Festivals

WHS within which a culturally significant festival is or has in recent times been regularly held.

World Heritage Sites connected to 'Festivals':

  • Ancient Nara Nara's Todaiji Temple for Omizutori festival
  • Australian Convict Sites Sydney Festival (Hyde Park Barracks); link
  • Avignon Festival d'Avignon
  • Baalbek Baalbeck International Festival; link
  • Byblos Byblos International Festival; link
  • Churches and Convents of Goa Goa Carnival (introduced by the Portuguese)
  • Costiera Amalfitana Ravello Festival
  • Cuzco Inti Raymi (Sacsahuyaman) - Jun 24
  • Edinburgh Edinburgh Festival: Theatre, Music, Opera, Dance and Visual Arts. Many events take place inside inscribed buildings. Also Military Tattoo in the Castle. (Aug-Sep each year)
  • Elephanta Caves Two-day Elephanta Festival of classical dance and heritage art forms
  • Fertö/Neusiedlersee Rust International Guitar Festival
  • Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa Dolmen Festivals are held yearly at all three Dolmen Sites."Ganghwa Dolmen Cultural Festival is the most famous of Ganghwa Island’s festivals. It celebrates the island’s dolmens, which have been designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The Dolmen Festival includes several performances, such as the reenactment of a traditional Korean funeral ceremony and a demonstration of how the dolmens were constructed." - english.visitkorea.or.kr
  • Goias Procession of the Fogar
  • Gyeongju Silla Cultural Festival - Events: National Classical Music concert at the Anapji Pond. The serene Kyerim Glade is the setting for a poem composition contest."Every year since 1962 a Silla Cultural Festival has been held in October to celebrate and honour the dynasty's history and culture. It is one of the major festivals of Korea. It features athletic events, folk games, music, dance, literary contests and Buddhist religious ceremonies." - wiki & eng.buddhapia.com
  • Hahoe and Yangdong Andong Mask Dance Festival (Held annually in the Fall)
  • Hwaseong Fortress Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival - "Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival is a landmark festivity held in the Suwon region every October in celebration of Suwon Citizen’s Day. A range of events including the Reenactment of the Royal Parade of King Jeongjo the Great, Jangyongyeong Guards Ceremony, Citizens’ Parade, and other traditional performances are held." - english.visitkorea.or.kr
  • Kandy Esala Perehera
  • Litomysl Castle Smetana opera Festival; link
  • Luang Prabang Pii Mai (Laos New Year)
  • Macao A-Ma Temple - "The temple is used especially during Chinese Spring Festival." - AB Document
  • Ohrid Region Ohrid Summer Festival
  • Old City of Acre Acre Theatre Festival
  • Olinda Carnival
  • Orange Chorégies d'Orange, oldest festival in France; link
  • Osun-Osogbo Oshun - end of 2nd quarter of each year
  • Pearling In earlier days the beach which connected the oyster beds to the main land was used as a location for special festivals in which the women folk of the pearling community and their children celebrated as the dhows left and returned to the shore. ... The grand festivals were called Rakbah on the day they left to sea and Quffal on the day they returned. ; link
  • Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod; link
  • Provins La f?te de la moisson
  • Quebrada de Humahuaca Pachamama ritual and Carnival
  • Royal Joseon Tombs Danjong Culture Festival; link
  • Salvador de Bahia Mardi Gras
  • Salzburg Salzburger Festwochen
  • Site of Carthage The International Carthage Festival (music, theater) is held every other year in the Roman theater (July-August).
  • Site of Xanadu Kublai Khan held special feasts for the Mongolian tribes lasting three days (the Jâma-yan) + Nadaam festival (AB ev)
  • Spissky Hrad & Levoca Levoca - Indian Summer Festival
  • Sydney Opera House Sydney Festival; link
  • Timgad Timgad International Festival of Music. Held from 1967 - 1986 and 1998 to present. Was originally held in Timgad's Roman Amphitheatre but UNESCO complained about damage to the structure and, since 2010, it has been held in a purpose built faux Roman amphitheatre just beyond the inscribed boundary; link
  • Tlacotalpan Candelaria (Bull running) -30 Jan -9 Feb
  • Upper Middle Rhine Valley Koblenzer Karneval; link
  • Valletta Maltese Carnival
  • Venice and its Lagoon Venice Carnival
  • Vienna Wiener Festwochen, Viennale
  • Wachau Cultural Landscape Donaufestival, Wachau Film Festival