There are so many festivals that are held in February each year, so here are 20 of the best February festivals around the world to add to your bucket list!
After the hustle of the holiday season, it’s time to seek travel inspiration for February! As seasoned travellers with a passion for festivals, we know February is brimming with vibrant celebrations worldwide.
Whether in the Northern Hemisphere bidding farewell to winter or the Southern Hemisphere enjoying the last month of summer, February offers a rich tapestry of cultural, spiritual, and culinary delights.
Read on for our list of the 20 best February festivals which will cater to every type of traveller’s taste and curiosity.
N.B. We will updating this list regularly, so if you have any fun festivals around the world or events you think should make the list, please let us know in the comments section.
Worlds Best Festivals in February: Key Takeaways
If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick list of the best festivals around the world to attend in February:
- Cultural Festivals – Carnival in Rio, Carnival of Venice, Jaisalmer Desert Festival in India, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Fashion Week (NY, London, Milan, Paris), Rann Utsav in India, Sa Sartiglia in Sardinia, Tapati in Easter Island, Up Helly Aa in Scotland, Verona in Love Festival in Italy
- Music Festivals – Sanremo Music Festival
- Religious Festivals – Chinese New Year, Sun Festival in Egypt
- Light Festivals – Nagasaki Lantern Festival in Japan
- Ice Festivals – Harbin Ice Festival in China, Sapporo Ice Festival, Winterlude in Ottawa
- Holiday Celebrations – Chinese New year, Cap Go Meh in Indonesia, Maslenitsa (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine), Tet Festival in Vietnam
February Festivals Around the World
In our quest to plan our next travel destination, we research the global festival scene for our chosen month. From the frosty landscapes of Northern Europe to the tropical paradises of Southeast Asia, the countries to visit in February offer a diverse array of cultural festivities and lively gatherings. Join us as we uncover the finest festivals of February, each offering distinctive experiences and indelible memories.
1. Cap Go Meh Festival (Tatung Parade) – Singkawang, Indonesia
Recommended by Marya at ‘The Beau Traveler’
- Where: Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore
- When: Annually on the closing day of the Chinese New Year: 24 February, 2024 | 12 February, 2025
- Duration: 1 day
Cap Go Meh comes from the Hokkien dialect, which derives from the words Cap (ten in Hokkien), Go (five), and Meh (night). Cap Go Meh is celebrated to mark the closing day of the Chinese New Year, which falls 15 nights after the New Year. Since the date of Chinese New Year doesn’t follow the Gregorian calendar, the date of Cap Go Meh can be different every year.
The festival is known as the Yuanxiao or the Shangyuan Festival in China, while Cap Go Meh is mostly used in Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. While many people of Chinese descent celebrate Cap Go Meh, the Tatung Festival in Singkawang is one of the most popular Cap Go Meh celebrations.
Singkawang is a small city in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The Chinese migrated here around three centuries ago, initially working as miners and traders before settling there for generations.
While most of the demographics in Singkawang are Chinese, they also live harmoniously with people from other ethnicities like Dayak, Malay, and Javanese, making it one of Indonesia’s most tolerant cities.
Tatung Parade, the festival celebrated during Cap Go Meh, is one of the many ways to showcase how they can assimilate cultural differences amongst themselves. It is a mixed festival that embodies the Chinese and Dayak cultures that are rich with superstitious and philosophical values.
“Tatung” describes a person who is believed to be possessed by gods or supernatural spirits and the local people come to them to ask about their future, love, career or life in general.
In order to prepare for the parade, Tatungs follow a certain code of conduct in the month leading up to the parade. If they pass the test at a monastery the day before, they can perform the Tatung ritual and join the parade without running the risk of getting injured.
The Tatung Parade starts with a ceremony in a monastery where a spiritual leader gives offerings to the god of prosperity ‘Tua Pe Kong’, before inviting the spirits to possess the Tatungs.
The Tatungs then go into a trance like state and perform supernatural rituals by stabbing themselves with sharp objects and piercing their skin. Afterwards, the Tatungs parade through the city streets as a way to banish evil spirits from Singkawang.
Check availability on accommodation options in Singkawang
2. Carnival – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- When: Annually the week before Lent (February / March): 9 – 14 February, 2024 | 28 February – 5 March, 2025
- Duration: 9 days
Everyone has heard of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro as it is one of the best world events and biggest festival in the world. Carnival is celebrated in many countries around the world, but Rio de Janeiro and Venice are the most popular!
This iconic Brazilian festival arose from the tradition where everyone removed all temptation to wine and dine during the fast for Lent. They did this by eating and drinking lots in the five days leading up to Lent.
Today, the streets of the city are filled with millions of people for these five sleepless days leading up to Lent, celebrating at the biggest street party on earth. Expect to see flamboyant costumes, feathered headpieces, and Brazilian dancers dancing to the sounds of Samba and steel drums.
The best way to enjoy the celebration of Carnival in Rio is to line the streets and watch the parade go by. It is hard not to be impressed by the floats and costumes which take months to make and are some of the most amazing you’ll ever see.
