Where to go in December 2026
161 events around the world in December 2026, with their dates. Open one to see fares from your city for those days, and we'll alert you when they drop.
North America: 32 events in December
Chilkat bald eagle gatheringHaines, Alaska, United StatesUsually late October to early DecemberThe largest concentration of bald eagles on earth, thousands on the cottonwoods above a late salmon run.
Bryant Park Winter VillageNew York, New York, United StatesOctober 28 to January 3, 2027A holiday market of about 180 kiosks and a free-admission ice rink in the middle of Midtown Manhattan.
Monarch butterflies at Pacific GrovePacific Grove, California, United StatesUsually early November to late JanuaryThousands of monarchs cluster in a eucalyptus grove in a seaside town that calls itself Butterfly Town.
Distillery Winter VillageToronto, Ontario, CanadaNovember 12 to January 3, 2027Toronto's Christmas market on the cobblestone streets of the Distillery District, with a 50-foot tree and more than 40 food vendors.
Christkindlmarkt BethlehemBethlehem, Pennsylvania, United StatesNovember 13 to December 20, 2026One of the biggest Christmas markets in the U.S. at SteelStacks, with artisans, German food and St. Nicholas.
Montreal Christmas MarketsMontreal, Quebec, CanadaNovember 13 to January 3, 2027The Great Christmas Market in the Quartier des spectacles and the free Christmas Village near Atwater Market.
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of LightsNiagara Falls, Ontario, CanadaNovember 14 to January 10, 2027Millions of lights along the parkway, the falls lit in color every night, and fireworks over the gorge.
Snow geese liftoff at Bosque del ApacheSocorro, New Mexico, United StatesUsually mid November to late JanuaryTens of thousands of snow geese explode off a desert wetland at sunrise.
Bald eagle gatheringSquamish, British Columbia, CanadaUsually mid November to late JanuaryThousands of bald eagles crowd riverbank trees to feast on a late salmon run.
Manatee season at Crystal RiverCrystal River, Florida, United StatesUsually mid November to late MarchHundreds of manatees crowd into warm springs on cold mornings, in the one place you may swim with them.
Vancouver Christmas MarketVancouver, British Columbia, CanadaNovember 16 to December 24, 2026A German-style Christmas village of wooden huts on the Vancouver waterfront, with Glühwein, a pyramid and a carousel.
Quebec City German Christmas MarketQuebec City, Quebec, CanadaNovember 19 to December 23, 2026Wooden chalets and mulled wine inside the walls of the only fortified city north of Mexico, under real snow.
Christkindlmarket ChicagoChicago, Illinois, United StatesNovember 20 to December 24, 2026A Nuremberg-style market of wooden stalls and gluhwein in Daley Plaza, from mid November to Christmas Eve.
Seattle Christmas MarketSeattle, Washington, United StatesNovember 20 to December 27, 2026A European-style Christmas village at Seattle Center, with wooden huts, Glühwein and timed-entry tickets.
Atlanta Christkindl MarketLawrenceville, Georgia, United StatesNovember 20 to December 24, 2026A German-style Christmas market in the Atlanta area, with a Ferris wheel, wooden booths and a new second site in Senoia.
Denver ChristkindlmarketDenver, Colorado, United StatesNovember 20 to December 23, 2026 (expected)A German-style holiday market with Glühwein, craft vendors and free live entertainment on the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver.
Natchitoches Christmas Festival of LightsNatchitoches, Louisiana, United StatesNovember 21 to January 6, 2027Louisiana's oldest town lines its river with 300,000 lights and fires fireworks over the water each Saturday.
Carmel ChristkindlmarktCarmel, Indiana, United StatesNovember 21 to December 24, 2026A German-style Christmas market with more than 60 huts, a skating rink and free admission, just north of Indianapolis.
Christmas Village in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesNovember 21 to December 27, 2026A German-style Christmas market at LOVE Park and City Hall with a Ferris wheel, a carousel and free entry.
