Harbin International Ice Festival. A wonderland of ice sculptures and laser-lights that will amaze.

Tour Down Under, Jan 14-22.Toast the world's best cyclists through the vines with the state's best wines.

Winter X Games, January 26-29. See the world's elite skiers and snowboarders competing in the flesh.

Rainbow Serpent Music Festival's 20th anniversary, Jan 27-30. This four-day electronic music event takes place at Lexton in the Victorian forest.

Timkat. Devout Christians in the Ethiopian city of Gondor celebrate Jesus' baptism with a midnight vigil.

Surfest, dates TBC. Surf's up at Merewether Beach, home of Australia's biggest surf festival.

Tapati Rapa Nui, Feb 3-18 (TBC). A summer festival celebrating Polynesian pride with queens and volcano tobogganing.

Rio Carnivale, Feb 24-28. Hit the party hard with samba, street parties, and parades. Sequins compulsory.

Dubai Food Festival, 23 Feb-11 Mar. Devour the best from celeb chefs, enjoy a desert feast and taste Emirati cuisine.

Thaipusam, Feb 10. Tamil Hindus parade their extreme piercings and hardship for their warrior god.

WOMADelaide. Mar 10-13. Global vibes: the world comes to Adelaide to sing it and shake it.

Holi Festival, March 13. Spring's arrival is welcomed with bonfires, sweets and mass colour-bombing in the streets.

Marina Bay. iLight, Mar 3-26 March. Asia's biggest light art event, the sustainable festival transforms Marina Bay into a public art gallery.

Ningaloo Reef. Whale shark season, April - Sept. Bigger is better: swim with the biggest fish in the ocean‎.

Paro Festival, Mar 2-9. Dancing monks are a highlight of the mountain kingdom's most popular gathering.

Gallipoli, ANZAC Day, Apr 25: Attend a moving dawn service and pay respect to the fallen soldiers.

Bhaktapur, Sindur Jatra: Locals celebrate spring by throwing vermilion powder over each other.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Apr 28-May 7: Two weekends filled with African beats, church hymns, blues and rock music.

Songkran Water Festival, Apr 13-15: Bring in the Thai New Year with a water fight in the streets.

Holy Week: Hooded penitents make their penance during hundred of Easter processions.

Cannes International Film Festival, May 17-28: The coastal city is transformed into a glitzy show of cinema.

Rose Festival, May 1-31: Locals celebrate as a valley in the High Atlas mountains becomes awash with roses.

Vivid, May 26-Jun 17: Lights! Music! Art! The city and harbour sparkle every night of the festival.

Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling, May 29: Hundreds gather to chase a 3kg circle of cheese down the hill.

Cheung Chau Bun Festival, May 1-3: Competitors climb high towers covered with sacred rolls.

Dark Mofo Festival, Jun 8-21: A midwinter festival exploring darkness, light, birth, death and renewal.

Taste of Amsterdam, Jun 2-5: Chefs and foodies gather in Amstelpark park for the culinary festival of the year.

Haro, Batalla Del Vino, Jun 28-30: Party through the night, then awake and head to the mountains for a mighty wine fight.

Art Basel, Jun 15-18: The world's leading galleries showcase contemporary art from over 4,000 artists.

Africa Oye, Jun 17-18: Eat and dance in the sunshine at the largest African music festival in England.

Fringe Festival, Aug 4-28: The world's largest arts festival celebrating theatre, music and dance.

La Tomatina, Aug 30: Tons of overripe tomatoes are thrown at the world's biggest food fight.

Nevada, Burning Man, Aug 27-Sept 4: A temporary city in Black Rock Desert dedicated to music, art and self-expression.

Helsinki Festival, Aug 17-Sep 3: A celebration of music, theatre, dance, circus and visual arts.

Gay Pride, Aug 6: A canal parade of people in brilliant costumes on boats celebrating gay pride.

Outlook Festival, Sep 7-10: A music festival overlooking the sea. Dub. Hip Hop. Reggae. Techno. Dance.

International Film Festival, Sept 7-17: Hollywood VIPS flock to Canada for 11 days of top-notch films.

Oktoberfest, Sept 16-Oct 3: A Bavarian celebration of great food, roller coasters, singing and specialty beers.

Floriade, Sept 16-Oct 15: Celebrate the glorious onset of spring amidst millions of flowers.

Oasis, Sept 15-17: A new-age music festival in the Moroccan sun incorporating yoga and wellness.

Diwali, Oct 19: The annual Hindu festival of lights is celebrated in the streets with candles and lamps.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Oct 7-15: Hundreds of colourful air balloons take to the skies.

Day of the dead, Oct 31-Nov 2: Fascinating costumes and street parades are held to celebrate the lives of the dearly departed.

The Melbourne Festival, Oct 5-22: A festival of art, culture, creativity and communal feasts.

Wine and Dine Festival, Oct 26-29: It's a gourmet party in Asia's food-crazy party capital.

Anniversary of Puno, Nov 5: Traditional dance, fireworks and a re-enactment of the Inca origin myth.

Festival of Lights, Nov 4: Thousands of lanterns are sent into the sky to honour the Buddah.

Airwaves Festival, Nov 1-5: An eclectic music festival held in cool bars, old churches and museums.

Galungan and Kuningan, Nov 1-11: A Hindu festival celebrating dharma (good) over adharma (evil).

Guy Fawkes Day, Nov 5: Bonfires and fireworks celebrate the capture of Guy Hawkes in 1605.

Times Square New Years Eve, Dec 31: Celebrate as the ball drops amidst thousands of revellers.

Whirling Dervishes, Dec TBC: A spectacle of twirling men dressed in white skirts and tall hats.

Hogmanay, Dec 30-Jan 1. Finish of the year in boozy style with thee days of drinking, music and spectacular events.

Krampusnacht, Dec 5: Mythical Krampus creatures scare kids into behaving at Christmas.

Ice Sculptures Festival, Dec 25-Feb 28: Winter is celebrated with exquisite ice sculptures and figures.