To enjoy this experience of a lifetime, make sure you book early. Accommodation in Rio de Janeiro at this time of year is booked out up to 12 months in advance, and expect to pay double the price for a room than at any other time of the year.
Check availability on accommodation options in Rio de Janeiro
3. Carnival of Venice – Venice, Italy
- Where: Venice, Italy
- When: Annually the week before Lent (February / March): 3 – 13 February, 2024 | 22 February – 4 March, 2025
- Duration: 11 days
The Carnival of Venice or Carnevale di Venezia, is an annual festival held in the beautiful city of Venice, Italy. The most important days of the Venetian Carnival are Fat Thursday (the last Thursday before Lent – 24 February), and Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday – 1 March, the first day of Lent), but the majority of festival goers visit during the weekends of the festival.
With much the same traditional beginning as Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Venetians have celebrated since the 12th Century with parties, and copious amounts of food and wine in the weeks leading up to Lent so they don’t feel like they were missing out during the fasting of Lent.
The first details about carnevale in Venice date back to 1094. Back then, the carnival was an event dedicated to the people from the lower classes, who, through the anonymity guaranteed by masks, could relate with the nobility of the time.
The tradition of wearing masks has continued and the locals’ love of them is revived every year with masked balls, mask contests and masquerade pub crawls.
In addition to the official events, various private parties and masked balls are organized in the beautiful Venetian palaces. In these venues, due to the almost unchanged furnishings and atmosphere, it is possible to relive the ancient splendours of Carnivals of the past.
Some of the highlights of the Venice Carnival are the Venetian Feast on Water which is the grand opening of the carnival, Festa delle Marie, Flight of the Angel, Flight of the Eagle, and the Best Mask Contest, which is the Grand Final concluding the festivities.
Check availability on accommodation options in Venice
4. Chinese New Year’s Festival – Worldwide
- Where: Worldwide
- When: Annually in January and/or February: 10 – 27 February, 2024 | 29 January – 14 February, 2025
- Duration: 16 days
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most celebrated event on the lunar calendar. The exact dates are decided by the lunar calendar and normally fall between mid-January and as late as the end of February.
Traditionally the Chinese New Year festival lasts for 16 days with these notable dates:
- New Year’s Eve on February 9th, 2024 | February 28th, 2025
- New Year’s Day on February 10th, 2024 | February 29th, 2025
- The Lantern Festival on February 24th, 2024 | February 12th, 2025
The official public holiday marks the turning of a new leaf for most as they spend time with their family and loved ones. 2024 marks the year of the Dragon and 2025 is the year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac.
Although not a religious festival, families have their own rituals and traditional activities scheduled throughout the week including visiting a temple to make an offering to the Buddha or the gods, for blessings for a prosperous new year.
Generally, ancestors are honoured in the home with incense, flowers and candles. However, Chinese New Year is publicly celebrated all around the world and a walk through any city’s Chinatown is an amazing experience.
You will see festivities such as street parades, lion dances, elaborate dragons, and stilt-walking. What makes Chinese New year celebrations special is how the Chinese people come together, with the spirit of their cultural identity on display.
Check availability on accommodation options in your chosen city
5. Fashion Week – New York, London, Milan and Paris
- Where: New York, London, Milan and Paris
- When: Annually in February and September
- New York: 9 – 14 February 2024 | 2025 dates TBC
- London: 16 – 20 February, 2024 | 2025 dates TBC
- Milan: 20 – 26 February, 2024 | 2025 dates TBC
- Paris: 26 February – 5 March, 2024 | 2025 dates TBC
- Duration: 6 days
New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks are clothing trade shows that take place twice a year – in February and September and are the most exciting times of the year in the fashion calendar. Showcasing over 250 designers to a global audience of fashion lovers, influential media and buyers, these are the ‘Big Four’ fashion weeks in the world.
The shows bring new collections and trend inspiration for the coming season, whereby the February show displays the coming Autumn / Winter fashions, whilst the September show displays the coming Spring / Summer fashions.
The fashion shows are exclusive and ticket only, but there are parts of the events which are open to the public and you may even catch a glimpse of one of your favourite models. For example, in London Somerset House is open to the public and you can freely walk around taking photos.
Check availability on accommodation options in New York, London, Milan and Paris
6. Harbin Ice Festival – China
- Where: Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China
- When: Annually in December through to February: 17 December 2023 – 28 February 2024 | 20 December 2024 – 28 February 2025
- Duration: Approx. 68 days
We have added the Harbin Ice Festival to our post on the ‘Best Festivals in January” as the opening ceremony officially takes place in this month. However, this festival can also be enjoyed from December through to February each year.
Read more about the Harbin Ice Festival in China in our post on the Best Festivals held in January Around the World
7. Jaisalmer Desert Festival – Jaisalmer, India
- Where: Jaisalmer, India
- When: Annually in February: 8 – 10 February, 2024 | 2025 dates TBC
- Duration: 3 days
The Jaisalmer Desert Festival is an annual event that takes place in February in the city of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India. It is held in the Hindu month of Magh, three days prior to the full moon.