Feria Nacional del TequilaTequila, Jalisco, MexicoUsually late November to mid DecemberThe town that named the drink celebrates it for twelve days with charreadas, mariachi and open distilleries.
Elephant seal pupping at Piedras BlancasSan Simeon, California, United StatesUsually early December to late FebruaryTwo-ton bulls battle on the beach and thousands of pups are born, seen from a free boardwalk off Highway 1.
National Finals RodeoLas Vegas, Nevada, United StatesDecember 3 to 12, 2026 (expected)Ten days of the best rodeo cowboys and cowgirls competing for world titles at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Art Basel Miami BeachMiami Beach, Florida, United StatesDecember 4 to 6, 2026The leading art fair in the Americas, with 272 galleries and a week of satellite fairs across Miami.
La GriteríaLeón, NicaraguaDecember 7 to 8, 2026At 6 p.m. on December 7 the city shouts Who causes so much joy, and every doorway answers with sweets.
Festival de la LuzSan José, Costa RicaUsually mid DecemberCosta Rica's Christmas opens with a night parade of lit floats and marching bands down Paseo Colón.
Día de la Virgen de GuadalupeBasílica de Guadalupe, Mexico CityDecember 9 to 12, 2026Millions of pilgrims reach the Basilica by December 12, and the mañanitas are sung to the Virgin at midnight.
Sugar MasBasseterre, St Kitts, Saint Kitts and NevisDecember 11 to January 2, 2027A Christmas carnival of masquerade, clowns and Moko Jumbies on stilts through Basseterre's old sugar streets.
Fiesta de Santo TomásChichicastenango, GuatemalaDecember 13 to 21, 2026Flyers spin down a 30-metre pole while masked dancers and marimbas take over the market town.
Noche de RábanosOaxaca de Juarez, MexicoDecember 23, 2026Giant carved radishes fill the plaza the night before Christmas Eve.
Parrandas de RemediosRemedios, Villa Clara, CubaDecember 24 to 25, 2026Two halves of a tiny Cuban town battle with floats, light towers and fireworks all through Christmas Eve.
Festival de las MáscarasHatillo, Puerto RicoDecember 28, 2026Masked soldiers of Herod in ribbons and mirrors have chased Hatillo's children every December 28 since 1823.
NHL Winter ClassicSalt Lake City, Utah (2026 game), United StatesDecember 31, 2026An outdoor NHL game on New Year's Eve: the Avalanche visit the Mammoth at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
Europe: 59 events in December
Aurora season in LofotenReine and Svolvaer, Lofoten, NorwayUsually early October to late MarchThe northern lights over granite peaks that drop straight into the sea.
Polar night on SvalbardLongyearbyen, Svalbard, NorwayUsually mid November to late JanuaryThe only town where the northern lights can appear at noon: three months of full dark at 78 degrees north.
Donna Nook grey seal puppingDonna Nook, Lincolnshire, United KingdomUsually early November to mid DecemberTwo thousand grey seal pups born on a beach you can walk along, a few metres from the fence.
Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas MarketBirmingham, West Midlands, United KingdomNovember 5 to December 24, 2026 (expected)A long-running German-style market through Victoria Square and New Street, with a big wheel and ice rink in Centenary Square.
Manchester Christmas MarketsManchester, England, United KingdomNovember 6 to December 22, 2026Ten market sites across Manchester city center, with a Ferris wheel on Albert Square and an undercover ice rink.
Vienna Christmas MarketsVienna, AustriaNovember 6 to December 26, 2026Over 20 markets on Vienna's historic squares, from Rathausplatz and Stephansplatz to the palaces at Schonbrunn and Belvedere.
Galway Christmas MarketGalway, Connacht, IrelandNovember 6 to December 31, 2026 (expected)Over 50 wooden chalets, a big wheel and a beer tent in Eyre Square, right beside Galway's bus and train stations.
Longleat Festival of LightLongleat, Wiltshire, United KingdomNovember 7 to January 17, 2027More than 1,000 hand-crafted lanterns on an after-dark trail through Longleat's grounds, with a winter safari by day.
