-list.

Mauritius Wellness Festival: 

A wellness festival in Mauritius, set within the Indian Ocean is an idyllic combination. The beautiful natural surroundings and scenery, white sandy beaches, clear warm waters and a three day programme of wellness experiences, workshops and empowerment is certainly a winning combination.

The Mauritius Wellness Festival takes place at the C Beach Club on Heritage Bel Ombre, part of the Heritage Resorts. For utter ease, stay at the Heritage Awali Spa & Golf. There are typically over 60 workshops encompassing mind, body and soul and global leaders in their fields. The six core dimensions to the festival are: mind-body practice, nature connection, holistic health, personal development, artistic expression and spirituality. There’s also live music, local artwork, environmental initiatives and wellness activities for little ones ages three to 17 years.

Sani Festival: 

Sani Resort is one of the best known luxury holiday brands in the Mediterranean. The ‘resort’ is positioned on the Halkidiki Peninsula in Greece and provides perfect summer holidays for both couples and families alike. The resort encompasses five hotels, each different in character: Porto Sani, Sani Asterias, Sani Beach, Sani Club and Sani Dunes.

Sani Resort hosts an annual festival which showcases the best of the arts and entertainment, showing both Grecian and International. The festival’s trademark is Jazz on the Hill where legends of the jazz world showcase their prowess. There’s also world music, Greek music and classical music, a theatre programme and film screenings. For those who prefer fine dining to the arts, Sani Resort also hosts Sani Gourmet which brings together Michelin star chefs from around the globe for a gastronomic experience normally in April or May of each year.

Sauti za Busara Festival: 

Hosted in Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar, Sauti za Busara means the ‘sound of wisdom’ in Swahili. The festival is a celebration of music, celebrating Swahili and African music and it takes place over four days and nights in the middle of February each year in a beautiful setting.

Artists travel from all over Africa, there is a strong presence of Zanzibar based musicians, as well as Kenyans, Mauritians and Moroccans. The festival brings a carnival atmosphere to Stone Town and hosts many on-the-fly collaborations as well as local music events.

Zermatt Unplugged:

One of the main events in the Swiss Alpine calendar alongside the likes of ice polo in St. Moritz, is Zermatt Unplugged. It attracts artists of international fame and guests to go with it. The picturesque ski resort of Zermatt hosts the festival annually in mid-April for a week of music in the Alps. Running later in the season often ensures stunning bright blue skies and warm afternoons, providing the perfect setting to enjoy the music.

Zermatt Unplugged has a number of stages around both the village and on the mountain and a festival feeling takes over the town with music running late into the night. There are stripped back ‘Sunnega Sessions’ world-class jam sessions at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club @ Mont Cervin Palace and the ‘Blue Lounge’ for daytime festivities at 2,580 metres. Artists who have previously played the festival include James Bay, Norah Jones, Kodaline, James Blunt, Jess Glynne and of course Ronnie Scott’s All Stars.

If you are keen to discover a few more festivals then there are a number more which we have looked at in depth in our blog, Spanish festivals with a difference, why not take a read of this blog here.