The greatest shows on Earth: 16 events worth crossing the globe for
They call it the “Taylor effect”. When the phenomenally popular American artist Taylor Swift comes to town, it’s a boon not just for her legions of fans, but for the economy of an entire nation.
When Swift toured Australia recently, playing seven concerts across Melbourne and Sydney, experts estimated there was a $300 million boost to the local economy. That boost was enjoyed by hotels, restaurants, airlines, retail shops and many other establishments, such was the influx of visitors keen to see Swift in concert.
Taylor Swift performs during her Eras Tour at Accor Stadium, Sydney in February.Credit: Wolter Peeters
That shows the power of a major travel trend right now: events-based tourism, travel that either incorporates a big event or is based entirely around it.
Concerts are obviously a major driver (a recent survey by Expedia found 70 per cent of respondents were likely to travel to a concert outside their home town), though these events can also be cultural festivals, sporting events and religious rites.
This is a great way to see the world, not just because you get to experience a memorable event, but because these occasions will take you to places you may not formerly have considered visiting, and they will often help you delve deeper into the culture than someone visiting any other time of year.
For those keen to incorporate big events into their travels over the next few years, we have created a list of some of the most exciting and memorable reasons to book a ticket.
FESTIVALS
Mardi Gras, New Orleans, US
New Orleans is always a party town but it kicks up a notch during Mardi Gras.Credit: Getty
The lowdown New Orleans is permanently in party mode, but each year in the two weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday (usually February) the city really kicks into gear for Mardi Gras, with daily parades organised by local social clubs.
Need to know This is a popular time to be in New Orleans and although attendance at parades is free, your hotel booking is the cost of entry. Start planning now for 2025, either independently or through a package-deal operator.
Make a real trip of it There’s so much happening in New Orleans, you won’t be stuck for something to do. Though this time of year is ski season, so why not work in a stay in Colorado or Utah?
Carnival, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Riot of colour … Rio de Janiro Carnival.Credit: Getty Images
The lowdown The beginning of Lent is also famously celebrated in Brazil with Carnival, a week-long riot of colour and pomp in Rio de Janeiro. Millions vie to snag a seat in the Sambadrome.
Need to know Unlike most parades, this is a ticketed event. Official sellers are listed below and are the most trusted sources. Outside of that, tour companies such as Intrepid Travel (intrepidtravel.com) run tours that include Carnival.
Make a real trip of it. An escorted tour is a great idea, as you can easily add on experiences such as visiting Iguazu Falls. Alternatively, travel up to Salvador for the Bahian Carnival.
Lunar New Year, Asia
A lion dance in Beijing to celebrate the Lunar New Year.Credit: Getty Images
The lowdown Most of us have experienced Lunar New Year celebrations in Australia, so you know what you’re in for if you visit China, Taiwan, Malaysia or Singapore at this time of year.
Need to know Lunar New Year in 2025 will be celebrated on January 29. The best cities to visit during this time are Beijing, Guangzhou, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur – all will be busy, so book hotels well in advance. Attendance at events is generally free.
Make a real trip of it Wherever you are in Asia, there will be good food to eat, much of it traditional to Lunar New Year celebrations.
See visitbeijing.com.cn; visitsingapore.com
Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
Oktoberfest: one of the best parties on the planet.Credit: Getty
The lowdown Australian travellers have long been making the pilgrimage each September and October to drink giant beers in giant tents in Munich. Oktoberfest is one of the best parties on the planet.
Need to know Accommodation is the big issue here, and you will need to book well in advance to secure something within Munich. There are plenty of companies running tour packages: Contiki, Insight Vacations and Topdeck Travel to name a few. Entry to the grounds and to individual beer tents is free; beer is definitely not.
Make a real trip of it Head over to Stuttgart where the Canstatter Wasen, also known as the Stuttgart Beer Festival, takes place from September 27 to October 13.
See oktoberfest.de
Diwali, India
Candles on the banks of the Saryu River during India’s Diwali Festival.Credit: Getty
The lowdown Diwali is India’s festival of light, a Hindu celebration of the victory of good over evil, and one that is observed enthusiastically throughout the country. Expect fireworks, firecrackers, fancy clothes, fancy food and a spirit of goodwill.
Need to know The date of five-day Diwali celebrations is determined by the phases of the moon. This year it begins November 1; next year it will be October 21. The best cities to celebrate include Varanasi, Jaipur and Kolkata.
Make a real trip of it A side-trip to the city of Agra to see the Taj Mahal is cliched but essential.
Songkran, Thailand
Tourists spray water guns out of a tuk tuk during the Songkran festival in Bangkok.Credit: Getty
The lowdown Thai New Year, otherwise known as the water festival, is a joyous occasion celebrated every April 13, though everyone will be out partying until at least the 15th.