York Christmas MarketYork, North Yorkshire, United KingdomNovember 12 to December 21, 2026 (expected)Alpine chalets line Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square in York, with more than 80% of traders from Yorkshire.
Copenhagen Christmas MarketsCopenhagen, Capital Region, DenmarkNovember 13 to January 3, 2027Tivoli Gardens and free street markets at Nytorv, Hojbro Plads and Nyhavn, with a free ice rink.
Budapest Christmas MarketsBudapest, HungaryNovember 13 to January 1, 2027Two big markets in central Pest, Vörösmarty Square and the Basilica, that stay open through New Year.
Valkenburg Christmas MarketValkenburg, Limburg, NetherlandsNovember 13 to January 3, 2027A Christmas market inside marlstone caves in South Limburg, billed as Europe's largest underground market.
Innsbruck Christmas MarketsInnsbruck, Tyrol, AustriaNovember 13 to January 6, 2027 (expected)Seven Christmas markets in an Alpine city, from the Golden Roof to a hilltop market reached by funicular.
Belfast Christmas MarketBelfast, Northern Ireland, United KingdomNovember 14 to December 22, 2026A Christmas market in the gardens of Belfast City Hall, with international food, crafts and late hours on weekends.
Edinburgh Christmas MarketEdinburgh, Scotland, United KingdomNovember 14 to January 3, 2027Markets, a Big Wheel, an ice rink and the Polar Ice Bar fill Princes Street Gardens and the center beneath Edinburgh Castle.
Cologne Christmas MarketsCologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, GermanyNovember 16 to December 23, 2026Several Christmas markets under and around the Gothic cathedral, from a harbor village to a gnome-themed old town fair.
Paris Christmas MarketsParis, Ile-de-FranceNovember 16 to January 5, 2027Around 20 chalet markets across Paris, from the Tuileries Garden to La Defense, Montmartre and Saint-Germain.
Chester Christmas MarketChester, Cheshire, United KingdomNovember 18 to December 22, 2026Over 70 wooden chalets in Town Hall Square, beside Tudor buildings and Chester's two-tiered medieval Rows. Free entry.
Lille Christmas MarketLille, Hauts-de-FranceNovember 18 to December 30, 2026About 90 chalets around Place Rihour, plus a Ferris wheel and giant tree on the Grand Place, a short walk from two train stations.
Salzburg ChristkindlmarktSalzburg, AustriaNovember 19 to January 1, 2027One of the oldest Advent markets in the world, set under the cathedral and fortress in Salzburg's Old Town.
Zurich Christmas MarketsZurich, SwitzerlandNovember 19 to December 24, 2026Several Christmas markets across Zurich, from the Old Town to the main station, plus the Singing Christmas Tree.
Dusseldorf Christmas MarketsDusseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, GermanyNovember 19 to December 30, 2026Seven themed Christmas markets across Dusseldorf's Old Town and shopping streets, with a 50-meter Ferris wheel.
Hyde Park Winter WonderlandLondon, England, United KingdomNovember 19 to January 3, 2027A 350-acre Christmas funfair in Hyde Park with ice sculptures, a rink, circus shows and markets.
Winchester Christmas MarketWinchester, Hampshire, United KingdomNovember 20 to December 22, 2026More than 100 wooden chalets in the grounds of Winchester Cathedral, free to enter, in an English cathedral city.
Gdansk Christmas MarketGdansk, Pomerania, PolandNovember 20 to December 23, 2026A free Christmas market around Targ Weglowy and the Royal Route, with amber, handmade gifts and Old Town lights.
Bruges Christmas MarketBruges, West Flanders, BelgiumNovember 20 to January 3, 2027Wooden chalets and an ice rink on the Markt beneath the 83-meter belfry, part of the Winter Glow season.
Munich Christmas MarketsMunich, Bavaria, GermanyNovember 20 to December 24, 2026The Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz, a nativity market, a Krampus run and a dozen neighborhood markets across Munich.
Dublin Christmas MarketsDublin, IrelandNovember 20 to December 31, 2026TwinkleTown at Smithfield Square, a Ferris wheel and ice rink, plus smaller craft markets and light trails across Dublin.
