Travel is not just about what we see, but what we feel, and there’s nothing quite like the power of music and sound to stir the soul. Whether you’re hearing the rhythmic beat of the samba drums or the haunting call of bagpipes, there are some sounds that will forever evoke memories of a destination or experience. If your idea of adventure is to follow your own beat, these world-famous music festivals, parades and performances deserve a spot on your travel bucket list.
The biggest and most colourful event on the Brazilian cultural calendar has been rocking the streets of Rio since 1723. The festival’s beating heart is the purpose-built Sambadrome: a stadium where you can join 70,000 spectators who gather to watch as Rio’s Samba schools attempt to outdazzle each other in their bid to become parade champions. Thunderous drums and soaring brass instruments provide the soundtrack for dancers clad in spectacular, sparkly costumes who shimmy and shake their way along the parade route. Outside the stadium, the party spills into “blocos” (neighbourhood parties), with live bands to entertain the dancing, singing crowds. It’s a five-day explosion of music, colour and joy that you must experience for yourself to really understand.
Hot tip: because the festival is tied to the Christian period of Lent, the specific dates for Carnival vary from year to year. We recommend booking your travel arrangements at least six months in advance. Don’t forget to pack your feathers, glitter and face paint so you can dress for the occasion!
Imagine a neighbourhood of cobbled streets lined with pastel-coloured townhouses, where revellers lean over the wrought-iron, upper-level balconies to watch the nightly parades and throw colourful beads to passing revellers. The tone is set by the insistent beat of drums and the joyful melodies of trumpets and trombones, and everywhere you look, colourful confetti drifts to the street like a fragmented rainbow. New Orleans’ famous French Quarter is a boisterous celebration of music and movement at any time of year, but during Mardi Gras, it is a next-level, fully-immersive, round-the-clock symphony of celebration.
Hot tip: Mardi Gras in New Orleans is another globally famous festival that owes its timing to Easter’s shifting schedule. Celebrations kick off on Twelfth Night (5th of January) and continue until Shrove Tuesday (known as “Mardi Gras” in French). We recommend starting your day with café au lait and a sugar-dusted beignet (doughnut) from the iconic Café du Monde on Decatur Street in the heart of the French Quarter.
For the past twenty years, Europe’s most iconic festival of electronic dance music has been lighting up the Belgian countryside as thousands of partygoers converge on the otherwise tranquil town of Boom. An estimated 400,000 people attend the festival, which stretches over two weekends in July, flocking to De Schorre Park to enjoy the world-class musical acts while soaking up the festival’s unique sense of community and connection. One of the most whimsical features of the festival is its fantasy-inspired theme, which changes each year and infuses every aspect of the festival, from the design of the main stage to the surrounding festival grounds.
Hot tip: tickets to Tomorrowland typically sell out in minutes, so we highly recommend registering for the festival pre-sale. For the full, immersive Tomorrowland experience, book a campsite at DreamVille, which is the festival’s own city within a city. Along with campsites, you can fuel up at smoothie bars and coffee carts, join morning yoga sessions and marvel at the nightly fireworks displays.
Although named for its original location at the foot of Mt Fuji, Japan’s largest outdoor music festival has been held at Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata Prefecture since 1998. Much of the festival’s magic is due to its breathtaking alpine setting, and the organisers go to great lengths to create an event that celebrates its surroundings. When you’re not enjoying the world-class line-up of local and international acts that perform over three days, you can be exploring the tree-lined pathways that connect three separate stages, enjoying local food and craft markets, and even relaxing in hot spring-style outdoor baths nearby.
Hot tip: the festival strives to be as eco-conscious as possible, implementing initiatives like reusable cups, recycling programs, and education about preserving the surrounding forests. The alpine setting means that you’ll have a better time if you are prepared for all kinds of weather, so remember to pack a lightweight waterproof jacket, rain poncho and waterproof boots.
