Kenu and Kundu Festival
Alotau, Papua New Guinea
6-8 November 2026
Live music, traditional dancing, arts-and-craft displays and dramatic performances all set the mood for an unforgettable celebration of customary Papuan ways of life.
The usually tranquil seaside town of Alotau, capital of Milne Bay Province, takes on a whole new character during this annual cultural to-do. There will be traditional songs to hear, vibrant singsing dances to watch, and plenty of fresh island fare to indulge in, but it’s arguably the handcrafted kundu drums and kenu canoes that steal the show each year. Get swept away by the thumping beats, and watch as locals race long canoes across scenic Milne Bay – boats built using knowledge and techniques passed down through generations across hundreds of years. Though the event itself is not exactly an ancient tradition (the festival was founded in 2003), it is certainly an immersive way to experience the spirited culture of the region and witness how it has been lived for centuries.
Pirates Week Festival
Georgetown, Cayman Islands
11-15 November 2026
Ahoy, mateys! The Cayman Islands’ favourite pirate-themed festival is dropping anchor once again, now for the 49th time.
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A national event, Pirates Week Festival is also held on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, but the Grand Cayman chapter is, unsurprisingly, the grandest of them all and has become a pilgrimage destination of sorts for its legions of devoted fans. Featuring elaborate parades, street dancing, fancy dress contests, local food and drink, sporting events and fireworks on the waterfront – not to mention a mock pirate invasion at Hog Sty Bay, complete with a band of bearded buccaneers in bandanas sailing a life-size pirate ship – this is one heck of an entertaining occasion. And no, it’s not just for Pirates of the Caribbean aficionados; even the uninitiated can let their hair down and partake in the swashbuckling fun.
Eastside Culture Crawl
Vancouver, Canada
19-22 November 2026
If you’re a creator, art appreciator, collector, design lover or just want to acquaint yourself with arts and crafts, make your way into the labyrinth of participating studios at Vancouver’s Eastside Culture Crawl and see what’s going on
In this free, four-day, community-wide affair, over 500 artists, designers and craftspeople – from emerging talents to internationally established names – open up their creative hives or exhibit at locations across the Eastside Arts District, many within easy walking distance of one another. Marking its 30th anniversary in 2026, the event embraces everything from pottery to photography, glassblowing and sculpture, and has attracted more than 40,000 visitors in recent editions. How to make the most of it? Explore the studios on a self-guided tour, meet the artists, view installations and catch workshops and demonstrations. Check the extended programme, too: the Talking Art sessions take place on 12–14 November, ahead of the open-studio festival on 19–22 November, while Moving Art film and video screenings run at selected venues throughout November. Tip: Budget a couple of days – there’s a lot to see and do.
Strawberry Fields
Tocumwal, New South Wales, Australia
20-22 November 2026
What started as a modest gathering of 1,000 fun-loving music fans in 2009 has grown to become one of Australia’s best-known festivals, attracting 15,000 visitors each year with its dynamic line-up, welcoming community and beautiful riverside location.
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Set in the middle of the Aussie bush about 240 kilometres from Melbourne, Strawberry Fields is an all-encompassing celebration of art, music, nature, wellness and togetherness – a true something-for-everyone kind of affair. Feeling a bit warm? Go for a dip at the festival beach along the Murray River. In need of some zen? Attend a sunset yoga session or soak in the mineral salt baths at the Bush Spa. Want to catch some culture? Check out the art gallery and admire the large-scale open-air installations; a lot of the on-site art was funded through grants to encourage participation from up-and-coming creatives. Otherwise, wander between the many stages and themed spaces hosting more than 80 local and international names spanning diverse electronic and live genres. It goes without saying: bring your dancing shoes.
Corona Capital
Mexico City, Mexico
20-22 November 2026
Cancún hands over its status as Mexico’s party capital to the actual capital of Mexico – if only for a weekend in November.
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Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez racetrack provides the backdrop for this frenetic, feel-good music festival that attracts a very international, very eclectic and very high-profile line-up of artists every time. This year, enjoy the musical stylings of Twenty One Pilots, Gorillaz, The Strokes, The Offspring, The xx and more, plus games, art displays, tons of local food options and interactive experiences. Tip: There’s no on-site camping or accommodations, so if you’re just in town for the tunes, book into a hotel near the airport (about 10 minutes from the Autódromo) to avoid getting stuck in Mexico City’s epic traffic.