Tallinn Christmas MarketTallinn, EstoniaNovember 20 to January 6, 2027A fairytale market in Town Hall Square around a Christmas tree that has stood there since 1441.
Montreux NoelMontreux, Vaud, SwitzerlandNovember 20 to December 24, 2026A lakeside Christmas market on Lake Geneva with over 150 chalets, a Ferris wheel and Santa flying over the water.
Rothenburg ReiterlesmarktRothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria, GermanyNovember 20 to December 23, 2026A Christmas market with 500 years of tradition inside a walled medieval town in Bavaria.
Aachen Christmas MarketAachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, GermanyNovember 20 to December 23, 2026A month-long market around the cathedral and town hall, known for Aachener Printen gingerbread.
Colmar Christmas MarketsColmar, Alsace, FranceNovember 23 to December 29, 2026Six small Christmas markets among half-timbered houses and canals in the old town of Colmar, in Alsace.
Berlin Christmas MarketsBerlin, GermanyNovember 23 to January 3, 2027Dozens of Christmas markets across Berlin, from the Gendarmenmarkt to Charlottenburg Palace, some open past New Year.
Frankfurt Christmas MarketFrankfurt, Hesse, GermanyNovember 23 to December 22, 2026 (expected)Over 230 stalls winding from Hauptwache to the Römerberg and the River Main in one of Germany's oldest Christmas markets.
Hamburg Christmas MarketsHamburg, GermanyNovember 23 to December 23, 2026 (expected)Dozens of Christmas markets across Hamburg, from the big Rathausmarkt to the adults-only Santa Pauli on the Reeperbahn.
Heidelberg Christmas MarketHeidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, GermanyNovember 23 to December 22, 2026About 140 stalls across six Old Town squares under Heidelberg Castle, with an ice rink and a walk-in wine barrel.
Dresden StriezelmarktDresden, Saxony, GermanyNovember 25 to December 24, 2026Germany's oldest documented Christmas market, first recorded in 1434, with a 14-meter pyramid and Dresden Christstollen.
Stuttgart Christmas MarketStuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, GermanyNovember 25 to December 23, 2026One of Europe's largest and oldest Christmas markets, with about 300 stalls and a Finnish village.
Bath Christmas MarketBath, Somerset, United KingdomNovember 26 to December 13, 2026Hundreds of chalets wind through Georgian Bath around the Abbey, free to enter and a short walk from the train station.
Basel Christmas MarketBasel, SwitzerlandNovember 26 to December 23, 2026About 150 wooden chalets on Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz, one of the prettiest and largest Christmas markets in Switzerland.
Nuremberg ChristkindlesmarktNuremberg, GermanyNovember 27 to December 24, 2026The most famous Christmas market in Germany, opened by a girl in a gold crown from the church balcony.
Winter WondersGrand-Place and Place Sainte-Catherine, Brussels, BelgiumNovember 27 to January 3, 2027Europe's finest square lit by a sound and light show, with a two kilometre market of waffles and glühwein.
Strasbourg Christmas MarketStrasbourg, Alsace, FranceNovember 27 to December 24, 2026 (expected)France's oldest Christmas market, documented since 1570, spread across the old town's squares around the cathedral.
Krakow Christmas MarketKrakow, Lesser PolandNovember 27 to January 6, 2027 (expected)Wooden chalets fill Krakow's Main Market Square beside the Cloth Hall, with grilled oscypek, mulled wine and nativity scenes.
Riga Christmas MarketRiga, LatviaNovember 27 to January 3, 2027A Christmas market beside Riga Cathedral in the Old Town, with Latvian crafts, mulled wine and weekend music.
Advent in ZagrebZagreb, CroatiaNovember 28 to January 7, 2027 (expected)Zagreb's upper and lower town become one lit, mulled-wine festival from late November to Epiphany.
Prague Christmas MarketsPrague, Czech RepublicNovember 28 to January 6, 2027Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square markets run daily into January, free to enter, with smaller local markets around the city.
