Calendar of inspiring events around the world

London Art Fair. A contemporary art fair to inspire you to get out of the house and thinking in colour in the drabbest month of the year. 

Sundance Film Festival, Utah. The largest independent film festival in the US.

Sydney Festival, Australia.  An arts and culture festival featuring theatre, music, dance, visual arts and large-scale outdoor events.

Jaipur Literature Festival, India. One of the world’s largest free literary festivals, where writers, poets, thinkers, and artists gather from around the globe for debates, readings and cultural performances, many of them in English. 

Adelaide Fringe, Australia. An annual open access arts festival held over four weeks every year.

Hong Kong Arts Festival, China. Asia’s major performing arts festival of music, dance, theatre, and opera featuring international performers and local productions.

Rio Carnival, Brazil. A five-day festival filled with massive street parties and vibrant samba parades. 

Mardi Gras, New Orleans. An annual carnival celebration full of elaborate parades, vibrant costume parties and lively music, which ends on 'Fat Tuesday', the day before lent starts. 

Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show, Birmingham. The perfect place to start dreaming of ditching the 9 to 5 and hitting the road in search of something better.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Australia. One of the biggest comedy festivals in the world. 

SXSW, Austin, Texas. A music, film, interactive media and technology festival (also held in London and Sydney at other times of year). 

Holi Festival of Colours, India. A Hindu festival celebrating the arrival of spring, the victory of good over evil, and the arrival of new life, celebrated by throwing coloured powders and water, with festivities including bonfires, singing and feasting. 

Marathon des Sables, Morocco. A hardcore multi-day ultra-endurance race across the Sahara Desert, where competitors run 250 kilometres in extreme heat while carrying all their own supplies.

Coachella, California. A huge music and arts festival.

London Marathon. An annual 26 mile footrace through the streets of London, known for its inspiring atmosphere, diverse participant base and significant charity fundraising. (Many other marathons are also held around the world).

Hay Festival, Wales. An annual literature and ideas festival that brings together writers, thinkers and audiences for talks, debates and performances in a lively, creative atmosphere.

Cannes Film Festival, France. An invitation-only annual event which showcases new films of all genres from around the world - but you don't need to have a ticket to soak up the atmosphere outside. 

Venice Biennale, Italy. A cultural festival that showcases contemporary art and architecture, alternating between the two disciplines every other year. (runs until December)

Glastonbury Festival, Somerset. A huge music and arts festival held on a farm.

Volunteers Week, UK. A annual campaign which celebrates the contributions of volunteers to organisations and communities around the country and highlights new opportunities to get involved.

Donauinselfest, Austria. Europe's largest free open-air music festival, which takes place on Danube Island.

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London. The world's oldest open-submission art exhibition, held annually at the Royal Academy of Arts. It features a diverse range of works, including paintings, sculpture, and prints, from both established and emerging artists, with submissions open to the public. (until August)

Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland. An annual music festival held on the shores of Lake Geneva which offers both ticketed main concerts and a large free programme with activities like DJ sets, workshops, and performances by emerging artists. 

Tour de France. The world's biggest annual cycling event, a multi-stage race held over 23 days across France and sometimes neighbouring countries. Great fun to watch and follow. 

Festival D’Avignon, France. A contemporary theatre and performing arts festival. 

Latitude Festival, Suffolk. A music and arts festival which offers a diverse line-up of music artists alongside a wide variety of arts and crafts for attendees to experience.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scotland. The world's largest open access performing arts festival. 

Burning Man Festival, Nevada. An annual event held in the desert which is focused on community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance.

Ideas Fest, Hertfordshire. A two-day business festival for entrepreneurs.

London Fashion Week. A clothing trade show to showcase new and established designers, and one of the Big Four fashion weeks along with Paris, Milan and New York. (also held in June) 

A Place in the Sun, Birmingham. An overseas property exhibition for people looking to buy property abroad, which is connected to the Channel 4 show of the same name (also held in Dublin, Manchester and London at other times of year).

London to Brighton Bike Ride.  An annual charity cycling event covering 55 miles from the capital to the south coast which is open to anyone over 16.

Dinard British and Irish film festival, France. An annual five-day event in Dinard, France, that celebrates and promotes British and Irish cinema. 

Affordable Art Fair, London. Original contemporary paintings, sculptures, photographs and prints displayed in a relaxed and friendly environment. (also held in 13 cities around the world at different times of year.)

Motorhome and Caravan Show, Birmingham. Come and be inspired to follow your dreams of escaping the 9 to 5 and hitting the open road.

Cheltenham Literature Festival, Gloucestershire. The world’s oldest literature festival featuring renowned authors, thinkers and public figures in a vibrant celebration of books and ideas. 

Lewes Bonfire Night celebrations, Sussex. The UK's most famous bonfire night celebrations, renowned for its street parades, fireworks and massive bonfires.

Yi Peng Lantern Festival, Thailand. A festival of lights where thousands of sky lanterns are released into the night sky, symbolising the release of misfortune and the welcoming of good fortune and new beginnings. 

Rolling Loud, Miami. An international rap and hip-hop festival. (also sometimes held in Europe, Asia and elsewhere in the US)

New Year's Eve celebrations, Sydney. A spectacular choreographed fireworks display featuring Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, with one show at 9pm and another at midnight.