2026 European Events

Europe is a treasure trove of festivals, exhibitions, competitions and concerts. As more 2026 dates are finalized, we’ll expand on this list. (Note: Planned dates can change; ALWAYS verify the dates before booking travel.)

  • Paris, France: Henri Rousseau: The Ambition of Painting – Through-July 20
    About fifty major works retracing the “Douanier” Rousseau’s career exhibited at Musée de l’Orangerie.
  • London, UK: Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition –Through July 27
    The Bayeux Tapestry travels to the British Museum for the first time in its 950-year history, depicting the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 across 70 meters of embroidered linen.
  • Hohenems, Austria: Schubertiade Festival – Through August, early October
    A chamber music festival near Lake Constance featuring the work of Franz Schubert.
  • Scottish Highlands, UK: Highland Games – Through September
    A celebration of Highland games and culture held in various towns in Northern Scotland.
  • Venice, Italy: Venice Biennale – Architecture –Through November 22
    The world’s most important international architecture exhibition, staged in Venice’s historic pavilions and arsenale, exploring the future of the built environment through installations and national pavilions.
  • Verona, Italy: Arena di Verona Festival – June 12-September 12
    An opera festival with performances in an ancient Roman arena
  • Somerset, UK: Glastonbury Festival –June 25–29
    The world-famous performing arts festival held at Worthy Farm in Somerset, England, featuring hundreds of musicians, comedians, and performers across dozens of stages over five days.
  • Basel, Switzerland: The Federal Yodeling Festival – June 26-28
    10,000 participants from all over Switzerland are expected. Alphorn blowing and flag throwing will also be featured.
  • Montreux, Switzerland: Montreux Jazz Festival – July 3-18.
    Held annually on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland, this is one of the world’s most iconic music festivals, showcasing jazz alongside rock, pop, and soul. Legendary performances in a stunning lakeside setting. Tickets go on sale in April.
  • Bayonne, France: Fêtes de Bayonne – July 9-13
    A festival of Basque culture featuring traditional dress, street music, bull‑running‑style events, and popular dances.
  • Salzburg, Austria: Salzburg Festival – July 17-August 30
    A classical music series featuring operas and concerts from the world’s best musicians.
  • Boom, Belgium: Tomorrowland –July 17–19 & 24–26
    One of the world’s most celebrated electronic music festivals, held across two weekends in De Schorre park near Antwerp, featuring 15+ stages, immersive stage design, and a lineup including Martin Garrix, Calvin Harris, and David Guetta under the 2026 theme Consciencia.
  • Aarhus, Denmark: Aarhus Jazz Festival –July 31–August 9
    One of Europe’s premier jazz festivals, transforming the Danish city of Aarhus into an open-air concert venue with hundreds of free and ticketed performances across the city’s streets, squares, and clubs.
  • Helsingbord, Sweden: World Choir Games – August 6-16
    The world’s largest international choral festival and competition. It brings together amateur choirs from across the globe for a vibrant mix of competitions, concerts, workshops and “friendship concerts.
  • Edinburgh, UK: Edinburgh International Festival –August 7–31
    One of the world’s leading celebrations of the performing arts, bringing together the finest artists from across the globe to Edinburgh for three weeks of theatre, opera, music, and dance.
  • Edinburgh, UK: Edinburgh Festival Fringe –August 7–31
    The world’s largest performing arts festival, transforming Edinburgh into a creative playground for three weeks each August with thousands of performances spanning theatre, comedy, dance, circus, and music across hundreds of venues citywide.
  • Budapest, Hungary: Sziget Festival –August 11–15
    Known as ‘The Island of Freedom,’ Sziget takes over a 100-hectare island in the heart of the Danube for five days of world-class music, theatre, circus, and art installations, headlined in 2026 by Twenty One Pilots, Florence + the Machine, and Lewis Capaldi.
  • Barcelona, Spain: La Mercè – Tentatively September 20-24
    La Mercè Festival is Barcelona’s biggest annual celebration, held each September in honor of Our Lady of Mercy, the city’s patron saint. Parades, human towers (castells), fireworks, concerts, and the thrilling “correfoc,” where costumed devils dance through sparks and fire.
  • London, UK: Van Eyck: The Portraits – November 21, 2026 – April 11, 2027
    Once in a lifetime experience: for the first time ever, all nine known painted portraits by Jan van Eyck from across Europe will be displayed together. VanEyck revolutionized portraiture, introducing realism using minute details and natural light.
  • Amsterdam, Netherlands: Amsterdam Light Festival –November 27–January 18
    A spectacular outdoor exhibition illuminating Amsterdam’s historic canals and city center with stunning light artworks created by artists from around the world.