Christmas and polar night in RovaniemiRovaniemi, Lapland, FinlandDecember 1 to 31, 2026Santa's official hometown on the Arctic Circle, with a two hour blue twilight and reindeer at the door.
Christmas nativity street of San Gregorio ArmenoVia San Gregorio Armeno, Naples, ItalyDecember 1 to 24, 2026 (expected)One Naples alley where artisans carve nativity figures all year, at its wildest in the weeks before Christmas.
Innsbruck in winterInnsbruck, Tyrol, AustriaUsually early December to late FebruaryAn alpine capital where the cable car leaves the old town and reaches 2,256 metres in about twenty minutes.
Kraków szopki nativity scene competitionKraków, PolandDecember 3, 2026Craftsmen carry towering foil nativity palaces to the main square on the first Thursday of December.
Amsterdam Christmas MarketsAmsterdam, North Holland, NetherlandsDecember 3 to 27, 2026A free Christmas village and ice rink in front of the Rijksmuseum, plus small one-day markets around the city.
Fête des LumièresLyon, FranceDecember 5 to 8, 2026Four December nights when every facade in Lyon becomes a light installation and windows fill with candles.
Epiphany in Rome and the Befana marketsPiazza Navona, Rome, ItalyDecember 6 to January 6, 2027 (expected)Rome's grandest square fills with stalls, sweets and the witch Befana until January 6th.
Newark International Antiques & Collectors FairNewark, Nottinghamshire, United KingdomDecember 10 to 11, 2026A two-day antiques fair at Newark Showground that calls itself the largest in Europe, held six times a year.
Gouda bij KaarslichtMarkt, Gouda, NetherlandsDecember 11, 2026A Dutch town switches off its streetlights and lights its town hall with 1,500 candles for one December evening.
Lucia in StockholmStockholm, SwedenDecember 13, 2026On 13 December a girl crowned with candles leads white-robed choirs through the darkest week of the year.
Twelve grapes at Puerta del SolPuerta del Sol, Madrid, SpainDecember 31, 2026Spain eats twelve grapes to twelve chimes of one clock, and the square beneath it is where it counts.
Asia: 39 events in December
Raja Ampat manta seasonRaja Ampat, West Papua, IndonesiaUsually early October to late AprilThe richest reefs on the planet, and from October the mantas arrive at cleaning stations you kneel beside.
Riyadh Season openingBoulevard Riyadh City, Saudi ArabiaOctober 21 to December 30, 2026A city-wide entertainment season opens with a parade and fireworks and runs all winter.
Rann UtsavGreat Rann of Kutch, IndiaNovember 1 to February 28, 2027 (expected)Tents on a moonlit salt desert that turns white to silver.
Crane gathering in the Hula ValleyAgamon Hula, Upper Galilee, IsraelUsually early November to late JanuaryTens of thousands of common cranes settle on one small lake for the winter, loud from dusk to dawn.
Bundala migratory bird seasonBundala National Park, Sri LankaUsually early November to late FebruaryFlamingos, spoonbills and thousands of northern waders on a south-coast lagoon, crocodiles for company.
Bua Tong sunflower bloomDoi Mae U-Kho, Mae Hong Son, ThailandUsually early November to mid DecemberHillsides near the Myanmar border turn yellow with wild Mexican sunflowers for six weeks of cool season.
Orchard Road Christmas light-upOrchard Road, SingaporeNovember 14 to January 3, 2027 (expected)A three-kilometre shopping street lit end to end through a tropical Christmas, ending in a street party.
Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo AvenueIcho Namiki, Aoyama, Tokyo, JapanUsually mid November to early DecemberTokyo's 300-metre tunnel of pruned ginkgo turns pure yellow, and then paves the street with it.
Poyang Lake Winter CranesWucheng, Poyang Lake, Jiangxi, ChinaUsually mid November to mid FebruaryAlmost every Siberian crane alive winters on one Chinese lake, with half a million other birds beside them.
