Where is Everyone Partying in 2018? The Hottest Global Parties Visited!

To make sure you make the most of the festive season round the year, we have put together this nifty little guide of the best parties across the world, so you know where the closest party is, where ever you are travelling.

Get ready to put your party hat on!

Times Square, New York

Known as the city that never sleeps, New York captures the imagination of the world with its historic Ball Drop at Times Square, every year. Anticipation runs high as thousands of people chant the countdown to the New Year. The ball drops exactly at midnight, ending in a memorable display of dazzling lights, music, fireworks and cheers of the crowd.

Party hearty tip: Once the party ends here, head for the after party to Copacabana, Penthouse 760, The Gallery at Dream Hotel or any of the other nightclubs near Times Square.

When: 31^st December every year

Book Your Flight to New York

Read More: Top 10 Things to Do in New York

Mardi Gras, New Orleans

Colourful masks all around and cheerful music washing over you will get you in the mood for some festive mischief. Take the dancing floor by a storm, march in the parade or just eat your heart out—there is never a better time to visit New Orleans than during Mardi Gras. There will be debaucherous partying all around, will carnivals in the streets and dancing in all the clubs. A time to enjoy life, Mardi Gras is a whole season and not just a day of celebration. While festivities last for almost a month leading up to the onset of Lent, the biggest celebration is on the last day, when the entire city comes out to celebrate. Hotels all over the city are sold out so make sure you book a few months in advance.

Party hearty tip:  The most festive site is at the foot of Canal Street near the river, where Rex and Zulu, two epic parades, cross.

When: 24^th to 28^th February, 2017

Book Your Flight to New Orleans

Burning Man, Nevada

Known as the party that lasts a week, Burning Man is a mix of serious revelry, survival training in a desert and a platform of artistic expression. If you are an artist looking to explore the depth of your creative candour, this is the place to come to. Held in Black Rock Desert in Nevada, an ephemeral city is created in the middle of the arid desert by over 70,000 people who attend the event. With a different theme every year, there are a number of installations to admire, performances to watch and even classes to take.

Party hearty tip: Carry everything you will need to sustain yourself in a desert, including water, so that your party there never ends!

When: 27^th August to 4^th September, 2017

Book Your Flight to Las Vegas

Rio Carnival, Rio de Janeiro

You have seen the parade videos everywhere—Colourful floats, beautiful dancers in elaborate costumes, irresistible samba music and over two million people on the streets! Undoubtedly the biggest carnival in the world, the celebrations here last for five days with close to a million international tourists visiting the city during this time. Your samba moves might not be good enough to march in the parade, but you can always polish your skills in the street festivals that take place all over the city. So just jump in and enjoy the fun!

Party hearty tip: You will need to buy tickets only for the official samba competition. Everything else is free.

Book Your Flight to Rio De Janeiro

When: 24^th to 28^th February, 2017

Full Moon Party, Thailand

Every month, over 10,000 people collect at dusk on a full moon night, on the crescent-shaped beach of Haad Rin to party the night away. The evening is an explosion of music and dance with a number of DJs playing till the wee hours of the morning, with everything from techno, trance, reggae or commercial music. There are impromptu fireworks through the night, with jugglers and fire eaters entertaining the crowds. Dance for hours, down tankards of liquor or wade out into the water—there are no limitations.  

Party hearty tip:  All the bathrooms off the beach cost between 5-10 Baht for one use. Bring enough small change so that you can pee in peace.

When: Full moon night every month

Book Your Flight to Bangkok

Read More: Things to do in Thailand with Friends

Tomorrowland, Belgium

Thousands of dedicated electronic music fans travel from all corners of the world for the biggest electronic music extravaganza every year, called Tomorrowland. Acclaimed artists and celebrated DJs take over this weekend, with foot thumping music, amazing production stages and elaborate décor.  All flavours of electronic music are tasted here, starting from techno, all the way to minimal. A full house every year, Tomorrowland tickets sell out almost instantly. Keeping this rising demand in mind, the festival has been extended to two weekends in 2017.

Party hearty tip: Bring your ID or passport for verification purposes. If you don’t, you can’t get in!

Book Your Flight to Brussels

When: 21^st to 23^rd and 28^th to 30^th July, 2017

White Nights Festival,  Russia

No other European city can rival the experience of staying in St. Petersburg during the months of summer, when the city is celebrating the White Nights Festival. Although the phenomenon of ‘white nights’ (when there is 24 hours of sunlight every day) is not unique to St. Petersburg, no other northern city has given it such poetic treatment. Beginning in May and lasting till July, the festival begins with Stars of the White Nights at Mariinsky Theatre, with a series of opera, classical ballet and orchestral performances every evening. There are carnivals in the street, performances of renowned internal artists at Palace Square and nights of spectacular fireworks every day during these two months. There is never a better time to head to Russia!

Party hearty tip: When taking a walk along the River Neva, walk on the right side of the river because the metro stops running at 12:30 a.m. and the bridges remain open until 5:00 a.m., which means that there would be no way for you to cross over.

When: 26^th May to 23^rd July, 2017

Book Your Flight to St. Petersburg

Sunburn, Goa

Asia’s largest electronic music festival, Sunburn takes you for a wild ride as you step into the New Year. Ranked amongst the Top 10 musical festivals in the world, the four day event has multiple performances across all hours of the day. Bringing together the best artists from around the world, the 2017 party promises to be bigger and better, as the event celebrates its tenth anniversary. What is better than stepping into the New Year at the sun soaked beaches of Goa, with its stunning shoreline and the best of music at your feet?

Party hearty tip: When you get a little tired of all the walking around and the madness of the crowd, take a Sunburn cruise on the Arabian Sea at the beach.

When: 28^th to 31^st December, 2017

Book Your Flight to Goa

Gay Pride, Amsterdam

The biggest celebration of its kind, the Amsterdam Gay Pride is a vibrant week long celebration of equality for gay, lesbian and transgender communities. During this week, Amsterdam hosts a rainbow of events from dance parties, film screenings, sporting events, to debates and exhibitions. The biggest highlight is the world-famous Canal Parade, where 80 lavishly decorated barges put on a show with their performances and on-board DJs. The 6 kilometres long canal route provides visitors ample space to have a good view of the complete parade. So, get in line!

Party hearty tip: Get there early and reserve a good spot for yourself along the canal route. Don’t underestimate how crowded Amsterdam gets.

When: 29^th July to 6^th August, 2017

Book Your Flight to Amsterdam

Oktoberfest, Berlin

Running for 16 days from end September to early October is the world’s favourite drinking festival, Oktoberfest. Centred at the fairground at Kurt-Schumacher-Damn, there are hundreds of tents handing out beers and food to over 6 million people milling around. Celebrated in Bavarian style, you will find beer in giant glasses, busty women in blouses and delicious salty pretzels, everywhere you go. I think you will agree when I say, Beer and Germany belong together!

Party hearty tip: Once you get a table, don’t leave it unattended!

When: 16^th September to 3^rd October, 2017

Book Your Flight to Berlin