Need to know The pouring of scented water during Songkran is supposed to be a gentle symbol of purification, but has escalated in modern times into a massive water-fight, often accompanied by loud music and parades. These are all free to attend – just buy yourself a water-pistol, and book accommodation early.
Make a real trip of it Head up to northern Thailand, particularly Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, to appreciate a lesser-visited part of the country. See amazingthailand.com.au
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
Taylor Swift, Europe/North America Tour
Taylor Swift performs in Sydney during her Eras Tour.Credit: Wolter Peeters
The lowdown Australians need little introduction to the phenomenon that is Taylor Swift. And there’s good news for Swifties who want to do it all again: she’s touring Europe and North America later this year.
Need to know Tickets for Swift’s 58 shows across two continents are sold out – though you can pick them up from ticket reseller StubHub, starting from about $820 a pop. Accommodation will also be at a premium, so book now.
Make a real trip of it Whether you find yourself in Stockholm, Lisbon, Liverpool or Miami, there will always be something to do – though you may not want to spend much more. See taylorswift.com; stubhub.com
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scotland
A performer at Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival.Credit: Getty Images
The lowdown This is the world’s largest performance arts festival, when Edinburgh is rammed with comedians, musicians, dancers, actors and more, whose careers can be made or broken on 31 stages throughout the city in August.
Need to know Book now. Tickets are on sale through the festival’s website and more will be released in coming months. Most importantly, you need to book accommodation as soon as possible because Edinburgh in its entirety sells out.
Make a real trip of it Skip over to Glasgow for at least a day – this city isn’t as glamorous as Edinburgh, but it has heart and soul (not to mention top-notch food and drink). See edfringe.com
Coachella Festival, Indio, US
Music fans at Coachella.Credit: Getty
The lowdown Though there are a swag of music festivals worth travelling for (Glastonbury, Rock in Rio, Tomorrowland), probably the highest profile is Coachella, the three-day event that takes place twice in April in California and has starred Beyonce, Radiohead, Jay-Z and Paul McCartney.
Need to know This year’s event is out of reach to those who don’t already have tickets; for 2025, register your interest on the official site and you will be notified of two rounds of ticket sales in early 2025. Most concert-goers camp on site.
Make a real trip of it Indio is just near Palm Springs, so it’s worth making a stop there, as well as leaving time to enjoy LA.
See coachella.com
Venice Biennale, Italy
The lowdown This annual cultural event alternates yearly between exhibitions on art and architecture, featuring different guest curators each year. It runs from April to November.
Need to know Buying tickets is simple through the Biennale’s website, and will cost €40 ($66) for a three-day pass. The exhibition halls are busiest in summer, though particularly so during the Venice Film Festival, which this year is from August 28 to September 7. If you’re a film buff, however, some screenings are open to the public.
Make a real trip of it Take a day trip to Burano, a charming island close to Venice with affordable restaurants and colourful canal-side facades. See labiennale.org
Bruce Springsteen, Europe/North America tour
The lowdown How much longer can The Boss do this? The guy is 74, and yet he still plays three-hour concerts filled with passion and power. Bruce Springsteen is touring this year, with shows across Europe in June and July, and North America from August to November.
Need to know Tickets are still available for Springsteen’s concert at London’s Wembley Stadium on July 27, starting from £98 ($190). There’s a sprinkling of tickets available in North America too, or see stubhub.com for resales.
Make a real trip of it In London, see additional concerts in some of the city’s iconic venues: the Royal Albert Hall, Camden Roundhouse, and the Shepherds Bush Empire. See brucespringsteen.net
SPORT
Wimbledon, London, UK
Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon. Credit: Getty
The lowdown For any sports fan, this is the pinnacle: the Championships at SW19, with Pimms and lemonade, strawberries and cream and royalty both on the tennis court and off. Every July, this is where you want to be.
Need to know Tickets for this year’s event (July 1 to 14) have sold out, though there are ways and means: buy a travel package with a specialist operator such as Keith Prowse Travel (kpt.com.au), which has three-night experiences from $4995 a person; or join “the queue”, a tradition where 500 Show Court tickets are released each day of play. Grounds passes, allowing access to courts three to 18, are also available.
Make a real trip of it You’ve probably run out of money, but there’s good news: most of London’s best museums and art galleries are free. See wimbledon.com
Olympics, Paris 2024 and Milan 2026
French Elite acrobatic team Patrouille de France flyes over the Eiffel Tower during the Olympic Games handover from Tokyo to Paris in 2021.Credit: Getty
The lowdown For sports fans it doesn’t get much better than an Olympics, an absolute extravaganza of athletic achievement. The Paris Games will take place from July 26 to August 11 this year while Milan hosts the Winter Games between February 6 and 22 in less than two years’ time.
