Arts Festivals
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Art Festivals focus on dance, drama, cinema, lierature and other art-oriented activities [as well as music] and are usually set in spectacular, interesting locations. They can be expensive; accommodation and even tickets may need to be booked well beforehand.
Maps: North America | South America | Europe | Africa | Oceania | Asia
Calendar Dates
are sometimes unconfirmed and occasionally
unreliable, so check before booking.
TBC/A = To Be Confirmed/Announced
2012 Festival dates and information: February | March | April | May | June | July | August | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
January
2012 
| 7 - 29 January |
AUSTRALIA Sydney Festival - the biggest cultural event in the country, Sydney covers the arts from drama to music in international style but sadly lacking a mad Fringe. Sydney Pictures
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19 - 29 January |
USA, Park City, Salt Lake City, Utah, Sundance Film Festival - founded by Robert Redford in 1981, this is the USA's largest independant cinema festival, introducing its audience to some of the most original films of the last 30 years.
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28 January - 8 March |
CHINA Hong Kong Arts Festival - a prime international arts festival, one of the best in Asia, featuring both overseas and local artists of the performing and visual arts. Hong Kong Travel Guide.
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28 January - 8 March |
CHINA Hong Kong Arts Festival - a prime international arts festival, one of the best in Asia, featuring both overseas and local artists of the performing and visual arts. Hong Kong Travel Guide.
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[Fringe] |
AUSTRALIA Adelaide Fringe - the country's largest and possibly wackiest festival. A huge, colourful and unhinged event - Edinburgh in the sun. Adelaide Pictures and Information. The formal Adelaide Festival happens every 'even' year on even numbers.
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28 January - 8 March |
CHINA Hong Kong Arts Festival - a prime international arts festival, one of the best in Asia, featuring both overseas and local artists of the performing and visual arts. Hong Kong Travel Guide.
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[Fringe] |
AUSTRALIA Adelaide Fringe - the country's largest and possibly wackiest festival. A huge, colourful and unhinged event - Edinburgh in the sun. Adelaide Pictures and Information. The formal Adelaide Festival happens every 'even' year on even numbers.
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9 - 18 March |
USA, Austin, Texas, South by Southwest Week [SXSW]. An annual film, music and interactive festival/conference, featuring original films, up and coming recording acts and cutting-edge media technologies. Looking for the next big thing? This is for you.
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16 - 26 March |
HUNGARY Budapest Spring Festival - all sorts of arts, music, drama, dance, exhibitions, poetry and kid's stuff, local and international, in the pleasant city of Budapest
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18 - 21 March |
SOUTH AFRICA, Cape Town Festival - international talent in an eclectic mix of art events all over town. Cape Town Pictures
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April
2012
13 - 15 & 20 - 22 April |
USA, California, Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival - 2 weekends of 3-day festivals featuring many genres of music in a desert; with several stages and a large campground this is regarded as one of the USA's best music events.
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16- 27
May |
FRANCE Cannes International Film Festival - the world's most glamorous film festival, every year. Festival de Cannes
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| 28 - 30 May |
AUSTRIA Vienna Festival - this 5 week event offers a wide range of arts, especially music, naturally, but also dance and theatre, sometimes challenging pieces, all set in magnificent buildings. Vienna Pictures
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23
May - 9 June 2011 |
ISRAEL, Israel Festival [of music and performing arts], in Jerusalem. Dance, opera, drama and music from some of the world's most talented artists. Israel Travel Guide
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June - July TBA |
GREECE Athens Festival - drama, dance and music in the 2,000 year old outdoor Odeion theatre at the base of Acropolis Hill. Location, location, location. Athens Pictures
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| 11 June - 9 July 2011 |
INDONESIA Bali Arts Festival, Denpasar [near Kuta Beach]. A very exciting month of traditional song and dance embraced by the whole island, with processions and performances of all kinds all over Bali.
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8 - 10 June |
USA, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival. Over 100 tribes pow-wow and celebrate their heritage with song and dance.
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11 June - 31 July 2011 |
SPAIN, Barcelona Summer Festival [Festival de Barcelona] - known as Grec Festival, named after its main venue, is an art and culture event with theatre, dance and music. Barcelona Travel, Photos
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15 June - 8 July |
SWITZERLAND, Zurich Festival - international artists perform drama, music, opera.
