The world boasts diverse cultural, religious, and celebratory festivals, from Belgian music festivals to Holi’s colorful streets. Additionally, many stunning destinations worldwide offer a feast for the eyes and an immersive experience in local culture and history.
To find out, global print-on-demand company Printful analyzed Google search and Instagram hashtag volumes to identify the world’s top celebrations and destinations. Using a color dropper tool, they then created color palettes for the top five celebrations and destinations.
You can view the full research here: https://www.printful.com/uk/blog/the-most-colorful-celebrations-and-destinations
Holi is the most colorful celebration in the world, with over four million monthly Google searches, the most of any festival
Holi, the “festival of colors,” is the most searched-for colorful celebration globally, with over four million monthly searches and over three million Instagram posts. Predominantly celebrated in Northern India, Holi marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
Tomorrowland, one of Europe’s largest music festivals in Belgium, ranks second with 1.2 million monthly Google searches and fourth for Instagram posts. Known for its fantastical themes and colorful stages, it features hundreds of DJs and attracts about 600,000 visitors annually.
Chinese New Year ranks third, with the second-highest number of Instagram posts tagged “#chinesenewyear” (around six million) and the third-highest monthly Google searches (823,000).
Germany’s world-famous beer festival, Oktoberfest, ranks fourth, with 823,000 monthly searches and 4.3 million Instagram posts. Burning Man festival in Nevada, USA, rounds off the top five colorful celebrations, with 823,000 monthly searches, and just over 2 million posts on Instagram.
| Rank | Celebration | Location | Average Global Monthly Searches | No. of Instagram Hashtags |
| 1 | Holi | North India | 4,090,000 | 3,375,831 |
| 2 | Tomorrowland | Belgium | 1,220,000 | 5,005,577 |
| 3 | Chinese New Year | China | 823,000 | 5,839,695 |
| 4 | Oktoberfest | Germany | 823,000 | 4,342,982 |
| 5 | Burning Man | Nevada, USA | 823,000 | 2,052,784 |
| 6 | Dia De Los Muertos | Mexico | 673,000 | 3,362,049 |
| 7 | Mardi Gras | New Orleans, USA | 550,000 | 3,254,152 |
| 8 | SXSW | Texas, USA | 165,000 | 2,291,104 |
| 9 | Cannes Film Festival | France | 135,000 | 966,122 |
| 10 | Notting Hill Carnival | UK | 110,000 | 402,156 |
London is the most popular colorful city in the world, with 166 million Instagram posts, the most of any destination in the study
London ranks second for Google searches with 22,200 per month and leads Instagram posts with 166 million. The city’s blend of modernity and history is reflected in its pastel tones and iconic attractions like the British Museum, Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace.
Jodhpur, India, known as the “Blue City,” ranks second with 49,500 searches, though it has significantly fewer Instagram posts at 6.3 million.
Chicago takes third place with 4,400 searches and 57 million Instagram posts, offering landmarks like the Willis Tower and Millennium Park.
Las Vegas is fourth with 3,600 searches and 41 million Instagram posts, known for its vibrant nightlife and casinos.
San Francisco rounds out the top five with 4,400 searches and nearly 34 million Instagram posts, celebrated for its landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and cultural attractions.
| Rank | Destination | Location | Average Global Monthly Searches | No. of Instagram Hashtags |
| 1 | London | United Kingdom | 22,200 | 166,080,511 |
| 2 | Jodhpur | India | 49,500 | 6,391,777 |
| 3 | Chicago | Illinois, USA | 4,400 | 57,039,838 |
| 4 | Las Vegas | Nevada, USA | 3,600 | 41,377,231 |
| 5 | San Francisco | California, USA | 4,400 | 33,705,962 |
| 6 | Copenhagen | Denmark | 9,900 | 11,286,605 |
| 7 | Reading | United Kingdom | 320 | 43,339,657 |
| 8 | New York City | New York, USA | 1,000 | 36,574,479 |
| 9 | Seattle | Washington, USA | 4,400 | 24,404,774 |
| 10 | Boston | Massachusetts, USA | 3,600 | 26,284,587 |
Agnese Bite, Head of Design at Printful shares how exploring new celebrations and locations can inspire creativity
“Engaging with different cultures not only opens you up to new ways of thinking and living, but also exposes you to new sensory experiences. Trying exotic foods and exploring different landscapes can stimulate your brain and spark creative thinking. Stepping out of daily routines and comfort zones can help disrupt your habitual patterns, allowing you to come up with fresh and innovative ideas.
“While traveling, interacting with different people from all walks of life can lead to gaining knowledge, learning new skills and exchanging ideas. Conversations with locals and fellow travelers can offer new insights and inspirations, and forming connections around the world can be really inspiring.”
