First h
27 to 30 Dec
Heathrow rail closure: Christmas Dolphin Junction works
No Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express trains to Heathrow; the Piccadilly line is the only train service. Full post.
our guides are about landing well. This calendar is about landing at the right moment. Every event below is checked and dated, and each one links to the first hour guide for its city, so you can plan the ride in, the first ticket and the first meal around it. Pick a city, pick your dates, and land ready.
November 2026
12 Nov to 5 Dec
World in Harmony, Music without Borders
Tai Kwun autumn outdoor music festival in the Prison Yard, six programmes to 5 December. Full post.
13 Nov to 26 Dec
Vienna Christkindlmarkt, Rathausplatz
Europe’s benchmark Christmas market, in front of the City Hall. Full post.
From 13 Nov
Christmas at Kew
The gardens’ after dark light trail, a season long favourite.
13 to 16 Nov
Festival Internacional del Globo
More than 200 balloons over León, an easy trip from Guanajuato city and San Miguel de Allende.
León, Guanajuato
14 Nov to 3 Jan
Paris Christmas Markets (Tuileries La Magie de Noel)
La Magie de Noel in the Tuileries Garden: about 95 chalets, rides, an ice rink and the big wheel. Full post.
14 Nov to 6 Jan
Christmas Travel 2026 Roundup
Six covered Christmas trips in one post: London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Singapore and New York City, each with dates, its own post and its guide. Full post.
15 Nov
Sinterklaas arrival
The steamboat arrival that opens the Dutch festive season.
17 Nov to 3 Jan
Christmas on a Great Street
Orchard Road’s free Christmas light up along the hotel corridor.
18 Nov to 5 Jan
Hong Kong WinterFest
The Tourism Board flagship season: Winter Wonderlands in Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay. Full post.
19 Nov to 3 Jan
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
London’s biggest Christmas fair, open the whole season. Full post.
20 to 22 Nov
Corona Capital
Gorillaz, Twenty One Pilots and The Strokes at the Autódromo. Full post.
21 Nov to 6 Jan
Madrid Christmas lights switch on
More than 250 lit sites switch on across the city.
22 Nov
NFL Mexico City Game: Vikings at 49ers
The NFL returns to the renovated Estadio Banorte. Full post.
22 Nov to 4 Jan
Champs-Élysées illuminations and Christmas market
The avenue’s Christmas market returns after about a decade away.
From 23 Nov
Berlin Christmas markets main opening
The city’s dozens of markets open their main season. Full post.
24 Nov
Loy Krathong
Thailand’s festival of lights, on rivers and waterways.
26 Nov
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, 100th edition
The centenary parade, with balloon inflation on 25 November. Full post.
26 Nov to 17 Jan
Amsterdam Light Festival
Light art along the canals, Edition 15: Legacy. Full post.
27 Nov to 3 Jan
Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay
The 13th edition at the Supertree Grove and The Meadow. Full post.
27 to 29 Nov
Dubai 7s
The rugby sevens weekend that opens Dubai’s winter season.
27 Nov to 2 Jan
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
The classic holiday production, all season.
27 Nov to 23 Dec
Fira de Santa Llucia
The 240th edition of Spain oldest Christmas market at Placa de la Catedral, more than 200 stalls. Full post.
28 Nov to 6 Dec
Feria Internacional del Libro
The world’s biggest Spanish language book fair, 40th edition.
29 Nov to 7 Jan
SNFCC Christmas World
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center Christmas World in Kallithea: a free canal ice rink daily 10:00 to 22:00, the Dreamscape light festival and December concerts. Full post.
December 2026
1 Dec to 6 Jan
Piazza Navona Christmas market and Festa della Befana
Rome’s Christmas market, running to the Befana on 6 January. Full post.
1 to 12 Dec, peak 11 to 12 Dec
Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe
About 13 million pilgrims expected at the Basílica. Full post.
1 Dec to 10 Jan
DXB Winter Festival
A new waterfront winter festival at Festival Bay, Dubai Festival City Mall, with more than 150 vendors. Full post.
2 Dec
Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting
The tree is lit, and on display to mid January. Full post.
2 and 3 Dec
UAE National Day
The two federal public holidays marking the unification of the seven emirates, citywide in Dubai. Full post.
3 to 6 Dec
BTS World Tour Arirang in Bangkok
Three stadium shows at Rajamangala National Stadium; the official listing reports sold out. Full post.
4 Dec to 17 Jan
Dubai Shopping Festival
Six weeks of sales, concerts and fireworks nights. Full post.
4 to 6 Dec
Clockenflap
Music and arts festival at Central Harbourfront. Full post.
