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
2013 Festival dates and information: February | March | April | May | June | July | August | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
January
2013 
| 5 - 27 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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17 - 27 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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18 - 20 January |
USA, Miami, Florida Art Deco Weekend - in the Miami Beach Historic Art Deco District with 1920's-30's style music and parades. A colourful blast from the past.
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7 - 17 February |
CANADA, Vancouver, Vancouver Comedy Fest - an annual 10 day event with global comedians starring.
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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 only, so NOT 2013.
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21 February - 22 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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21 February - 22 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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8 - 17 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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22 March - 7 April |
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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21 March 2012 |
SOUTH AFRICA, Cape Town Festival - international talent in an eclectic mix of art events all over town. Cape Town Pictures
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12 - 14 & 19 - 21 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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15 - 26
May |
FRANCE Cannes International Film Festival - the world's most glamorous film festival, every year. Festival de Cannes
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| 10 May - 16 June |
AUSTRIA Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwochen) - 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 - 19 June 2012
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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
- August TBA |
GREECE Athens & Epidaurus Festival - one of would's most famous theatrical event with drama, dance and music. Staged at ancient theatres including the 2,000 year old outdoor Odeon of Herodes Atticus at the base of Acropolis Hill and the theatre of Delphi. Location, location, location. Athens Pictures
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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 - 9 July 2012 |
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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15 June - 8 July |
SWITZERLAND, Zurich Festival - international artists perform drama, music, opera.
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25 - 28
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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20 - 24 June |
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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21 June - 14 July |
SPAIN, Granada International Festival of Dance and Music - a superb event in varied, amazing locations such as the spectacular Alhambra. Granada Pictures.
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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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26 - 30 June and |
USA, Washington DC Smithsonian Folklife Festival - Smithsonian Institute, National Mall. Music, song, dance, crafts, cooking, storytelling, discussions.
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28 June - 24 Aug. |
USA, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe Opera - a brilliant series of shows in a superb new opera house.
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11 June - 31 July 2012 |
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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4 - 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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5 - 26 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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11 July - 11 August |
AUSTRIA ImPulsTanz - a dynamic and diverse international contemporary dance festival across the whole of regal Vienna.
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15 - 28 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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9 - 18 August |
IRELAND, Kilkenny Arts Festival - Ireland's oldest multi arts festival with music, theatre, literature, dance, visual art and craft, set in superb surroundings. Every summer it draws over 25,000 visitors to the city.
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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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12 - 18 August |
CANADA, Montréal Pride - a huge performing arts festival, gay, but not exclusively so. Free concerts, shows, parties conferences and more.
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9 August - 1 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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15 - 25 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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12 - 18 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. It is also know for its Irish music competition run by Comhaltas. Hosted by a different town every year: 2013 will be in historic city of Derry, the first time in the festival's history.
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16 Aug - 1 Sept |
FINLAND, Helsinki Festival - a festival including concerts, performance arts, parties and children's events in Helsinki
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26 August - 2 Sept. |
USA, Burning Man Black Rock Desert near Reno, Nevada - a week of unique, liberal and artistic madness, culminating in the torching of many structures. It's challenging and organisation will be required, but this could be a life changing experience. Burning Man Pictures and Information, SW USA Map
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31 August
- 2 September |
USA, Seattle, Washington State, Bumbershoot at Seattle Center - over 2,000 artists, many world famous, perform art of every kind from top flight rock to comedy, drama, poetry and bizarre sculptures.
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| 5 - 14 October
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HUNGARY Budapest Autumn Festival - music, drama, dance, exhibitions, poetry and kid's stuff in interesting Budapest. |
26 September - 6 October |
NEW ZEALAND, World of Wearable Art Awards Show (WOW) in Wellington - a unique, bizarre and fascinating occasion for both artists and fashionistas. New Zealand Guide | NZ Pictures | WOW Video
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