Light festivals around the world bring a special magic, lighting up the night with a rainbow of colors. These festivals are more than just pretty lights; they’re a time when people come together to celebrate, share stories, and enjoy the beauty of light.
Imagine streets and skies glowing with lanterns, candles, and artistic light installations. Each festival, from the cozy candlelit traditions of winter holidays to the vibrant lantern releases in Asian celebrations, has its own unique way of making the world a little brighter.
Let’s take a journey to some of the most enchanting and best festivals of light in the world, where every light has a story to tell.
Read more: India itinerary ideas for spending 1 to 4 weeks
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Vibrant Festivals of Light Around the World
Diwali, India
When: 8 November 2026
Where: All across India
Age Group: All age groups
About: Diwali, or the “Festival of Lights,” is the biggest and most important Hindu festival, celebrated with enthusiasm and fervor across India. It is celebrated on the No Moon Day of the Kartik month of the Hindu Calendar. The houses and buildings are dazzling with light, candles, and diyas (small clay oil lamps) and signify the victory of light over darkness.
This Indian festival is celebrated for different reasons across regions. In Northern India, it is believed that on this day, Lord Ram returned to his city, Ayodhya, after an exile of 14 years, having defeated Ravan of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya welcomed their king with lightning rows of diyas. In Southern India, people celebrate the day when Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narkasura. In fact, it is one of the most famous religious festivals worldwide. The festival is celebrated over 5 days, with various rituals and celebrations. People dress up in new clothes, feast on food and sweets, and visit family and friends.
Why Attend: To see the true spirit and be a part of Indian traditions. It is a celebration that brings families and friends together. It is even believed that foes also become friends on this day, forgetting the past. It is the best way to enjoy delicious sweets and delicacies and see the spectacular fireworks all across.
Update: It brings me immense joy to share that Diwali has now been recognised by UNESCO as part of the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, a moment that feels deeply affirming for a festival so rooted in light, togetherness, and tradition.
Dev Deepawali, India
When: The festival is observed on the Kartik Purnima, the full moon in the Hindu month of Kartik. In the year 2026, this auspicious day falls on November 24th.
Where: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Age Group: Dev Deepawali is a festival that welcomes people of all ages, offering a spiritual and cultural experience for everyone.
About: Dev Diwali, or ‘Diwali of the Gods’, is a luminous festival that bathes the ancient city of Varanasi in divine light. It commemorates Lord Shiva’s victory over the demon Tripurasura and marks the birth anniversary of Lord Kartik. It is also traditionally held that this auspicious day marks the advent of Lord Vishnu’s first avatar, Matsya, the fish incarnation. The festival also remembers martyrs of the Indian armed forces. The ghats of Varanasi are illuminated with over a million earthen lamps, creating a celestial ambiance. The day begins with the ritual ‘Kartik Snan’ – a holy dip in the Ganges – followed by the lighting of lamps, home decorations, and the chanting of Vedic mantras. The highlight is the majestic Ganga Aarti, a choreographed ritual featuring large, flaming lamps, set to hymns and prayers.
Why Attend: It’s one of the most beautiful religious festivals of light around the world. Dev Diwali turns Varanasi into a magical city of lights. It’s not just attractive but also brings a feeling of peace and togetherness. The main attraction, Ganga Aarti, is a mesmerizing fire ritual with music. This festival is more than a cultural event; it’s a time for reflection and community spirit under the symbolic lights of good over evil.
Yi Peng Festival, Thailand
Attended by Geena from Beyond the Bucketlist
When: November 24, 2026, and November 25, 2026. The festival falls on the full moon in November.
Where: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Age Group: Children are allowed! A festival for all ages.
About: The Yi Peng festival is often celebrated around the same time as Loy Krathong; they are two completely different festivals. Yi Peng is all about wish lanterns. Colorful paper lanterns are hung all over the city and decorate every alleyway. On the big night of celebration, thousands of large glowing paper lanterns are released into the night sky like a scene straight out of Disney’s Tangled. It’s considered a good omen if your flaming lantern stays lit until you can no longer pick it out of the starry sky.
Why Attend: This is one of the most famous lantern festivals around the world and the most celebrated cultural celebrations in Thailand. Locals crowd the streets, and the ambiance is light and celebratory. It’s an excellent opportunity to interact with the locals of Thailand and also one of the best photographic opportunities in the country. I may be biased since it’s where I got engaged in 2019, but it’s also one of the most romantic festivals in the world.
Make sure to add Chiang Mai to your Northern Thailand itinerary if you’re visiting Thailand around the Yi Peng festival.
Also, you can check out my detailed itinerary to explore the best of Thailand. It’s packed with tips and must-see destinations to help you plan the perfect trip!
Boun Lai Heua Fai (Festival of Lights), Laos
Attended by Marie Moncrieff from A Life Without Borders
When: October 2026
Where: Vientiane and Luang Prabang, Laos
Age group: Family-friendly and suitable for all ages
About: Boun Lai Heua Fai, or the festival of floating boats of light, is celebrated in Laos to mark the end of Buddhist Lent (Awk Phansa). Small round “boats” are made from banana leaves and decorated with colorful flowers, incense sticks, and candles. Once dusk arrives, participants set their boats afloat on the Mekong River, candles glowing, to summon the water spirits and bring good luck for the year ahead.
Why Attend: Boun Lai Heua Fai is one of the most picturesque festivals of Laos. The sight of thousands of candles bobbing along the waterways of Laos is spectacular, and it is one festival where visitors are encouraged to join in. Temples and homes are also decorated with a myriad of tiny candles, turning the evening into a magical, glowing wonderland.