A festival that celebrates the arrival of spring to Spain’s Andalusia region? Sí, nos encanta! Feria de Abril is a week-long carnival that blends centuries-old regional traditions, music and dance, complete with flamenco, marching bands and parades of horses. It began in 1847 as a livestock fair, and takes place annually two weeks after Easter. Celebrations centre around an immense fairground known as the “Real de la Feria,” where you’ll find nightly parties taking place in row upon row of candy-striped tents (casetas). Women wear flamboyant flamenco dresses and men wear intricately embroidered bolero jackets with high waisted pants, dancing to folk music and flamenco guitars.
Hot tip: the Feria is an immersive celebration of traditional Andalucian culture, especially bull-fighting and flamenco. Entry to many casetas is by invitation only, but there are also public casetas where visitors are very welcome to join the fun. You don’t have to be an expert in the art of flamenco to join the nightly dancing – just let the music guide your feet.
For much of the year, the tiny island of St Kitts is a laid-back tropical paradise of coral-fringed beaches, rainforest-clad mountains and lush fields of sugar cane. However, every June, the island’s pretty capital, Basseterre, becomes the location for a world-class showcase of local and international music acts, from reggae and soca to R&B and jazz. You can join the crowds that throng the beaches to sing and dance barefoot in the pristine white sand – the vibe is joyful, shared Caribbean bliss.
Hot tip: the festival was originally conceived to boost tourism to the island nation of St Kitts and Nevis, and in late June 2026 you can join its thirtieth-anniversary celebrations. Be sure to take the short ferry ride across the channel to St Kitts’ sister island, Nevis, which is renowned for its laid-back, unspoiled vibes and incredible scenery.
Every year in June, the Moroccan port city of Essaouira plays host to an incredible celebration of World Music. The festival was conceived to promote traditional Gnaoua music, which was created by descendants of enslaved Africans who were brought to North Africa from what is now Mali, Senegal, Niger and Chad. Modern Gnaoua music fuses its traditional origins (blending spiritual ritual and trance-inducing rhythm) with contemporary jazz, blues, reggae, and hip-hop influences, and the festival line-up echoes its multi-disciplinary nature. The result is an event that combines culture and spirituality to evoke a deep sense of connectedness. If you love music for its power to unite and transform, this festival might be the one for you.
Hot tip: many of the performances that make up the three-day festival are free to attend. There are numerous stages scattered throughout Essaouira, including Moulay Hassan Square and other heritage sites within the Medina (old town). The UNESCO World Heritage listed city is renowned for its lovely beaches and cobbled streets, and sensible footwear is a must as you move from one venue to the next.
As night falls over the city, the stirring sound of massed pipe bands echoes off the ancient stone walls of Edinburgh Castle, accompanied by the thunderous beating of drums and marching feet. An estimated 220,000 people flock to the grandstands that line the castle esplanade over the course of three weeks, drawn to the thrilling performances of military units from all over the world. It’s a thrilling display that combines precision drills, ceremonial pageantry and, of course, the unique music of Scotland’s favourite musical instrument. The 90-minute show concludes with a spectacular fireworks display over the castle that is synched with the final musical performance.
Hot tip: an estimated four million people visit Edinburgh every August to experience the Tattoo as well as the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Fringe Festival which take place at the same time. As a result, accommodation and event tickets are highly sought-after, so be sure to start planning your visit well in advance. The nightly performance takes place in all weather conditions, so we recommend packing a waterproof poncho to provide some protection from Edinburgh’s famously unpredictable weather.
Music has the power to transport us, connect us with other cultures, and turn small, shared moments into lifelong memories. Whether you’re dancing barefoot on Caribbean sands, collecting beads in the streets of New Orleans, or feeling the thunder of pipes and drums in Edinburgh, the world’s greatest festivals offer endless ways to explore the world through sound. If you’re ready to follow the beat to somewhere new and exciting, talk to one of our personal travel managers today.
TravelManagers respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands where we work and gather, and those we visit.
