Ten colourful celebrations taking place between January and April, all within easy reach by train.

Europeans certainly know how to put on a celebration. There are festivals devoted to just about everything, including lemons, chocolate, snow sculptures and, rather surprisingly, throwing oranges at each other.

Some have been taking place for centuries, others are relatively new additions to the calendar. And although summer tends to get most of the attention, there’s plenty happening during the first few months of the year.

We’ve picked out some of our favourite European festivals taking place between January and April 2027. All can be reached by train, several fit neatly into our existing rail holidays or we can build a bespoke itinerary. So, if you’re looking for an excuse to get away early in the year, read on.

European festivals in early 2027: dates at a glance

Festival dates and programmes can change. Check the organisers’ websites or talk to us before finalising your travel plans.

World Snow Festival, Grindelwald, Switzerland

18–24 January 2027 | Official festival information

Every January, the Swiss mountain village of Grindelwald becomes an open-air sculpture gallery, although the exhibits don’t tend to last very long.

At the World Snow Festival, international teams of artists are given enormous blocks of snow and several days to turn them into elaborate sculptures. The 2027 theme is Animal Worlds, so expect some impressive creatures to appear against the backdrop of the Eiger.

The finished sculptures can be admired from 22 January, make sure you take a look after dark when they’re illuminated. There’s no admission charge, and the festival is a good excuse to spend a few winter days in the Bernese Oberland.

Our Swiss Lakes & Mountains by Rail holiday includes a stay in Grindelwald. We can arrange your dates to coincide with the festival, with plenty of time left to experience the mountain railways.

Venice Carnival, Venice, Italy

23 January–9 February 2027 | Official Carnival website

Venice is hardly short of atmosphere at the best of times, but during Carnival, the city takes on a very different appearance.

Elaborate masks, extravagant costumes and powdered wigs appear in the streets and squares, particularly around St Mark’s Square. There are processions, performances and masked balls, some are exclusive, VIP-filled affairs. Fortunately, you don’t need an invitation to enjoy the spectacle around the city.

The tradition dates back centuries, although the modern Carnival was revived in 1979 after a long absence. Today it’s one of Europe’s most famous celebrations, and understandably popular, so planning ahead is advisable.

We have a dedicated Venice Carnival by Rail holiday, or you could time our Venice via the Gotthard Pass itinerary to coincide with the celebrations. Just don’t forget your mask.

Battle of the Oranges, Ivrea, Italy

7–9 February 2027 | Official Carnival programme

Every year, the northern Italian town of Ivrea stages an enormous battle in which thousands of people throw oranges at each other. And we’re not talking about the occasional piece of fruit. During the three-day event, entire teams of orange throwers take on opponents riding through the streets in horse-drawn carts.

It’s all part of Ivrea’s historic Carnival, which commemorates a popular uprising against tyranny. The orange battle represents the townspeople fighting against the ruler’s soldiers, while the Carnival’s central character, the Mugnaia or miller’s daughter, symbolises their rebellion.

Spectators are encouraged to wear a red Phrygian cap to indicate they’re not taking part, although we’d still recommend keeping your wits about you.

Ivrea is easily reached by regional train from Turin, making it a possible addition to a tailor-made holiday in northern Italy. Better still, the dates work well with Turin’s chocolate festival, which follows just a few days later.

CioccolaTò Chocolate Festival, Turin, Italy

10–14 February 2027 | Festival information

If being pelted with oranges isn’t your idea of a holiday, Turin has something a lot more appealing on the menu.

The city has a long association with chocolate, particularly gianduiotto, the smooth hazelnut chocolate for which Piedmont is famous. Every February, CioccolaTò brings together chocolate makers, tastings and demonstrations in the city’s squares and historic buildings.

The 2027 event takes place around Piazza Vittorio Veneto, with Belgium joining as the festival’s first guest country. It’s also conveniently timed for Valentine’s Day.

Turin is a lovely city to spend a few days in, with grand cafés, elegant arcades and excellent museums. It features in several of our Italian holidays, including Parma & the Prosecco Hills. We can easily build a longer stay around the festival.

White Turf, St Moritz, Switzerland

7, 14 and 21 February 2027 | Official White Turf website

Horse racing on a frozen lake? Only in Switzerland.

White Turf has been held in St Moritz since 1907, with thoroughbred horse races taking place on the frozen surface of Lake St Moritz. There’s also skijöring, in which competitors on skis are pulled across the snow by galloping horses. It takes some nerve, and presumably a very good sense of balance.

The races take place over three Sundays in February, accompanied by food stalls, entertainment and a lively atmosphere around the lake.

Naturally, the event depends on suitable ice and weather conditions, but St Moritz is worth visiting in winter regardless. Our Matterhorn and the Glacier Express holiday includes three nights in St Moritz, along with a journey on the famous Glacier Express. It’s spectacular at any time of year, but there’s something extra special about travelling through the mountains when they’re covered in snow.

Nice Carnival, Nice, France

9–28 February 2027 | Official Carnival information

Nice has been celebrating Carnival for hundreds of years, and these days it puts on one of the largest events of its kind in Europe. The mild climate of the French Riviera is another good reason to consider a February visit.

The main attractions are the enormous decorated floats, which parade through the city accompanied by performers and musicians. Then there are the famous Battles of Flowers, when beautifully decorated floats make their way along the parade route and flowers are tossed into the crowds.

The theme for 2027 is Vive l’Amour (Long Live Love), so expect plenty of romantic inspiration in the designs. With Valentine’s Day falling during the Carnival, love will certainly be in the air!

