10 Festivals Abroad That Celebrate Love in Unexpected Ways
Not all love stories unfold with roses and candlelight. Around the world, there are festivals that celebrate connection, devotion, and romance in ways that are anything but ordinary. From firework-lit skies in Japan to desert courtship rituals in Chad, these cultural gatherings offer couples a chance to experience love through new lenses—spiritual, ancestral, even animalistic. Whether you’re planning your next trip or simply dreaming of something different, these 10 festivals show that love truly is a global language, spoken in vibrant, unexpected ways.
La Diablada, Bolivia
In the high-altitude city of Oruro, Bolivia, La Diablada isn’t your typical love festival—but it’s an unforgettable one. Rooted in Andean mythology and Catholic traditions, this festival features dramatic costumes, fierce dancing devils, and music echoing down the streets. While not about romance per se, many couples attend in ornate matching costumes, sharing in the belief that love can conquer chaos. The festival’s bold celebration of good over evil mirrors love’s strength in unexpected forms.
White Nights Festival, Russia
Held each summer in St. Petersburg, the White Nights Festival bathes the city in a dreamlike glow. With sunsets that last until midnight, it sets the stage for a romantic cultural explosion—opera, ballet, fireworks, and concerts flood the city. Couples stroll hand in hand by the canals, pausing to watch the bridges rise. Though not about love directly, the atmosphere makes people fall in love with the city, the art, and each other. It’s a poetic place to feel connection.
Golden Eagle Festival, Mongolia
Set in the vast plains of Mongolia, the Golden Eagle Festival celebrates an ancient partnership—between hunter and bird. But couples who attend often find themselves bonding over awe. Together, they watch eagles soar through icy air, marvel at Kazakh traditions, and share nights under a wide, starlit sky. It’s a festival of loyalty, courage, and interdependence, reminding us that love isn’t just about romance—it’s about trust, teamwork, and flight.
Thaipusam, Malaysia
Celebrated largely by Tamil communities, Thaipusam is a sacred Hindu festival marked by devotion, endurance, and communal spirit. In places like Batu Caves, couples often take vows together and walk barefoot in procession, some carrying ornate kavadis as offerings. The strength of faith becomes a shared act of love, with partners supporting one another through intense physical and spiritual journeys. It’s a celebration of divine connection mirrored in human bond.
Fireworks Festival, Japan
During summer in Japan, Hanabi Taikai (fireworks festivals) light up the skies across towns and riversides. Couples often dress in yukata, bring bento boxes, and find the perfect viewing spot together. It’s not just about the fireworks—it’s about the anticipation, the quiet moments before each burst, and the shared beauty. These festivals are intimate, reflective, and steeped in seasonal romance, proving that love sometimes blooms best under a lit-up sky.
Inti Raymi, Peru
Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, honors ancient Incan traditions and the strength of cosmic love. Held in Cusco, it marks the winter solstice and brings thousands together to reenact ceremonies full of color, dance, and symbolism. Couples who travel here don’t just witness history—they share a sense of timelessness. Watching the rituals unfold on sacred ground, many say it stirs something deep—love as lineage, legacy, and connection to something greater.
Pushkar Camel Fair, India
What might seem like a livestock fair in Rajasthan becomes a celebration of rural life, color, and quiet affection. Amid camel races, turban contests, and desert sunsets, couples find space to explore a slower rhythm. They ride camels together, shop for handcrafted jewelry, and witness traditional songs and dances that evoke old-world romance. Pushkar’s chaos has its own harmony—one that surprises visitors with its charm and sense of closeness.
Saint Dwynwen’s Day, Wales
Forget Valentine’s Day—January 25th in Wales is for Saint Dwynwen, their patron saint of lovers. Couples exchange gifts, poems, and spend time in nature. It’s less commercial and more heartfelt, often celebrated with simple picnics or coastal walks. The love here is quiet and poetic, rooted in Celtic legends. The celebration feels personal and timeless, offering an unexpectedly gentle take on how to honor love in the heart of winter.
Gerewol Festival, Chad
Among the Wodaabe people in Chad, the Gerewol Festival flips the script. Men adorn themselves with paint, feathers, and jewelry to attract female attention in a dancing contest of beauty and charm. Couples—both locals and travelers—watch this fascinating courtship ritual unfold in the desert heat. It’s a rare, unfiltered look at love as performance, confidence, and fun. The festival invites you to question how love is pursued—and who gets to lead the dance.
Tango Buenos Aires Festival, Argentina
Few dances express passion like the tango, and nowhere celebrates it like Buenos Aires. This festival draws dancers from across the globe, all eager to feel that electric connection on the floor. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned dancer, couples can take workshops, watch world-class performances, and discover how movement can replace words. The shared rhythm, the closeness, the synchronicity—this is where love becomes a living, breathing art form.