The festival is celebrated amongst the sand dunes of the Thar Desert. This festival showcases the traditional culture of Rajasthan and is considered to be one of the best Indian festivals in February.
The legend about the beginnings of this festival is that Lord Krishna, ruler of Yadav community told Arjuna (one of the Pandavas) that a successor belonging from the Yadav community will set up his kingdom on the Trikuta Hill. In the year 1196, the prediction made by the Lord Krishna came true, when Rawal Jaiswal, a descendant of the Yadav clan, established his kingdom in Jaisalmer.
Celebrations were organized throughout the kingdom, when the people came to know that the prophecy had come true.
The festival commences with a procession in the morning and locals dress in traditional and bright costumes. They sing and dance depicting the tragedies and accomplishments of the desert. The Gair and the fire dance are highlights of the festival, as are the gymnastic acts by the Kalabaz, a group of local nomads. Festival goers will also enjoy the folk music and ballads.
Other unique festivities to watch or participate in include contests from camel racing and camel polo to turban tying. One of the highlights is the moustache competition! Long beards and moustaches are symbols of honour in Rajasthan so there is some serious competition.
The selection and crowning of Mr. Desert and Miss Moomal involves the men dressing up in traditional finery with swords while young, unmarried girls deck up in heavy, traditional clothes and jewellery, looking like brides.
Check availability on accommodation options in Jaisalmer
8. Mardi Gras Festival – New Orleans, USA
Recommended by Jenny at ‘Traveling Party of 4’
- Where: New Orleans, USA
- When: Annually on a Tuesday in February or March: 13 February, 2024 | 4 March, 2025
- Duration: Approx. 14 days around Fat Tuesday date
The Famous (and often infamous) Mardi Gras Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana, occurs yearly beginning twelve days after Christmas and culminating in an epic final day, Fat Tuesday, which is the day before Ash Wednesday.
This is one of the best celebrations in February around the world and the festival brings party seekers from all over the world for family fun, mostly, but a bit of debauchery awaits for some.
Parades highlight the days with colourful floats carrying mask-wearing revellers from different krewes (groups or organisations) tossing beads, doubloons, and other trinkets to the kids.
Following the daily parades, party-goers attend street concerts with dedicated cajun music and dance, eat the best food and drink in the world, and enjoy a little bit of chaos and a lot of indulgence.
And in the morning, unless you are sleeping off the night before, grab a cup of strong coffee and chicory from Café Du Monde and a plate of beignets, and start over. It’s all part of the experience.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is not all hedonism and adult entertainment as is its reputation. There is something for everyone, from daily family fun to a night out with your besties or date night with your significant other. You may attend a lavish five-course meal prepared in front of you by a world-renowned chef or a Black Tie ball where you can dress red carpet ready.
Mardi Gras is also a time for family bonding, making new friends, appreciating traditional religious rituals, or simply enjoying the company of good people on the streets of New Orleans.
And one more thing, the King Cake, which is basically pastry dough twisted into a circular cake resembling a crown, covered in purple and gold icing and sugar crystals. There is always a plastic baby hidden in the King Cake. The tradition states that whoever has the slice that holds the baby has to supply the King Cake for the next party.
Check availability on accommodation options in New Orleans
9. Maslenitsa – Russia, Belarus and Ukraine
Recommended by Ellis at ‘Backpack Adventures’
- Where: Russia, Belarus and Ukraine
- When: Annually in the week before Orthodox Easter (February and/or March): 11 – 17 March, 2024 | 24 February – 2 March, 2025
- Duration: 7 days
Maslenitsa is one of the oldest Slavic holidays celebrated throughout places like Russia, Belarus and Ukraine and traditionally marks the end of winter. The festival lasts a whole week. In the Orthodox calendar it falls on the week before Lent and the eight weeks before Orthodox Easter. Although the exact dates are different each year it is usually somewhere at the beginning of March.
Because it is the week before the fasting period of Lent, it is the last chance for people to indulge themselves in sugar and dairy products that are soon no longer permitted. Therefore it is also known as ‘butter week’ or ‘pancake week’. The pancakes are not only delicious, but also symbolize the sun.
Maslenitsa fairs pop up all over the country with 7 days of activities and merrymaking. Here you can find lots of different pancakes and other baked goods rich in butter, milk and eggs. Most popular are pancakes with sour cream and caviar. As the snow will soon disappear, traditional games like sleigh riding and snow ball fighting are also very popular. Even organized fistfights are part of the game.
Maslenitsa ends on Sunday with the burning of Lady Maslenitsa in a huge bonfire. The best places to see the Maslenitsa festivities are the bigger cities like Moscow or Saint Petersburg. Saint Petersburg with its royal and elegant architecture is particularly scenic. Most palace gardens in and outside of the city will open up to the public with Maslenitsa fairs full of joyful activities and of course, lots of pancakes.