4 to 6 Dec
Singapore Marathon
The city’s big race weekend. Full post.
5 Dec
Simi Fest 2026
Third edition at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez: Snoop Dogg, Justice, Moby, Miguel and Chet Faker. Full post.
5 to 8 Dec
Manga Barcelona
The 32nd edition at Fira Barcelona Gran Via, tickets online only. Full post.
8 and 9 Dec
Champions League: Barcelona v Manchester City, Arsenal v Real Madrid
Two away fan invasions in two nights, Camp Nou and the Emirates.
11 to 27 Dec
The Nutcracker, Miami City Ballet
The holiday production across the Art Week tail and Christmas.
11 to 13 Dec
Sole DXB
The festival of music, fashion, art and sport, this year at The Square, Nad Al Sheba. Full post.
11 to 13 Dec
Tomorrowland Thailand
The first full scale Tomorrowland in Asia, at Wisdom Valley near Pattaya. Full post.
11 to 13 Dec
Game On, Dreamers! Singapore Playfest
The gaming and esports playfest at Marina Bay Sands Expo. Full post.
16 to 24 Dec
Las Posadas and Christmas Season
Nine nights of posadas across Mexico City neighborhoods, 16 to 24 December. Full post.
17 to 22 Dec
BTS World Tour Arirang in Singapore
Four sold out National Stadium shows, plus the BTS THE CITY ARIRANG program running island wide all month. Full post.
17 to 30 Dec
Navidades en Mexico
Ballet Folklorico de Mexico at Chapultepec Castle on seven December nights. Full post.
23 Dec
Noche de Rábanos
The Night of the Radishes: carved radish scenes, one night only.
24 Dec to 1 Jan
Christmas and New Year in Athens
Syntagma Square celebrations; the city program is published each December. Expected dates. Full post.
25 Dec
NBA Christmas Day: Spurs at Knicks
The Christmas Day game at Madison Square Garden.
29 to 31 Dec
Comiket 109
The world’s biggest fan convention, at Tokyo Big Sight. Full post.
30 Nov to 6 Dec
Art Basel and Miami Art Week
Public fair days 4 to 6 December, in Miami’s peak week. Full post.
30 Dec to 2 Jan
Phish at Madison Square Garden
A four night New Year run ending with the band 100th performance at the Garden. Full post.
31 Dec
Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Drop
The global countdown, pens and all. Full post.
31 Dec
Mayor of London New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Ticketed riverside viewing over the Thames. Full post.
31 Dec
Puerta del Sol New Year and San Silvestre Vallecana
The twelve grapes at midnight, and the famous 10k that afternoon.
31 Dec and 1 Jan
Silvesterpfad and New Year’s Concert
The New Year trail through the old town, then the famous concert.
31 Dec
New Year’s Eve on the Champs-Elysees
The city celebration at the Arc de Triomphe. Full post.
31 Dec
New Year’s Eve at Montjuic
The official city celebration on the hill. Full post.
31 Dec and 1 Jan
Miami New Years Eve at Bayfront Park
Countdown and fireworks at Bayfront Park on Biscayne Bay. Full post.
31 Dec and 1 Jan
New Years Eve in Cancun
Fireworks over the lagoon and the beach bars of the Hotel Zone. Full post.
31 Dec
Marina Bay New Year Countdown
The Marina Bay countdown and fireworks over the bay. Full post.
31 Dec
New Year Countdown at CentralWorld
The CentralWorld countdown, with ICONSIAM running 27 to 31 December. Full post.
31 Dec
New Year Eve at Burj Khalifa
The Emaar fireworks and light show on the Burj Khalifa. Full post.
31 Dec and 1 Jan
New Year’s Eve at Circo Massimo
The city New Year concert night at Circo Massimo, expected for 2026. Full post.
31 Dec and 1 Jan
New Year at Brandenburg Gate
The Silvester open air celebration at the Brandenburg Gate. Full post.
31 Dec and 1 Jan
New Year in Istanbul
Taksim and Bosphorus celebrations across the city. Full post.
31 Dec
New Year’s Eve at Praca do Comercio
Fireworks over the Tagus at Praca do Comercio, expected for 2026. Full post.
31 Dec to 1 Jan
New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam
The first New Year under the national consumer fireworks ban; the 2026 programme is expected. Full post.
January 2027
1 Jan
London New Year’s Day Parade
Free, central, and far less fought over than the night before.
1 Jan
Rome New Year’s Day Parade
Marching bands bring in the year through the historic centre.