Maolin Purple Butterfly ValleyMaolin National Scenic Area, Kaohsiung, TaiwanUsually mid November to early MarchOne of only two mass butterfly overwintering sites on earth: a million purple crows in a mountain valley.
Sonepur MelaSonepur, Bihar, IndiaNovember 24 to December 23, 2026Asia's oldest livestock fair, a month of horses, buffalo, birds and wrestling at the meeting of two rivers.
Winter waterbird congregationChilika Lake, IndiaUsually early December to late FebruaryOver a million migratory birds crowd Asia's largest brackish lagoon each winter.
Jigokudani Snow MonkeysJigokudani Monkey Park, Yamanouchi, Nagano, JapanUsually early December to mid MarchWild macaques soaking in a hot spring while snow falls on their heads, the only monkeys on earth that do it.
Whooper Swans at Lake KussharoSunayu, Lake Kussharo, Hokkaido, JapanUsually early December to mid MarchHundreds of swans from Siberia winter on the one strip of a frozen caldera lake that hot springs keep open.
Garden of Morning Calm Lighting FestivalGarden of Morning Calm, Gapyeong, South KoreaUsually early December to mid MarchKorea's oldest private garden lit by millions of bulbs through the winter, an hour and a half from Seoul.
Yuanyang Rice Terraces Mirror SeasonDuoyishu, Yuanyang, Yunnan, ChinaUsually early December to mid MarchThree thousand steps of flooded terraces catch the sunrise like broken mirrors, from December until planting.
Al Dhafra Camel FestivalMadinat Zayed, Al Dhafra, United Arab EmiratesUsually early to late DecemberCamel beauty contests and a desert souk on the edge of the Empty Quarter, with millions in prizes.
King Abdulaziz Camel FestivalRumah, north of Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaUsually early December to mid JanuaryThe world's largest camel gathering: tens of thousands of animals judged for beauty on a desert plain.
Hornbill FestivalKisama Heritage Village, Kohima, IndiaDecember 1 to 10, 2026Sixteen Naga tribes in full ceremonial dress, war dances and rice beer in a hilltop village for ten days.
Konark Dance FestivalKonark Sun Temple, Odisha, IndiaDecember 1 to 5, 2026 (expected)Five evenings of classical dance on an open stage with the floodlit Sun Temple as the backdrop.
Red Lotus SeaNong Han Kumphawapi, Udon Thani, ThailandUsually early December to late FebruaryA 20-kilometre lake opens into pink lotus from dawn until mid-morning, and a boatman rows you through it.
Chichibu Night FestivalChichibu, Saitama, JapanDecember 2 to 3, 2026Lantern floats hauled up a steep slope at night with fireworks overhead, in December, in the cold.
Abu Dhabi Grand PrixYas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesDecember 3 to 6, 2026The Formula One season closes under floodlights at a circuit that runs through a hotel.
Katara Traditional Dhow FestivalKatara beach, Doha, QatarDecember 3 to 12, 2026Wooden dhows from across the Gulf anchor off Doha for a week of races, pearl diving and sea songs.
Angkor Wat International Half MarathonAngkor, Siem Reap, CambodiaDecember 6, 2026Run through the temples of Angkor at dawn on the first Sunday of December with thousands of others.
Seb-i Arus, Rumi's wedding nightKonya, TurkeyDecember 7 to 17, 2026Whirling dervishes turn in silence to mark the night the mystic Rumi called his union with the divine.
Chawmos, the Kalash winter solstice festivalBumburet, Kalash Valleys, Chitral, PakistanDecember 7 to 22, 2026 (expected)Two weeks of torch processions, purification rites and dancing in the snow for the longest night of the year.
Giant Lantern FestivalSan Fernando, Pampanga, PhilippinesUsually mid December to early JanuaryVillage teams battle with six-metre lanterns wired to thousands of bulbs in a light show set to music.
Druk Wangyel Tshechu at DochulaDochula Pass, BhutanDecember 13, 2026A one day festival of mask dances at a 3,100 metre pass with 108 chortens and the Himalaya behind.
