Travel
Global Calendar: The Top 5 Events In January
From seaside music festivals to illustrious literary gatherings and outdoor winter adventures, these January events offer a smorgasbord of ways to start the year off right
Dolomiti Balloon Festival
Dobbiaco, Italy
6-11 January 2026
Can anything lift the spirits more than watching a fleet of vibrant hot air balloons take flight above the magnificent snow-capped peaks of the Dolomites? Of course: being a part of the spectacle.
The Dolomiti Balloon Festival offers the chance to get a bird’s-eye view of one of the most stunning corners of the Italian Alps – especially ideal in the early morning, when the rising sun creates the famed ‘alpenglow’ effect on the mountainous horizon. Soak in the atmosphere from above, and then, with your feet back on solid ground, grab a cup of mulled wine and enjoy a moment of conviviality among the other spectators. Don’t miss the enchanting balloon “night glow” events, when the darkened sky is illuminated with graceful balloons, like dozens of giant lanterns hovering in the heavens. For those looking for a sporty side programme, consider combining this magical experience with a heart-pumping ski and snowboard holiday in nearby Val Gardena, one of Europe’s largest ski resorts.
Banff SnowDays
Banff, Canada
16 January – 8 February 2026
When life gives you snow and ice, make art and have a ball! At least, that’s the philosophy in this Alberta resort town, where locals and visitors turn the typically inhospitable winter weather into an opportunity for frost-kissed, family-friendly fun.
Banff SnowDays are certainly not for snowflakes – the conditions call for your thickest coat, hardiest snow boots and warmest disposition – but properly attired attendees can enjoy an array of entertainment and activities across the three-week event. Icy artistry plays a central role, with scenic Lake Louise transforming into a veritable gallery for imaginative ice sculptures, while Banff’s charming Bear Street becomes a showcase for intricate creations carved from snow. Little ones will delight in live dance performances, ice-sculpting tutorials, ski stunt exhibitions and a dedicated Play Zone. And that’s all before you tell them about the hot chocolate trail, with over 30 cafes and restaurants serving special chocolate-y concoctions dreamed up just for the occasion.
Jaipur Literature Festival
Jaipur, India
15-19 January 2026
Bring your books to be autographed: Man Booker Prize winners and Nobel laureates number among the guests of honour at the “greatest literary show on earth”. And organisers are pulling out all the stops in 2026 for the event’s most ambitious edition yet.
For 20 years, the Jaipur Literature Festival has gathered leading lights of the literary world, and this year is no different. Visitors can expect to rub elbows with – and attend talks from – the likes of Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk, Pulitzer Prize holder Percival Everett and Booker Prize-winning authors Kiran Desai and Banu Mushtaq, as well as historic-fiction sensation Kate Mosse, iconic actor Stephen Fry, top nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, chess legend Viswanathan Anand, comedian Vir Das, inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Wikipedia cofounder Jimmy Wales – all of whom will be discussing their latest novels, memoirs and works of nonfiction. They will be joined by hundreds of other influential minds across the realms of culture, science, philosophy, technology and more for five intense yet enlightening days of seminars, readings, masterclasses and panel discussions. Don’t worry, when your brain is on fire, you can cool off with some lighter fare, from musical performances to book signings and a visit to the many stalls selling handicrafts and tasty local specialities.
Ocaso Underground Music Festival
Jacó, Costa Rica
23-24 January 2026
World-class beats? Check. Tropical seaside setting? Check. Friendly vibes in an intimate, community atmosphere? Check and check. This is the way to welcome 2026 for electro lovers.
Like it says on the tin, Ocaso Underground Music Festival emphasises fresh sounds and lesser-known names on its roster of electronic DJs, highlighting up-and-coming artists from Latin America and further afield – though a few highly recognisable talents, like Vintage Culture and BLOND:ISH, will be spinning, too. The alternative, music-first philosophy and remote location on a sun-drenched Pacific shore in western Costa Rica naturally lend themselves to a smaller but more dedicated crowd, as well as a more thoughtful ethos with respect and sustainability at the fore. The annual Beach Cleaning Program, for instance, is a recurring success, recovering 82 kilos of waste and 12 kilos of recyclables last year.
World Buskers Festival
Ōtautahi (Christchurch), New Zealand
23 January – 1 February 2026
Glimpsing a truly talented street artist in action is usually a matter of right-place-right-time happenstance. Luckily for the perennially unlucky, however, a multitude of gifted buskers converge on the same place at the same time every year to work their magic.
Catch sidewalk superstars from 12 countries doing what they do best at the World Buskers Festival, a whirlwind of “comedy, cabaret, circus and chaos” that will sweep into New Zealand’s second city for its 33rd iteration. Australian outfit Cirque Bon Bon is headlining the revelry with its high-flying, gasp-inducing circus stylings, followed by a showcase of Christchurch’s hip-hop talents, a night of gravity-defying drag with “boylesque”, and the return of local luchador El Jaguar – a wrestler-turned-comedian who intends to tickle the funny bones of passengers on his Fiesta City Bus Tours once again. Featuring a mix of ticketed and “hatted” (donations encouraged) performances, alongside interactive games for younger visitors, this is an accessible and uplifting event for the whole family.
