12 Best Festivals in April Around the World in 2025
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.
2. Kanamara Matsura, Japan
6th April 2025
Kanamara Matsura is a small town that may seem like any other – but the population here has an unusual obsession. They worship Kanamata, who according to legend was once granted special powers by her lover after being badly injured in battle. Though she eventually died from these wounds and closed off access to this mystical power, it lives on through those who still honour her today – with giant wooden penises erected all around town as reminders of her legacy (though some locals claim they’re just for good luck).
The people of Kanamara Matsura have adopted their own strange tradition: erecting giant phallic symbols everywhere possible – from outside shops to residential homes – to pay homage not only spiritually but physically too.
The Kanamara Matsuri is celebrated in Japan and goes back for centuries. As one of the most important festivals in April it celebrates the penis, fertility, and good fortune which are all symbolised by a phallus shaped object called an ‘Ishibutai’.
The yearly celebration of this tradition takes place at Yasukuni Jinja Shrine where people come from across Japan to celebrate and to give thanks for protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
3. Coachella, USA
11th – 13th and 18th – 20th April 2025
Coachella Music Festival takes place in California and brings together some of the most popular musicians from around the world to perform.
Many people make Coachella their yearly festival pilgrimage as it’s hosted many famous artists like Beyoncé, Radiohead, Kanye West and Lady Gaga.
I loved my Coachella experience – check out the best things to do at Coachella here, as well as my top Coachella tips, and my Coachella drinking guide too