Mela
Saturday 3 October

Somewhere, right now, people are celebrating.

Mela is a guide to the world's festivals: holy days and harvests, carnivals and concerts, feasts, races and national days. Find out what each one means, where it happens, and when to go.

See what's on todayBrowse by country
On nowGerman Unity DayGermany
1,143 festivals192 countries1,069 cities and townsDates and news refreshed daily

On today

Festivals under way on Saturday 3 October.

Everything on now
National days 3Oct German Unity Day🇩🇪 Berlin, GermanyOn now Spiritual 3Oct Simchat Torah🇮🇱 Jerusalem, Israel and 2 more countriesOn now Spiritual 3Oct Shemini Atzeret🇮🇱 Israel and 1 more countryOn now National days 3Oct Gaecheonjeol🇰🇷 South Korea and 1 more countryOn now Music 2Oct Austin City Limits Music Festival🇺🇸 Austin, United StatesOn now

Coming up in the next 30 days

Time to plan a trip, cook something, or just know why your neighbours are celebrating.

Open the calendar
Cultural 4Oct Castro Street Fair🇺🇸 San Francisco, United StatesTomorrow Arts and film 7Oct Film Fest Gent🇧🇪 Ghent, BelgiumIn 4 days Cultural 7Oct Nagasaki Kunchi🇯🇵 Nagasaki, JapanIn 4 days National days 9Oct Hangul Day🇰🇷 Seoul, South Korea and 1 more countryIn 6 days Spiritual 10Oct Nine Emperor Gods Festival🇮🇩 Indonesia and 3 more countriesIn 7 days National days 10Oct National Day of the Republic of China🇹🇼 Taipei, TaiwanIn 7 days Sports 11Oct Chicago Marathon🇺🇸 Chicago, United StatesIn 8 days Spiritual 11Oct Bathukamma🇮🇳 Hyderabad, IndiaIn 8 days National days 12Oct Columbus Day🇨🇴 Colombia and 19 more countriesIn 9 days National days 12Oct National Day of Spain🇪🇸 Madrid, SpainIn 9 days National days 12Oct Sports Day🇯🇵 JapanIn 9 days Cultural 12Oct Thanksgiving🇨🇦 Ottawa, CanadaIn 9 days

Eight kinds of celebration

Every festival on Mela is filed under one of these. The colour follows it everywhere.

SpiritualHoly days, pilgrimages and observances of every faith.175 festivalsCulturalCarnivals, parades, fairs and the traditions a place is known for.252 festivalsNational daysIndependence days, public holidays and days of remembrance.128 festivalsSeasonalNew years, harvests, solstices and the turning of the calendar.57 festivalsFood and drinkFeasts, wine and beer festivals, and one very large tomato fight.21 festivalsMusicFrom opera seasons to desert raves and village brass bands.166 festivalsArts and filmFilm, theatre, dance, literature and visual art.194 festivalsSportsGames, races and tournaments that stop a city, or a country.150 festivals

The world, by festival

Each dot is a festival. Larger dots happen within 30 days. Pick a country to see everything celebrated there.

All countries and cities
SpiritualCulturalNational daysSeasonalFood and drinkMusicArts and filmSports

The year in festivals

One turn of the wheel is one year. Every dot is a festival, placed on the day it falls and coloured by its kind. The pink hand is today.

What does the world celebrate on your day?

A birthday, an anniversary, the day you land somewhere new.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 3October
SpiritualCulturalNational daysSeasonalFood and drinkMusicArts and filmSports

Pick a month

The number under each month is how many festivals fall in it.

Jan67Feb93Mar80Apr67May100Jun134Jul146Aug132Sep99Oct100Nov76Dec49

The ones the whole world knows

Newly added
Spiritual 25Dec Christmas🇦🇩 Andorra and 42 more countries Spiritual Marvaries Easter🇦🇺 Australia and 29 more countries Seasonal 1Jan New Year🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 34 more countries Cultural 31Oct Halloween🇦🇺 Australia and 22 more countriesIn 4 weeks National days 8Mar International Women's Day🇩🇿 Algeria and 32 more countries Cultural 14Feb Valentine's Day🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 30 more countries Spiritual 16May Eid al-Adha🇩🇿 Algeria and 14 more countries Spiritual 9Mar Eid al-Fitr🇦🇫 Afghanistan and 35 more countries

A week of festivals, in one email

Every Thursday: what the world is celebrating over the next seven days, and where.