The Best 2026 US Festivals Worth Planning a Trip Around

by Noreen Kompanik
Last updated: 11:00 AM ET, Sat January 17, 2026

The U.S. festival season never ends. And each year, brings a dazzling lineup of events that draw visitors from around the globe.

2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet from electrifying music and cutting edge-art to rich cultural celebrations and the world’s best culinary delights.

Here’s a look at the must-visit celebrations that should make it on to your travel bucket list.

Sundance Film Festival (January 22-February 1)

This is the last year to experience the legendary and premier independent film festival founded by the late actor Robert Redford in 1981 in picturesque Park City, Utah. In 2027, Sundance is officially moving to Boulder, Colorado, selected for its creative community and vibrant arts scene.

Mardi Gras (January 6-February 17)

French for “Fat Tuesday,” this is one of the world’s best-known celebrations held in New Orleans, marking the final day of Carnival before the Christian season of Lent begins. Major parades take place throughout the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras Day, with the largest crowds rolling in the last 10-12 days before February 17. And as they say in New Orleans, “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”

SXSW (South by Southwest): March 2026

Held each year in Austin, Texas, the hybrid cultural festival, one of the world’s largest, features fun, electric chaos with music showcases, music legends, emerging bands, film premiers, game events, tech showcases, bars, theaters and outdoor stages across downtown. Ideal location for the city known as the Live Music Capital of the World.

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (April 1-12, 17-19)

This iconic and influential music festival, held annually at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, was founded in 1999 and has since become more incredibly popular through the years featuring rock, pop, hip hop and electronic dance music. The desert festival draws 125,000 fans daily across two legendary weekends featuring top-name celebrities of hip hop, rock, indie, along with massive art installations.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (April 23-26, April 30-May 3)

With deep roots in New Orleans traditions, this event often called Jazz Fest runs over two four-days weekends. As one of the most celebrated music and cultural festivals in the U.S., the festival is a huge celebration of music, food, art and local culture. The music lineup mixes international stars with local legends, and of course, authentic New Orleans cuisine — think jambalaya, po’boys, gumbo, beignets, crawfish dishes, and more — plus arts and crafts markets combine to create an unforgettable Na’awlins event.

Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire (July 18- August 16)

Don your best medieval garb and step back in time to 16^th century Elizabethan England. The beloved festival near in Snohomish, Washington near Tacoma includes themed weekends that feature costumed entertainment, minstrel, clowns, fire artists, storytellers, jousting, music and artisan markets. It’s a great event for history lovers that’s filled with magic, merriment and excitement.

Comic-on International (July 23-26)

Technically this a convention but come to downtown San Diego while Comic-Con is under way and you’ll be treated to a festival unlike any you’ve seen. This large hardcore fan event celebrating comics, pop culture and entertainment is held around the world, but the most famous and influential is in San Diego’s historic Gaslamp District. Be sure not to miss the Comic-Con Masquerade where participants take their favorite character’s costumes to a whole new level, and even the restaurants get in on the fun.

Burning Man Festival, festival, nevada, party

Burning Man (August 30- September 7)

Held in the Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, Burning Man is part art festival, part temporary city and part social experiment. The event that draws over 70,000 people is built around community, creativity and self-expression, not spectatorship, as everyone is expected to participate. It culminates in the burning of a large wooden effigy symbolizing an emotional releasing of the past, and letting go of fear, regret or expectations.

Telluride Blues & Brews Festival (September 18-20)

The charming Colorado alpine town of Telluride hosts this annual festival that combines breathtaking Rocky Mountain scenery with blues and other music genres and local craft beers. The three-day outdoor event takes place each autumn when the weather is crisp and the Rockies transform into a painter’s palate of dramatic color.

Albuquerque International Balloon Festival (October 3-11)

The world’s largest balloon festival features more than 500 hot air balloons launching into the air over the high desert in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The most iconic spectacle during the nine-day event is the “Mass Ascension” offering the most breathtaking photo ops as hundreds of balloons lift off together across the morning sky.

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