Luang Prabang is particularly worth visiting during Lai Heua Fai to see the colorful paper lanterns adorning temples, shops, and houses throughout the UNESCO World Heritage city. A highlight is the spectacular parade of enormous paper boats lit from within by shimmering candles. Once the beautiful boats have been paraded through town, they are launched into the Mekong River to bring good luck to the city and its people.
Lantern Festival, China
When: Typically on the 15th day of the first lunar month, marking the final day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations.
Where: Across China, with notable celebrations in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi’an.
Age Group: It’s a family-friendly event suitable for all ages.
About: The Lantern Festival, or Yuan Xiao Jie, or Shangyuan Festival, is a radiant celebration that illuminates the night sky of China with the glow of thousands of lanterns. Symbolizing the return of spring and the reunion of family, the festival is replete with cultural significance. It’s a time when lanterns of various sizes and shapes are displayed, some featuring puzzles and riddles for onlookers to solve.
Why Attend: The Lantern Festival offers a mesmerizing experience as lanterns carry wishes and hopes into the skies. Attend traditional dragon and lion dances, savor tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls), and revel in the brilliant fireworks and lantern displays. The festival is not just a visual feast but also an opportunity to engage with Chinese folklore and customs. It’s a perfect culmination of the Chinese New Year period, symbolizing letting go of the past and welcoming a bright future.
Fête des Lumières, France
When: Annually around December 8th
Where: Lyon, France
Age Group: All ages welcome
About: The Fête des Lumières in Lyon is a testament to the city’s historical tradition of expressing gratitude to Mary, the mother of Jesus. This gratitude is illuminated by the city’s vibrant display of lights, with local Lyonnais placing candles in their windows to participate in this enchanting event. As you meander through the streets of Lyon, you’re embraced by the warm glow of innovative light installations and projections that adorn historical buildings, transforming the city into a canvas of light.
Why Attend: This festival is not just a treat for the eyes but also for the soul. Artists from around the world converge in Lyon to showcase their dazzling light art, making it a premier event for artistic expression and cultural exchange. The air is filled with a convivial spirit, making it an ideal place for family and friends to gather and revel in the shared experience of light. Beyond the mesmerizing visual spectacle, the festival offers an immersive cultural experience that celebrates Lyon’s heritage and community spirit.
Las Fellas, Spain
When: From the 1st to 19th March, the main events occur from March 15th to March 19th annually, with the climax on Saint Joseph’s Day.
Where: Valencia, Spain
Age Group: An all-ages spectacle, the Fallas welcomes everyone from children to adults.
About: Las Fallas is a fiery festival that engulfs Valencia in a blaze of celebration and artistry. Monumental, intricate statues known as ‘ninots’ adorn the city, each a satirical masterpiece ripe with political and cultural commentary. As the festival progresses, the city thrives with music, traditional dress, and parades, culminating in the explosive crescendo of ‘La Cremà’.
Why Attend: Beyond the spectacle of flames and fireworks, Las Fallas is an immersive cultural phenomenon. The streets buzz with the energy of communal gatherings, traditional ‘mascletàs’ (firecracker shows), and the vibrant ‘Ofrena de flors’, where a tapestry of flowers is offered to the Virgin Mary. Witnessing the meticulous artistry of the ninots before they are set aflame on the night of La Cremà is an unforgettable reminder of the transient beauty of art and the enduring spirit of community.
Hanukkah
When: Typically begins on Kislev 25, according to the Hebrew calendar, which often corresponds to December. In 2026, the festival runs from the night of December 4th to the night of December 12th.
Where: Celebrated worldwide, especially in regions with Jewish communities.
Age Group: All age groups
About: Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights or Chanukah, spans eight days and is a significant celebration in Jewish culture. It commemorates a historical event at Jerusalem’s Second Temple, where a limited supply of oil, expected to last a single day, miraculously extended to eight days. Each evening, a ritual takes place where a new candle is lit on the menorah, a special candlestand, accompanied by the recitation of prayers and singing traditional hymns.
Why Attend: Hanukkah is celebrated with various traditions, including lighting the menorah, eating fried foods like latkes and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), playing with dreidels, and exchanging gifts. It’s a time of joy, reinforcing themes of resilience and hope. The menorah lighting, often placed in windows or public spaces, symbolizes the universal message of religious freedom.
Vivid Sydney, Australia
Attended by Paula Morgan from Australia Your Way
When: 22 May 2026 to 13 June 2026
Where: Sydney, Australia
Age group: Family-friendly event
About: Vivid Sydney is one of Sydney’s most popular annual events. While it is the light installations beaming on the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge that gain the most attention, the festival combines dozens of light installations, musical performances, and ideas to encourage and celebrate creativity. The 23-day festival attracts more than 3 million visitors per year from around the world.
Why Attend: Sydney Harbour looks beautiful at any time, but when alight with the color of the Vivid Festival, the city turns into a fairyland, a spectacular sight to see. The official Light Walk through the city’s streets includes installations on some of its most historic and iconic buildings, as well as many playful, innovative pieces, allowing visitors to engage with the artworks. Along with exploring on foot, it is also recommended to experience the festival from the harbor on a ferry or a special Vivid Sydney Cruise. Alongside the light, shows are musical performances and a number of public talks and workshops that encourage the idea of creativity as a means for change.
As we wrap up our exploration of the world’s enchanting light festivals, we’re left with a sense of awe, inspiration, and beautiful memories that remind us of how special our world is. Like stars lighting up the night, these festivals remind us to enjoy the bright moments in life. They also remind us that, in a world of diverse cultures and traditions, there’s a shared human experience that shines brightly when illuminated.
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