Nice Carnival also features Lou Queernaval, a lively celebration of LGBTQ+ culture with music, dancing and drag performances that’s free and open to everyone. For more queer travel inspiration, take a look at our  Top 10 LGBTQ+ Friendly Destinations by Rail.

Our French Riviera: Nice and Cannes holiday includes a stay in Nice. And with another rather eccentric festival taking place just along the coast, we’d encourage you to stay a little longer.

Fête du Citron, Menton, France

13–28 February 2027 | Fête du Citron website

Just along the railway line from Nice, the town of Menton has developed an obsession with citrus fruit.

Its annual Fête du Citron, or Lemon Festival, features giant sculptures made from thousands of lemons and oranges, displayed in the town’s gardens. Colourful parades feature enormous fruit-covered floats, while illuminated processions take place in the evenings. 

The 2027 theme is Douce France, celebrating France and its regions. It’s an elaborate tribute to the humble lemon, but one that attracts visitors from around the world.

Menton is easily reached by train from Nice, on a coastal railway that offers lovely views of the Mediterranean. We can incorporate the festival into our French Riviera holiday, and the dates overlap with Nice Carnival, so it’s possible to enjoy both on the same trip.

Las Fallas, Valencia, Spain

Main celebrations: 15–19 March 2027 | Official Valencia tourism website

In Valencia every March, enormous sculptures appear in squares and streets across the city. Known as fallas, these colourful creations often depict politicians, celebrities and topical events, usually with a healthy dose of satire.

Building them takes months of work. Then, on the final night of the festival, almost all of them are set alight.

It’s quite a spectacle, but there’s much more to Las Fallas than the bonfires. The celebrations include fireworks, street parties, traditional costumes and the daily mascletà, a thunderous display of coordinated firecrackers. Earplugs might be a sensible addition to your packing list.

And with daytime temperatures averaging around 19°C in March, it’s also a good opportunity to enjoy a little early spring warmth.

Valencia features in our Valencia and Mallorca holiday and our longer Grand Rail Tour of Spain & Portugal. We can also create a tailor-made holiday combining Valencia with Barcelona, travelling along Spain’s Mediterranean coast by train.

Festival of Lights, Zagreb, Croatia

17–21 March 2027 | Official Festival of Lights website

As darkness falls over Zagreb in March, the Croatian capital becomes a canvas for artists working with light during its annual Festival of Lights.

For five evenings, buildings, parks and public squares are the setting for colourful light installations, projections and illuminated artworks. Some are interactive, while others transform familiar landmarks into enormous moving pictures.

The festival is a relatively recent addition to Zagreb’s cultural calendar, but has become a popular way to welcome spring. Much of it takes place outdoors, so you can wander between installations and enjoy the city after dark.

Zagreb is well connected by rail to Ljubljana and other Central European cities. Our Croatian Coastline by Rail holiday includes the Croatian capital, and we can adjust the itinerary to allow more time for the festival.

Cully Jazz Festival, Cully, Switzerland

2–10 April 2027 | Official Cully Jazz website

Cully is a small village on the shores of Lake Geneva, surrounded by the UNESCO World Heritage listed vineyards of Lavaux. For most of the year, it’s a fairly peaceful place. Every spring, however, it fills with musicians and jazz fans.

The Cully Jazz Festival has been running for more than 40 years, with performances ranging from internationally known artists to smaller concerts in local wine cellars. The programme goes well beyond traditional jazz, with soul, blues and world music also featuring.

Part of the appeal is the setting. Cully sits among the beautiful terraced vineyards of Lavaux, one of our MD Simon’s favourite places in Switzerland. You can spend the day exploring the vineyards, stopping to sample some of the excellent local wines, before settling in for an evening of live jazz. Swiss wine is rarely found in the UK, so make the most of the opportunity while you’re there!

Cully has its own railway station, between Lausanne and Montreux. Our Interlaken and the Golden Pass holiday includes a stay in Montreux, the perfect starting point for a visit to the festival.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best European festivals to visit in early 2027?

Venice Carnival and Valencia’s Las Fallas are two of the biggest spectacles, but there are plenty of less familiar celebrations worth considering. Ivrea’s Battle of the Oranges is a bit different, Grindelwald’s snow sculptures and Menton’s enormous citrus displays are good reasons to plan a winter break.

Which European festivals take place in February 2027?

February is a busy month for festivals. Venice Carnival continues into early February, followed by Ivrea’s Battle of the Oranges, Turin’s CioccolaTò chocolate festival and White Turf in St Moritz. Nice Carnival and Menton’s Lemon Festival also take place during February, with overlapping dates that make it possible to attend both.

Can I visit European festivals by train from the UK?

Yes. Many of these destinations can be reached using Eurostar services from London and connecting trains across Europe. Some journeys are best broken up with an overnight stop.

Our Travel Designers can work out a suitable route and arrange your rail travel and accommodation together.

Can I combine more than one festival in a rail holiday?

Certainly. Nice Carnival and the Menton Lemon Festival overlap, and the two towns are connected by a short coastal train journey. In Italy, Ivrea’s Battle of the Oranges takes place just before Turin’s chocolate festival.

We can also build a longer itinerary around a festival, allowing you to spend time in other destinations before or afterwards.

Plan your festival holiday by train

One of the advantages of a tailor-made rail holiday is that we can work around the dates of the events you’d like to attend. You might want to spend a few days at a festival, add a stop to an existing holiday or combine two celebrations in the same trip.

Our Travel Designers can help you put together a suitable route, choose well-located hotels and allow enough time to enjoy the festivities. We can also add extras, like tickets and excursions.

If you’re tempted to visit one of our favourite European festivals in early 2027, get in touch and we’ll help you get your plans on track.