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19 - 22
June |
ENGLAND, Cambridgeshire, near Huntington, Secret Garden Party - an arty independant music/art festival where visitors walk around in fancy dress. The event has a theme each year and develops into a temporary community, featuring several music stages, theatre shows, films, games, talks, workshops and art installations. Secret Garden Party offers original and extraordinary activities similar to USA's Burning Man. Kids love it too!
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23 June for the Parade |
GERMANY Christopher Street Day [Berlin CSD Parade] and Lesbian and Gay Festival [Berlin Pride Festival] in Berlin - probably the biggest European gay parade and street party.
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27 June - 1 July and |
USA, Washington DC Smithsonian Folklife Festival - Smithsonian Institute, National Mall. Music, song, dance, crafts, cooking, storytelling, discussions.
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13 June - 31 July |
SPAIN, Barcelona Summer Festival [Festival de Barcelona] - known as Grec Festival, named after its main venue, is an art and culture event with theatre, dance and music. Barcelona Travel, Photos
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5 - 27 July |
FRANCE, Aix-en-Provence, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence - International Festival of Lyric Art , a popular summer arts festival, especially for classical music.
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7 - 28 July |
FRANCE, Avignon, Festival d'Avignon, a dynamic and diverse Arts festival, boasting over 50 official productions and many more fringe affairs in the stunning historic city of Avignon.
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12 July - 12 August |
AUSTRIA ImPulsTanz - a dynamic and diverse international dance festival across the whole of regal Vienna.
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| 29 June
- 3 July 2011 |
MOROCCO, Marrakesh [Marrakech] Popular Arts Festival [Folklore Festival]- Morocco's most interesting city hosts the country's best arts and music festival, sending Marrakesh's hyperactive Djamaa el Fna [square] into orbit during this time.
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16 - 29 July |
IRELAND, Galway Galway Arts Festival - Ireland's biggest arts jamboree, with all kinds of entertainment, street, theatre, music, kid's, exhibitions, concerts...
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| 23, 30 July TBC |
MEXICO La Guelaguetza or Los Lunes del Cerro [Mondays of the Hill] in Oaxaca - a lively and historic folk dance, music and costume festival; Mexico.
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25 July - 28 August |
GERMANY Wagner Festival [Bayeruther Festspiele] at Bayreuth - very expensive and elitist, held in the unusual theatre that Wagner built.
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25 July - 28 August |
GERMANY Wagner Festival [Bayeruther Festspiele] at Bayreuth - very expensive and elitist, held in the unusual theatre that Wagner built.
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10 - 19 August |
IRELAND, Kilkenny Arts Festival- music, theatre, dance, exhibitions set in superb surroundings.
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| 10 - 12 August every year [International] |
IRELAND Puck Fair in Killorglin, County Kerry. A large and loony street fair with plenty of singing, dancing and horse shows, and all overseen by King Puck - a goat. Ireland Guide
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9 - 14 August |
CANADA, Montreal Pride - a huge performing arts festival, gay, but not exclusively so. Free concerts, shows, parties conferences and more.
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10 August - 2 Sept. [International] |
SCOTLAND Edinburgh International Festival, and Edinburgh Festival Fringe - over a thousand shows of all kinds, ranging from opera to stand-up comedy, from near porn to mere corn. A monster art attack in great Edinburgh city. Not to be missed. Edinburgh Festival Pictures.
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16 - 26 August |
CANADA, Edmonton Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival in Alberta - wacky theatre of all kinds from over 1,000 performers in the city's historic heart.
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10 - 20 August |
IRELAND Fleadh Cheoil - a huge celebration of Ireland's music, dance and arts, with over 10,000 musicians roaming and playing all over the place. Hosted by a different town every year; 2010 in Cavan.
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17 Aug - 2 Sept 2012 |
FINLAND, Helsinki Festival - a festival including concerts, performance arts, parties and children's events in Helsinki
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| 7 - 16 October 2011
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HUNGARY Budapest Autumn Festival - music, drama, dance, exhibitions, poetry and kid's stuff in interesting Budapest. |
27 September - 7 October |
NEW ZEALAND, World of Wearable Art Awards Show in Wellington - a unique, bizarre and fascinating occasion for both artists and fashionistas. New Zealand Guide | NZ Pictures
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