1 to 3 Jan
Hatsumode and Shogatsu: Tokyo New Year
The first shrine and temple visits of the year, across Tokyo. Full post.
To mid Jan
Rockefeller Center tree, final days
Your last chance at the tree before it comes down. Full post.
5 Jan
Three Kings parades (Cabalgatas)
The kings arrive by parade on the eve of Epiphany in both cities.
6 Jan
Día de Reyes
Three Kings Day, the gift giving heart of the Mexican season.
7 to 10 Jan
Out of the Blue Festival
Noah Kahan destination festival at Moon Palace Cancun; attendance by all inclusive package only. Full post.
10 Jan
Bangkok Marathon
The 37th edition, starting on Sanam Chai Road. Full post.
15 to 17 Jan
Art Deco Weekend
The free Ocean Drive festival hosted by the Miami Design Preservation League. Full post.
To 17 Jan
Dubai Shopping Festival, final weeks
The festival tail, with the New Year crowds gone. Full post.
17 Jan
Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon
The race from Nathan Road to Victoria Park. Full post.
17 Jan
Dubai Marathon
The 26th edition of the Dubai Marathon. Full post.
29 Jan to 1 Feb
Berlin Fashion Week
The winter edition of Berlin Fashion Week. Full post.
31 Jan
Life Time Miami Marathon
The marathon and half marathon across the causeways. Full post.
February 2027
3 to 7 Feb
Zona Maco Art Week
Latin America’s leading art fair at Centro Banamex, and art week across the city. Full post.
4 to 9 Feb
Cancun Carnival
Carnival week ahead of Ash Wednesday; the city schedule is announced weeks ahead. Expected dates. Full post.
4 Feb
Vienna Opera Ball
The Opera Ball at the Vienna State Opera. Full post.
5 to 9 Feb
Lisbon Carnival
Carnival through to Carnival Tuesday on 9 February; the Lisbon program is not yet announced. Expected dates. Full post.
6 to 9 Feb
Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year)
Lunar New Year holidays, 6 to 9 February, across Hong Kong. Full post.
6 to 8 Feb
Chinese New Year
Lunar New Year holidays, 6 to 8 February, across Singapore. Full post.
6 Feb
Chinese New Year in Yaowarat
Lunar New Year on Yaowarat Road, the Bangkok Chinatown centerpiece. Full post.
8 Feb to 8 Mar
Ramadan in Dubai
The holy month in Dubai: iftar evenings and late night markets. Expected dates. Full post.
8 Feb to 8 Mar
Ramadan in Istanbul
The holy month in Istanbul: iftar at Sultanahmet and mahya lights. Full post.
10 to 21 Feb
Berlinale (Berlin International Film Festival)
The Berlin International Film Festival, 10 to 21 February. Full post.
13 to 15 Feb
Coconut Grove Arts Festival
Three days of art in Coconut Grove. Full post.
19 to 21 Feb
EDC Mexico
Electric Daisy Carnival at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Full post.
19 to 20 Feb
Chingay Parade
Parade 1 on 19 February and Parade 2 on 20 February. Full post.
21 Feb to 15 Mar
Apokries Carnival and Clean Monday
The Athens carnival season, closing with Clean Monday kite flying. Full post.
25 to 28 Feb
South Beach Wine and Food Festival
More than 100 events across Miami Beach and Miami. Full post.
27 Feb to 4 Apr
Spring Break Cancun
The spring break season, peak expected in mid March. Expected dates. Full post.
March 2027
1 to 4 Mar
Mobile World Congress (MWC Barcelona)
Mobile World Congress at Fira Gran Via, 1 to 4 March. Full post.
3 to 7 Mar
ARCOmadrid
The international contemporary art fair at IFEMA. Full post.
7 Mar
Tokyo Marathon
40,000 runners on a course across the city. Full post.
7 Mar
EDP Lisbon Half Marathon
Race day in Lisbon, starting on the 25 de Abril Bridge. Full post.
9 to 11 Mar
Eid al-Fitr (Ramazan Bayrami)
Three days of holiday across Istanbul at the end of Ramadan. Full post.
9 Mar
Eid al-Fitr
The end of Ramadan in Dubai, expected on 9 March, subject to moon sighting. Full post.
10 Mar
Hari Raya Puasa (Eid al-Fitr)
Eid al-Fitr in Singapore, a gazetted public holiday on 10 March. Full post.
13 and 14 Mar
Vive Latino
The Vive Latino festival at Estadio GNP Seguros. Full post.
14 Mar
Calle Ocho Music Festival
Fifteen blocks of music and food on SW 8th Street, Little Havana. Full post.
