12 Best Festivals in April Around the World in 2026
There are loads of great festivals in April to go to. It’s the start of the big festival season in the western world, and it’s down to you to make the most of it!
Time to get that summer of festivals started with these wonderful April celebrations around the world!
April traditionally means Easter on this side of the world, and you know what Easter means aside from eggs and pancakes? Festivals!
The April festival calendar is a delight. Things are getting serious for the year from now on. If you want to start off your festival year right, then get yourself tickets to one of these, and get your friends involved too!
1. Beltane Fire Festival, Edinburgh
30th April 2025
Beltane is a Celtic festival once celebrated throughout the world by many different cultures. Beltane celebrations include bonfires, where people walk around or between them as part of purification rituals and to offer their wishes for fertility in this new season and bright shining fires against darkness as a symbolic reminder of light overcoming dark forces and hopefully bringing peace on earth.
The Beltane Fire Festival takes place annually at Calton Hill just outside Edinburgh’s city centre with thousands descending upon it every year from all over Europe. The celebration includes plenty more than fire though – there’s live music, dance performances, storytelling events and even an overnight campfire ceremony.
There are music performances throughout the park as well as traditional Highland Games such as tossing stones weighing 3lb each over your shoulder while running 7 yards backwards without turning round, jumping rope using alternate feet only and throwing hammers as far as possible.