8 Global Events Worth Travelling For in 2024

From the Paris Olympics to the notorious Fyre Festival 2.0, there’s plenty to plan your travels around in 2024. 

There’s a party and you’re invited: it's time to start mapping out a year to remember. And what better excuse to explore a bucket list destination than while there’s an event in town? Feel the frenetic energy of a city as it celebrates and uncover unique events that are sure to excite and unite.

Scroll on for eight bucket list events that are well worth the trip.

1. Paris Olympic & Paralympic Games (Paris, France)

Witness every photo finish and don your country’s colours as Paris hosts the 2024 Summer Olympics. Kicking off on 26 July, 10,500 of the world’s finest athletes will board boats and cruise down the River Seine, for an epic opening ceremony that promises to wow, amaze and dazzle in ways that previous events have not done before. Not only will this be the first held outside the confines of a stadium, but it also marks 100 years since Paris last hosted the Olympics. Expect all the classic favourites – swimming, gymnastics, athletics – and some newer additions including breaking (also known as breakdancing) and sport climbing.

2. Fyre Festival 2024 (Caribbean)

It’s happening (allegedly). Made famous by a number of influencers, multiple documentaries and that cheese sandwich in a polyurethane tray that went viral, the Fyre music festival dares to make its big comeback at the end of 2024. The proposed start date is 6 December 2024, however there’s no word yet on the exact location or musical lineup. Surprisingly, that hasn’t stopped the first 100 brave punters who bagged up all of the first release tickets. Will this be the greatest party that actually does happen? Or will history repeat itself? Only time will tell.

3. Rossini Opera Festival (Pesaro, Italy)

From 7 to 23 August, Pesaro is transformed into the Italian Capital of Culture for the Rossini Opera Festival 2024, taking its namesake from the famous opera composer Gioachino Rossini. With the event in its 45th year, 2024 brings five opera works, starting with a magnificent new production of Bianca e Falliero, conducted by Roberto Abbado and staged by Jean-Louis Grinda. Each season brings together Rossini’s musical masterpieces and forgotten operas, paying homage to his genius. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned fan, this theatrical celebration will stir the heart of any opera enthusiast. Come for the beautiful music and old-school elegance and stay for the unforgettable lyrical acrobatics and masterful performances. 

4. Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment Exhibition (Washington, USA)

Legendary works unite beneath the same roof once more at this exhibition, curated by the National Gallery of Art in Washington and the Musée d’Orsay, Paris. See the whole picture of the Impressionist movement, the art norms these trailblazers were rebelling against and the political and social upheaval that inspired this revolutionary new brushstroke. Move between beloved paintings by Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas and Claude Monet, then meet the relatively unknown contemporary artists continuing to explore new directions. With approximately 130 paintings, works on paper, prints, sculptures and photographs to peruse, Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment pays homage to the 150^th anniversary of the first Impressionist exhibition. It opens at the National Gallery of Art, Washington on 8 September 2024 and runs until 19 January 2025.

5. Last total solar eclipse in the United States for more than 20 years (USA)

Consider yourself an amateur astronomer? Plan to be in the United States on 8 April for a celestial event that won’t be seen again for another two decades. A total solar eclipse will be visible across a large stretch of the country, with the ‘path of totality’ from Texas to Maine. Witness the sky fade while the moon slowly covers the sun’s surface. For a few minutes, you’ll experience an other-worldly twilight before the daylight returns. For passionate eclipse chasers, the best place to see this sight is Radar Base, Texas, on the USA and Mexico border. But if it’s a picture-perfect setting you seek, head to Niagara Falls, New York, where one of the best vantage points can be found at Terrapin Point.

6. EUFA Euro 2024 (Germany)

Europe’s biggest soccer names go head-to-head from 14 June to 14 July for the UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany. The last time the nation hosted such an event was the FIFA World Cup in 2006, which many remember to be the ‘summer fairy tale’. With matches in Berlin and Munich, Dortmund and Stuttgart and more, you’ll witness historic clashes play out as the region’s top players show off their fancy footwork. Curate your perfect match-day experience and immerse yourself in the high energy as your favourites work overtime to secure their path to continental glory. If you’re looking to see Australia’s Socceroos instead, you’ll need to head to Qatar, which is hosting the AFC Asian Cup from 12 January to 10 February. 

7. Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Edinburgh, Scotland)

The Fringe, as its affectionately known, began in 1947 when independent thespians opted to stage their own modestly funded productions alongside the bigger shows in the Scottish capital. Today the month-long affair has become much grander and isn’t on the fringe of anything, with thousands of shows dotted across the city. Discover a roster of theatre, comedy and more on display, encouraging one and all to express their creativity in whatever way they wish. While big names are on the headline, the festival is a platform where legends are born. Names like Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s SIX or Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag for instance, plus a slew of comedians, have made their mark through successful Edinburgh runs.

8. Rio Carnival (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Vamos à festa! Drink in the biggest party in the world at Rio Carnival, where standing out is the essence of fitting in. Here, the vivacious spirit of samba fuels a six-day fiesta, drawing two million revellers daily. Lose yourself in the rhythm of drums as skilled showgirls bedazzled from head to toe lead the charge of samba bands through the streets. Make sure to nab tickets to the Sambadrome, designed by legendary architect Oscar Neimeyer, where the festivities reach a mega high. If you decide to skip the stadium, follow your feet to a street party or ‘bloco’ where celebrants clad in feathers and sequins transform the city’s pavements into a kaleidoscopic spectacle.

Looking for more inspiration? Check out Heading to Europe? 5 Stopovers as Good as the Destination.