Visiting festivals and events abroad: what is it, why would you do it, and where is the best place to go?

What is visiting festivals and events abroad like?

• Visiting festivals and events abroad means that during your trip you participate in special, often temporary moments when people come together to celebrate, experience or commemorate something.
• Events can come in all shapes and forms such as major music festivals or sporting events, local festivals, religious celebrations and small cultural events.
• It is precisely that mix that allows you to experience a country in different ways.
• What makes it different from home is that you are in the middle of a different culture. You don't always immediately understand what is happening or why something is important, and that requires you to watch, participate and learn along the way.

In practice, you notice, for example, that:

• the atmosphere is often more intense and everything feels temporary.
• you connect with other people faster.
• days go differently than you are used to.
• you become part of something bigger than yourself.
• Festivals and events are therefore more than just entertainment. They give you an insight into how people come together, celebrate and give meaning to certain moments, and let you be part of it for a moment.

What are the reasons for visiting festivals and events abroad?

• To become aware of cultural traditions and customs: you experience a country from the inside during important moments.
• To meet new people and connect: festivals are social places where contact is easier.
• To express yourself more freely and gain new experiences: you step out of your daily role and experiment with behavior and expression.
• To become stronger in social and busy situations: you learn to deal with stimuli, crowds and different people.
• To tackle new situations with more self-confidence: you enter unknown settings and learn to find your way in them.

What skills and motivations do you need to visit festivals and events abroad?

• Environmental awareness: you understand where you are, what the atmosphere is and how you behave in it. 
• Flexibility: plans change, situations turn out differently than expected, and you have to be able to move along.
• Empathise: you respect and understand local customs and traditions.
• Self-confidence: you dare to approach people and show yourself. 
• Stress-resistant: you can deal with busyness, fatigue and many stimuli.

What are the best countries and locations to visit festivals and events abroad?

• Major international music festivals, specifics to experience large, international audience and often well organised: Belgium (e.g. Tomorrowland), United States (e.g. Coachella), Hungary (e.g. Sziget), United Kingdom (e.g. Glastonbury).
• Cultural and traditional festivals, specifics to experience strong local and cultural events: India (Diwali), Brazil (Carnival), Spain (La Tomatina, Semana Santa), Mexico (Día de los Muertos).
• Small-scale and local events, specifics to experience more authentic and often less touristy: Portugal, Italy, Indonesia, Morocco.
• Outdoor and alternative festivals, specifics often in nature, with a focus on community and experience: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Iceland.

What are the risks of visiting festivals and events abroad, and are you insured against those risks? 

What are the risks of visiting festivals and events abroad, and what happens with some regularity:

• that you become overwhelmed by crowds, noise and stimuli, which can be physically and mentally taxing.
• that you end up in unsafe situations due to alcohol, drug use or large crowds.
• that you lose things or that there is theft in busy environments.
• that your boundaries become blurred by the atmosphere and group dynamics, causing you to make choices that you normally would not make.
• that you will develop health problems due to fatigue, dehydration, heat or poor hygiene.
• that miscommunication occurs due to language barriers or unclear agreements with others.
• that you are dependent on transport or accommodations that quickly fill up or become expensive.
• that you are insufficiently prepared for weather conditions (cold, heat, rain).
• that help or medical care is difficult to access during large or remote events.
• that evacuation or departure is difficult in emergency situations due to crowds or logistical limitations.

Are you insured while visiting festivals and events abroad?

• During activities and trips abroad, the coverage of your own health insurance in your home country may be insufficient, or even lapse. See the pages on insuring activities abroad.