Runs for several days in early December in Luang Prabang, now on a roughly biennial cycle under the Blue Chair name (formerly the annual Luang Prabang Film Festival). Upcoming: 4 to 8 December 2026; a following edition is expected in December 2028.

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Dec 4–6ExpectedClockenflap 2026

Clockenflap

Central Harbourfront · Hong Kong

Music & Culture Festivals

Held over three days each early December on the Central Harbourfront in Hong Kong, produced by Clockenflap Festivals and running since 2008. A multi-stage outdoor music and arts festival mixing international headliners with Hong Kong and Asian acts, plus film, art and comedy. Upcoming: the 2026 edition is expected 4 to 6 December.

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Dec 7–17Expected

Witness / Attend in Konya

Konya · Turkey

Witness / Attend

Runs December 7 to 17 annually.

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Dec 11 – Jan 2ConfirmedSugar Mas 55

Sugar Mas

Basseterre · Saint Kitts and Nevis

Witness / Attend

A national carnival season running from mid-December into the first days of January, set each year by the National Carnival Commission. Upcoming: Sugar Mas 55, 11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027 (confirmed); Sugar Mas 56, mid-December 2027 to early January 2028 (expected).

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Dec 16–24ExpectedParrandas 2026

Las Parrandas de Remedios

Remedios · Cuba

Witness / Attend

Builds nightly from December 16, with the all-night climax on Christmas Eve, December 24, every year.

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Dec 24–27ExpectedFestival du Sahara 2026

Festival International du Sahara de Douz

Douz · Tunisia

Witness / Attend

About four days at the end of December each year in the Douz festival arena. Upcoming: the 57th edition ran 25 to 28 December 2025; a 58th edition is expected in late December 2026, dates usually confirmed about a month ahead.

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Dec 25 – Feb 25ExpectedHarbin Ice and Snow Festival 2026-2027

Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival

Harbin · China

Witness / Attend

Officially launches on January 5 and runs into late February, with Ice and Snow World opening from late December. Upcoming: late December 2026 into late February 2027.

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Dec 26ConfirmedMaskanoo 2026

Maskanoo

Grace Bay · Turks and Caicos

Witness / Attend

Held once a year on Boxing Day, 26 December, on Grace Bay Road in Providenciales (fronting Saltmills Plaza and Regent Village), from dusk into the night, with junkanoo bands, local food and music. Created and hosted by the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association, revived in 2009. Upcoming: 26 December 2026; the pattern repeats every 26 December.

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Dec 26ConfirmedBoxing Day Junkanoo 2026

Junkanoo

Nassau · Bahamas

Witness / Attend

Held twice a year in Nassau, before dawn on Boxing Day (26 December) and New Year's Day (1 January), when costumed groups parade down Bay Street to drums, cowbells and brass. The national parades are government-run through the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. Upcoming: Boxing Day 26 December 2026 and New Year's Day 1 January 2027; the pattern repeats every 26 December and 1 January.

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Dec 26–30ConfirmedCarnival Calabar 2026

Calabar Carnival

Calabar · Nigeria

Witness / Attend

A month-long festival each December in Calabar, with the flagship parades falling between about 26 and 30 December. The 2026 edition runs its main events 26 to 30 December.

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Dec 28–29ExpectedAfroFuture 2026

AfroFuture

Accra · Ghana

Music & Culture Festivals

Held in Accra over two days in late December each year as the headline event of Ghana's Detty December. Upcoming: expected 28 to 29 December 2026 and again in late December 2027; dates and venue confirmed by the organisers closer to the time.

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Dec 31ConfirmedOwru Yari 2026

Owru Yari

Paramaribo · Suriname

Music & Culture Festivals

Held every year on 31 December in downtown Paramaribo, with the Pagara Estafette firecracker relay through the day and street celebrations into New Year's Eve night. Upcoming: 31 December 2026 and 31 December 2027; the pattern repeats every 31 December.

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