14 to 28 Mar
Miami Open Tennis
Two weeks of ATP and WTA tennis at Hard Rock Stadium. Full post.
14 Mar
Run Rome The Marathon
The Rome marathon, starting on Via dei Fori Imperiali. Full post.
14 Mar
Zurich Marato Barcelona (Barcelona Marathon)
The Barcelona marathon, sold out for 2027. Full post.
17 Mar
New York City St Patricks Day Parade
The 266th parade up Fifth Avenue, led by Grand Marshal John Samuelsen. Full post.
18 Mar to 9 May
Keukenhof Tulip Season
The spring garden outside Lisse opens for its short season, reached as a day trip from Amsterdam. Full post.
20 Mar
Spring Equinox at Chichen Itza
The serpent shadow on El Castillo, a day trip from Cancun. Full post.
21 to 28 Mar
Holy Week and Easter in Rome
Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday in Rome and the Vatican. Full post.
21 to 28 Mar
Semana Santa in Cancun
Holy Week at peak season in Cancun. Full post.
25 to 27 Mar
Art Basel Hong Kong
Three public days at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. Full post.
25 Mar
Greek Independence Day
The 25 March parade in central Athens and what closes. Full post.
26 to 28 Mar
Ultra Music Festival Miami
Three days of electronic music at Bayfront Park, Downtown Miami. Full post.
27 Mar
Dubai World Cup
The 31st Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse, the finale of the Racing Carnival. Full post.
April 2027
4 Apr
ASICS Marathon de Paris
The 50th edition of the Paris Marathon. Full post.
7 to 11 Apr
Art Dubai
The art fair at Madinat Jumeirah, public days 9 to 11 April. Full post.
8 to 18 Apr
Istanbul Film Festival
The 46th edition of the IKSV festival. Full post.
9 to 11 Apr
Hong Kong Sevens
Three days of rugby sevens at Kai Tak Stadium. Full post.
10 to 13 Apr
SIAM Songkran Music Festival
Four days at Bravo BKK RCA, across the Songkran holiday. Full post.
13 to 15 Apr
Songkran in Bangkok
Thai New Year water festival; Khao San Road is the backpacker centerpiece. Full post.
18 Apr
Vienna City Marathon
The Vienna City Marathon on Sunday 18 April. Full post.
18 Apr
Istanbul Half Marathon
The Istanbul Half Marathon on Sunday 18 April. Full post.
19 Apr to 2 May
Mutua Madrid Open
Two weeks of tennis at the Caja Magica. Full post.
21 Apr
Natale di Roma
Rome birthday: the parade on Via dei Fori Imperiali and Circus Maximus reenactments. Full post.
23 Apr
Sant Jordi (Day of Books and Roses)
Books and roses across the city on 23 April. Full post.
24 to 25 Apr
TCS London Marathon
The two day marathon weekend, Greenwich to Westminster. Full post.
25 Apr to 2 May
Orthodox Holy Week and Easter
Holy Week in Athens, from Palm Sunday to the midnight Resurrection service. Full post.
25 Apr
Zurich Rock ‘n’ Roll Madrid Marathon
Race day in Madrid on Sunday 25 April. Full post.
25 Apr
Poseidon Athens Half Marathon
Race day in Paleo Faliro, start and finish at Flisvos Marina. Full post.
27 Apr
King’s Day
The orange street party for the king’s birthday. Full post.
29 Apr to 5 May
Golden Week
The holiday run in Tokyo, 29 April to 5 May. Full post.
May 2027
5 to 16 May
Italian Open Tennis
The Internazionali at the Foro Italico, the last big clay stop before Roland Garros. Full post.
6 to 16 May
San Isidro Festival
The patron saint days around the 15 May feast. Full post.
10 to 14 May
Cheung Chau Bun Festival
The island festival, main day 13 May. Full post.
14 to 17 May
Karneval der Kulturen
The Carnival of Cultures: parade on Sunday 16 May and the Blucherplatz street party. Full post.
15 May to 17 Sep
Whale Shark Season Cancun and Isla Mujeres
The swim season opens 15 May. Full post.
16 to 19 May
Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bayrami)
The four day public holiday in Istanbul. Full post.
18 to 22 May
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
The show in Chelsea, 18 to 22 May. Full post.
23 May to 6 Jun
Roland Garros (French Open)
Main draw at Roland Garros, 23 May to 6 June. Full post.
June 2027
2 to 6 Jun
Primavera Sound Barcelona
The 25th edition at the Parc del Forum. Full post.
3 to 27 Jun
Holland Festival
The 80th edition of the performing arts festival. Full post.