Jilin Rime IceWusong Island, Jilin City, ChinaUsually mid December to late FebruaryEvery tree along a river that refuses to freeze wakes up coated in white ice crystals on the coldest nights.
Margazhi music seasonMylapore, Chennai, IndiaUsually mid December to mid JanuaryThe largest classical music festival on earth: a thousand Carnatic concerts in a month, most of them free.
Ananda Pagoda FestivalBagan, MyanmarUsually early to late JanuaryOx-cart caravans from every village camp among the temples of Bagan for a month-long fair around the Ananda.
Simbang GabiIntramuros, Manila, PhilippinesDecember 16 to 24, 2026Nine dawn masses and the smell of rice cakes outside every church: the Philippines at Christmas.
Qatar National DayDoha Corniche, QatarDecember 18, 2026A military parade along the Corniche, a naval sail-past and fireworks over the bay on 18 December.
Pyeongchang Trout FestivalJinbu, Pyeongchang, South KoreaUsually mid December to late JanuaryIce fishing through holes on a frozen river in the Olympic mountains, then eating your catch beside it.
Yalda Night in ShirazTomb of Hafez, Shiraz, IranDecember 21, 2026The longest night, spent reading Hafez, eating pomegranates and watermelon until dawn.
Adam's Peak pilgrimage seasonSri Pada, Adam's Peak, Sri LankaDecember 23 to May 20, 2027 (expected)A night climb of 5,500 steps in a river of pilgrims to a summit footprint, for a sunrise and a shadow.
Christmas Eve in BethlehemManger Square, Bethlehem, PalestineDecember 24 to 25, 2026Midnight Mass beside the cave where the story begins, with the square outside singing carols.
Tamu Lhosar, the Gurung new yearPokhara, NepalDecember 30, 2026The Gurung new year under the Annapurnas: a lakeside parade, ghatu dances and a lot of sel roti and raksi.
South America: 10 events in December
Magellanic penguins return to Punta TomboPunta Tombo, Chubut, ArgentinaUsually mid September to late MarchHalf a million penguins walk back to the same burrows on a Patagonian beach, and you walk among them.
Southern right whale season closingPeninsula Valdes, ArgentinaUsually early November to mid DecemberThe last weeks to watch southern right whales nurse calves in sheltered Patagonian bays.
Penguin season on Isla MagdalenaIsla Magdalena, Strait of Magellan, ChileUsually early October to late MarchA treeless island in the Strait of Magellan holds sixty thousand penguin pairs, and you walk among them.
Alumbrados of MedellínMedellín and the Río Medellín banks, ColombiaDecember 1 to January 8, 2027 (expected)Thirty million lights along the river and hills, and on 7 December every doorstep adds candles of its own.
Iguazu Falls at peak flowPuerto Iguazu, Misiones, ArgentinaUsually early December to late FebruaryTwo hundred and seventy-five separate waterfalls at their loudest, in the middle of the wet season.
Los Roques dry seasonLos Roques Archipelago, VenezuelaUsually mid December to late MarchFrom December to March the wind drops and the water goes glass-clear over 300 islands of white sand, including the sandbar they call the Moses Pass.
Salar de Uyuni mirror seasonSalar de Uyuni, Potosí, BoliviaUsually mid December to late MarchRain turns the world's largest salt flat into a sky-reflecting mirror where the horizon disappears.
Fiesta Grande de AndacolloAndacollo, Coquimbo region, ChileDecember 23 to 27, 2026 (expected)A mining town behind La Serena hosts a Christmas-week pilgrimage of chinos dancers and a tiny wooden Virgin.
Santurantikuy marketPlaza de Armas, Cusco, PeruDecember 24, 2026On Christmas Eve Cusco's plaza becomes a one-day market of carved saints, nativity figures and mountain moss.
Feria de CaliCali, Valle del Cauca, ColombiaDecember 25 to 30, 2026The world's salsa capital dances for six days between Christmas and New Year, and the Salsódromo opens it.
