Where to go

Best Winter Festivals 2026–27: Dates, Weather and Travel Tips

By Bsaeed · October 31, 2026 · 8 min read

Winter is festival season. Cities build palaces out of ice, canals turn into skating rinks, Venice puts on its masks and Rio dances through the night. Whether you want snow, sunshine or a once-in-a-lifetime party, this guide covers the best winter festivals of 2026–27, with their dates, the weather to expect and tips to plan each trip.

Plan ahead for early February 2027. Easter is early next year (March 28), so Carnival falls early too, in the same week as Lunar New Year. Venice, Rio, Sapporo and Québec City all have festivals between February 4 and 14, 2027, so flights and hotels fill up fast.

Winter festivals 2026–27 at a glance

Festival	Where	2026–27 dates	Weather	Best for
Dubai Shopping Festival	Dubai, UAE	Dec 4, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027	Warm, about 20–26 °C	Winter sun, shows and sales
Fête des Lumières	Lyon, France	Dec 5–8, 2026 (to be confirmed)	Cold, about 1–7 °C	Free light art across the city
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay	Edinburgh, Scotland	Dec 29, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027	Cold and damp, about 2–7 °C	New Year’s Eve with a castle view
Harbin Ice and Snow Festival	Harbin, China	Parks open from late Dec; official opening Jan 5, 2027; until late Feb	Extreme cold, often below −20 °C at night	Giant illuminated ice cities
Winterlude	Ottawa, Canada	Jan 29 – Feb 15, 2027	Very cold, often −10 °C or lower	Skating and ice sculptures, family fun
Venice Carnival	Venice, Italy	Jan 30 – Feb 9, 2027 (expected)	Chilly, about 3–9 °C	Masks, costumes and romance
Sapporo Snow Festival	Sapporo, Japan	Feb 4–11, 2027	Snowy, around 0 °C by day	Huge snow sculptures
Carnaval de Québec	Québec City, Canada	Feb 5–14, 2027	Very cold, often −10 °C or lower	Bonhomme, night parades, ice palace
Rio Carnival	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Feb 5–9, 2027 (main parades Feb 7–9)	Hot summer, about 30 °C	The world’s biggest party
Lunar New Year	Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei and more	Feb 6, 2027 (Lantern Festival Feb 20)	Mild to warm	Lion dances, lanterns and fireworks

Dubai Shopping Festival (Dec 4, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027)

The 32nd Dubai Shopping Festival runs for six weeks over the holidays. Expect big sales across the malls, live concerts, drone and firework shows, and raffles, all in warm, sunny weather that’s perfect for the beach. It’s an easy winter-sun break, and Dubai is also a common stopover on flights between North America, Europe and South Asia.

Good to know: hotels are busiest over Christmas and New Year’s Eve, so book early if you’re travelling then. Ready to go? plan a trip to Dubai.

Fête des Lumières, Lyon (Dec 5–8, 2026)

For four nights in early December, Lyon turns into an open-air gallery of light. Artists project shows onto churches, squares and riverbanks, and the city’s tradition of candles in the windows on December 8 goes back to 1852. Walking between the installations is free.

Good to know: the dates are listed as to be confirmed, so check before you book. Expect very big crowds in the evenings; go early or on a weeknight. Lyon is about two hours from Paris by fast train, so you can combine the two. plan a trip to Lyon.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay (Dec 29, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027)

Scotland’s New Year celebration is one of the most famous in the world. It opens with a torchlight procession through the Old Town on December 29 and peaks on New Year’s Eve with the Street Party on Princes Street, a concert in the gardens and fireworks over Edinburgh Castle at midnight.

Good to know: the Street Party and concert need tickets, which sell out. Sign up for news on the official Edinburgh’s Hogmanay website to hear when they go on sale. Dress for cold, wet weather. plan a trip to Edinburgh.

Harbin Ice and Snow Festival (late Dec 2026 – late Feb 2027)

In northeast China, Harbin builds whole cities out of ice and lights them in every colour at night. Its main park, Harbin Ice and Snow World, is expanding to a record size this season, with more than 1,000 ice and snow structures. The festival officially opens on January 5, 2027, and the parks usually open in mid-to-late December and stay open until late February or early March, weather permitting.

Good to know: this is the coldest trip on the list, often below −20 °C at night. Pack proper thermal layers and keep phone batteries warm in an inside pocket, because cold drains them fast. Check China’s entry requirements for your passport before you book. plan a trip to Harbin.

Winterlude, Ottawa (Jan 29 – Feb 15, 2027)

Canada’s capital celebrates winter for three weekends. The highlight is skating on the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest naturally frozen skating rink, when the ice is ready. Add ice sculptures, snow playgrounds for children and BeaverTails pastries, and it’s one of the best family winter trips in North America.

Good to know: the Skateway opens only when the weather allows, so check its status before you go. Most Winterlude events are free. plan a trip to Ottawa.