4 to 6 Jun
We Love Green
The festival at Bois de Vincennes. Full post.
5 Jun
Nuit Blanche
The all night arts festival across the city. Full post.
9 Jun
Dragon Boat Festival (Tuen Ng Festival)
Races across the harbour beaches on the gazetted holiday. Full post.
11 Jun
Summer Night Concert at Schonbrunn
The Vienna Philharmonic open air concert in the palace gardens. Full post.
12 to 13 Jun
Festas de Lisboa (Santo Antonio)
The Santo Antonio nights: marchas, sardines and street parties. Full post.
16 to 27 Jun
European Games Istanbul 2027
The multi sport Games, 26 sports across the city. Full post.
17 to 19 Jun
Sonar Barcelona
The 34th edition of Sonar by Day and by Night. Full post.
21 Jun
Fete de la Musique
Music Day: free music in streets and squares across Paris. Full post.
Travel disruption alerts
Strikes, closures and engineering works that change the ride in, checked against operator and union announcements.
13 Nov
FAA nationwide ground stop: all US departures
All departing flights at all US airports held until further notice from 3:54 pm Eastern on 13 November after an air traffic control communications failure; flights in the air may land. Full post.
10 Aug to 17 Dec
Paris Orly runway closure
Runway 4 closed for renovation; about 3,000 flights cancelled or moved to Charles de Gaulle. Full post.
From 28 Oct
Madrid to Andalusia high speed line closure
Line closed since the 28 October Urda collision; reopening reported around 13 to 14 November, not confirmed. Full post.
7 to 16 Nov
A train closure: what it means for JFK
No A service Rockaway Blvd to Lefferts Blvd; Howard Beach keeps its trains. Full post.
From 7 Nov
FAA flight cuts: JFK, LaGuardia and Newark
Domestic cuts at the three New York airports step up to 10 percent on 14 November and run while the shutdown continues; international flights exempt. Full post.
From 7 Nov
FAA flight cuts: Miami and Fort Lauderdale
The same FAA order cuts domestic flights at MIA and Fort Lauderdale, rising to 10 percent on 14 November with no end date; international flights exempt. Full post.
10 to 17 Nov
Spain strike week: Barcelona
General strike 11 November, Renfe drivers 10 and 12 November, sector strike 17 November. Full post.
10 to 17 Nov
Spain strike week: Madrid
The same national strike week, through Barajas and the Cercanías. Full post.
14 to 15 Nov
Northern line closed in central London
No daytime Northern line trains between Euston and Morden or Battersea Power Station; replacement buses run, Night Tube cut back. Full post.
19 Nov
Spain rail strike: second Adif day, Barcelona
SCF calls a second 24 hour Adif strike; minimum services not yet published. Full post.
19 Nov
Spain rail strike: second Adif day, Madrid
The same second Adif day through Barajas and the Cercanias. Full post.
20 to 21 Nov
Italy strikes: Rome trains, flights and Fiumicino
General strike 20 November, rail strike into 21 November; the air traffic stoppage is called off. Full post.
23 Nov
Spain rail strike: Renfe drivers strike, Barcelona
SEMAF calls a Renfe drivers strike; hours and minimum services not yet published. Full post.
23 Nov
Spain rail strike: Renfe drivers strike, Madrid
The same drivers strike day through Barajas and the Cercanias. Full post.
26 Nov, 17 and 19 Dec, 4 and 6 Jan
London Tube strikes, five RMT dates
24 hour strikes from midday on each date. Full post with the Heathrow plan.
16 Nov to 11 Dec
Paris RER B evening closures
Weekday closures from 22:45 between Châtelet and CDG, with replacement buses. Late evening arrivals, take note.
19 to 23 Dec
Lisbon: easyJet cabin crew strike; Santa Apolónia station closed
The station closure runs for several months on the Blue Line. Full post with the strike plan.
All season
Cancún airport roadworks and Terminal 1 closure
Arrivals route via the one way road; allow extra transfer time all season.
28 to 29 Nov
Heathrow rail closure: Dolphin Junction works
No Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express trains to Heathrow all weekend; the Piccadilly line is the only train service. Full post.
4 Dec
Italy general strike: Rome and national rail
A national general strike on Friday 4 December, with rail struck from 21:00 on 3 December. Full post.
14 Dec
Rome airport ground handling strike
Aviation Services ground handling stops for 24 hours at Fiumicino and Ciampino. Full post.
15 Dec
Italy taxi strike
A national taxi strike from 08:00 to 22:00, the flat rate airport taxi included. Full post.
Ready to plan the trip around your event? Start with plan your trip.