Need to know At the time of writing, tickets were still available for a limited number of events at Paris 2024 (tickets.paris2024.org). There are also tour operators such as P1 Travel (p1travel.com) offering package deals. Alternatively, events such as the triathlon and marathon can be viewed for free. For Milan tickets, check milanocortina2026.olympics.com
Make a real trip of it Stick around in Paris for the Paralympic Games, which take place from August 28 to September 8. See paris2024.org; milanocortina2026.olympics.com
NBA playoffs, US
The lowdown The US knows how to put on a sporting spectacle, and the NBA playoffs are the big-time, with some of the most freakishly talented athletes on the planet surrounded by the all-singing, all-dancing production of professional basketball in the US.
Need to know The playoffs happen in April, May and early June, in various locations. Most tickets go to season-pass holders; your best bet is to go to a particular team’s website and navigate to “TicketExchange”, where unwanted tickets are resold, or check secondary-market sites like StubHub and SeatGeek.
Make a real trip of it At this time of year there’s also Major League Baseball; grab tickets in your local city to experience another spectacle.
Essentials nba.com
Tour de France, France
Tour de France riders finish in Le Markstein Fellering, France in 2023.Credit: AP
The lowdown Though this is one of the most gruelling sporting events on the planet it’s also one of the most beautiful, considering the French scenery, and the most affordable, given spectating is free.
Need to know There are two Tours de France: the men’s tour, from June 29 to July 21, and the Tour de France Femmes, from August 12 to 18. The Paris Olympics runs between these two events, so you could make a two-month odyssey of sporting greatness.
Make a real trip of it The Olympics is on so that’s worth considering. Tour attendance will also take you across France, providing the perfect chance to sample each region. See letour.fr; letourfemmes.fr
New York Marathon, US
Runners cross the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge at the start of the New York City Marathon.Credit: Getty Images
The lowdown Here’s a major sporting spectacle that you can take part in. The New York Marathon is held on the first Sunday in November and is the largest marathon in the world. The route covers all five boroughs.
Need to know There are 50,000 spots available for each marathon and more than 100,000 applicants. To secure a spot, you can enter “the drawing”, a lucky-dip system, which is already closed for 2024. Alternatively, book a package tour, including entry, travel and accommodation, with an operator listed on the website below.
Make a real trip of it Go to a concert at Madison Square Garden, see a Knicks game, go to a Broadway show … there are always big events in NYC. See nyrr.org
Major events Down Under worth considering
Pearl Jam and the Pixies, east coast
It’s been 10 years since one of the biggest bands on the planet, Pearl Jam, toured Australia and this November they’re returning with indie favourites the Pixies for five stadium shows on the east coast. At time of writing tickets were still available. See ticketmaster.com.au
Rugby World Cup 2027, nationwide
Though the once-mighty Wallabies tend not to win much these days, there will be plenty of excitement for Australia’s hosting of the Rugby World Cup in 2027 which for the first time will include 24 teams, up from 20, from around the world. Begin your planning now and be ready to pounce on tickets, especially for the final. See australia.rugby
Garma Festival, NT
The opeing ceremony of Garma in 2023.Credit: Rhett Wyman
There are several Indigenous arts and cultural festivals worth travelling for, though perhaps the best of them is Garma, a four-day celebration of Yolngu culture held in remote northeast Arnhem Land of the Northern Territory. The 23rd edition takes place this August 2 to 5; tickets are on sale now. See yyf.com.au
Coldplay, nationwide
Stadium rock bands don’t get much bigger than Coldplay and there’s certainly no one bigger visiting Australia this year. Tickets for Coldplay’s eight shows across Melbourne and Sydney in October and November are sold out, though will be available on the resale market. See coldplay.com
Namedropping, Tasmania
Many people travel to Tasmania purely to visit Mona, the Museum of Old and New Art, even without a specialist exhibition. So you can bet they will come flocking from June 15, when the gallery opens “Namedropping”, a mysterious exhibition inspired by a signed cricket bat, featuring some of the biggest names in art and beyond. See mona.net.au
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Victoria
The largest of Australia’s myriad food and wine festivals, Melbourne packs in nine days of ticketed and public meals, demonstrations and other events featuring some of the world’s best-known chefs. Start planning for next March’s instalment. See melbournefoodandwine.com.au
Vivid Sydney, NSW
This festival of light, music, ideas and food returns this year, running from May 24 to June 15. Expect Sydney to fill up for highlights such as concerts by Air, Underworld, Tasman Keith and Barkaa, food by Danielle Alvarez and Peter Gilmore, and the Lightscape pathway. See vividsydney.com
AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, nationwide
At the time of writing this was not yet official, but Australia is in the box seat to host the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup of Football (the-afc.com). No doubt you remember the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and this tournament will be right up there. Even sooner, Italian giants AC Milan and AS Roma will play a friendly at Perth’s Optus Stadium (optusstadium.com.au) on May 31.
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