Africa: 15 events in December
Whale sharks off Nosy BeNosy Be, MadagascarUsually mid September to mid DecemberWhale sharks feed on the surface off Madagascar's holiday island from September to December.
Kasanka bat migrationKasanka National Park, ZambiaUsually mid October to mid DecemberTen million fruit bats fill the sky at dusk from a patch of swamp forest the size of a few football pitches.
Whale sharks off Mafia IslandKilindoni, Mafia Island, TanzaniaUsually mid October to early FebruaryA resident population of whale sharks feeds off a quiet island south of Zanzibar from October to March.
Hawksbill nesting on Cousin IslandCousin Island, near Praslin, SeychellesUsually mid October to late JanuaryThe only place hawksbill turtles nest in daylight, on a nature reserve island the size of a few city blocks.
Turtle nesting at iSimangalisoSodwana Bay, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South AfricaUsually early November to late JanuaryLeatherbacks and loggerheads come ashore on empty South African beaches to lay under the summer moon.
Whale sharks in the Gulf of TadjouraGulf of Tadjoura, DjiboutiUsually early November to late FebruaryJuvenile whale sharks feed in a Red Sea gulf so reliably that some days you swim with a dozen.
Cape Cross seal puppingCape Cross, Skeleton Coast, NamibiaUsually early November to mid DecemberA hundred thousand fur seals and their newborn pups pack a rocky headland on the Skeleton Coast.
NgondoWouri river, Douala, CameroonUsually early DecemberThe Sawa people consult the water spirits of the Wouri with a diver who returns with a message for the year.
Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset ConcertsKirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town, South AfricaUsually late November to late MarchSunday-evening concerts on a lawn under Table Mountain, with picnics and a sunset that does the lighting.
Zebra migration to Nxai PanNxai Pan and Makgadikgadi Pans, BotswanaUsually early December to late MarchAfrica's longest zebra migration reaches the Kalahari pans with the first rains, and the grass greens fast.
International Festival of the Sahara at DouzDouz, Kebili, TunisiaDecember 19 to 22, 2026Camel races, saluki hunts and nomad poetry on the edge of the Grand Erg for four days before Christmas.
Winter solstice sunrise at KarnakKarnak Temple, Luxor, EgyptDecember 21, 2026On the shortest day the sun rises exactly along the axis of Egypt's largest temple.
Calabar CarnivalCalabar, NigeriaDecember 26 to 30, 2026A month of festival ending in Africa's biggest street parade, thousands of costumed dancers over 12 km.
Kulubi Gabriel pilgrimageKulubi, near Dire Dawa, EthiopiaDecember 27 to 28, 2026Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims climb to a hilltop church of Saint Gabriel on 28 December.
Victoria Falls CarnivalVictoria Falls, ZimbabweUsually late DecemberThree nights of music to see out the year beside the falls, with a steam train party and a gorge sunrise.
Oceania: 6 events in December
Red crab migration on Christmas IslandChristmas Island, AustraliaUsually mid October to mid JanuaryTens of millions of red crabs march from the rainforest to the sea, closing roads and carpeting the island.
Coral spawning on the Great Barrier ReefOuter reef off Cairns and Port Douglas, Queensland, AustraliaUsually early November to mid DecemberFor a few nights after the November full moon, the reef releases a pink snowstorm of eggs and sperm.
Triple Crown of SurfingNorth Shore, Oahu, United StatesUsually mid November to mid DecemberThe winter swell arrives and the world's best surfers gather at Pipeline, Sunset and Haleiwa.
Pohutukawa bloomCoromandel Peninsula, New ZealandUsually late November to early JanuaryNew Zealand's Christmas tree turns the coast crimson for a few weeks either side of the holiday.
Meredith Music FestivalMeredith, Victoria, AustraliaDecember 11 to 13, 2026A self-funded, non-commercial three-day music festival at a natural amphitheatre in Victoria, held each December since 1991.
Honolulu MarathonHonolulu, Oahu, United StatesDecember 13, 2026A 5am fireworks start, a lap of Diamond Head and no time limit, run every second Sunday of December.