Venice Carnival (Jan 30 – Feb 9, 2027, expected)

Venice’s Carnival is pure theatre: elaborate masks and costumes, gondolas and candlelit palaces. The main events take place around St Mark’s Square, and the celebrations end on Shrove Tuesday, February 9, 2027. The opening dates are expected but not yet official, so check before booking.

Good to know: hotels in Venice fill up and get expensive at Carnival time. Staying in Mestre on the mainland and taking the train or bus in is much cheaper. Venice also charges a day-tripper access fee on some days, so check the city’s rules for your dates. plan a trip to Venice.

Sapporo Snow Festival (Feb 4–11, 2027)

For eight days, Sapporo fills its city-centre Odori Park with snow sculptures, some as big as buildings, lit up at night. The Susukino site shows delicate ice carvings, and the Tsudome site has snow slides and activities for children. Entry to the main sites is free.

Good to know: Sapporo’s hotels book up months ahead for festival week. Wear boots with good grip, as pavements get icy. Combine it with a ski day at Niseko or a trip to the canal town of Otaru. plan a trip to Sapporo.

Carnaval de Québec (Feb 5–14, 2027)

The world’s largest winter carnival is led by its snowman mascot, Bonhomme, who welcomes visitors to his ice palace in front of the Parliament Building. Expect night parades, snow baths, canoe races on the icy St. Lawrence River and plenty of maple taffy, all in a historic walled city that looks like a European old town.

Good to know: many festival sites need the Bonhomme effigy, the carnival’s pass, so buy one when you arrive or online. It’s very cold, so dress in layers. plan a trip to Qu%C3%A9bec City.

Rio Carnival (Feb 5–9, 2027)

While it’s winter in the north, it’s hot summer in Rio. Carnival starts on Friday, February 5, and the top samba schools parade through the Sambadrome on February 7, 8 and 9, with a Champions Parade on February 13. Outside the Sambadrome, free street parties called blocos fill the city day and night.

Good to know: book flights and hotels as early as you can, because prices rise sharply for Carnival week. Keep valuables to a minimum at the street parties. plan a trip to Rio de Janeiro.

Lunar New Year (Feb 6, 2027)

The Year of the Goat begins on February 6, 2027. Hong Kong has a night parade and harbour fireworks, Singapore lights up Chinatown, and Taipei and many other cities celebrate with lion dances, markets and lanterns. Celebrations last until the Lantern Festival on February 20.

Good to know: in mainland China this is the busiest travel week of the year, and many shops close for the first days of the holiday, so plan around it. In Hong Kong and Singapore, it’s a festive time to visit. plan a trip to Hong Kong.

What to pack for a cold-weather festival

Layers: a thermal base layer, a warm middle layer and a windproof, waterproof outer jacket.
Warm extras: a hat that covers your ears, a scarf or neck warmer, and insulated gloves (touch-screen gloves are handy).
Boots with grip: waterproof and warm, with soles that won’t slip on ice.
Hand and foot warmers: cheap and light, and very welcome in Harbin, Québec City or Ottawa.
A power bank: cold drains phone batteries quickly.

Which winter festival is right for you?

For families: Winterlude, Sapporo Snow Festival or Carnaval de Québec.
For couples: Venice Carnival or Fête des Lumières in Lyon.
For warm weather: Rio Carnival, the Dubai Shopping Festival, or Lunar New Year in Singapore.
For a once-in-a-lifetime sight: the ice cities of Harbin.
For New Year’s Eve: Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.

Plan your festival trip in a minute

Pick a festival, then tell the Nanajee trip planner where you’re flying from, your dates and what you enjoy. In about a minute you’ll get a free day-by-day itinerary built around the festival, with flights, hotels, the main events and estimated costs. Change anything by asking, share it with your travel group, and book the parts you like with our trusted partners.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best winter festival in the world?

It depends on what you want. For snow and ice, the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival and the Sapporo Snow Festival are the most spectacular. For a party, Rio Carnival is the biggest. For romance, Venice Carnival is hard to beat.

When is the Sapporo Snow Festival 2027?

February 4–11, 2027, in Odori Park, Susukino and the Tsudome site in Sapporo, Japan.

When is the Québec Winter Carnival 2027?

Carnaval de Québec runs from February 5 to 14, 2027.

When is Winterlude 2027?

Winterlude in Ottawa runs from January 29 to February 15, 2027.

When does the Harbin Ice Festival 2027 open?

The festival officially opens on January 5, 2027. The parks usually open in mid-to-late December and stay open until late February or early March, weather permitting.

When is Rio Carnival 2027?

Rio Carnival runs from February 5 to 9, 2027, with the main Sambadrome parades on February 7, 8 and 9.

Which winter festivals are warm?

Rio Carnival (summer in Brazil), the Dubai Shopping Festival and Lunar New Year in Singapore all have warm weather.

Dates were checked in October 2026 against the festivals’ official websites and tourism boards. Some 2027 programmes are not yet published, so check again before you book.