For photography enthusiasts, the renowned Visa pour l'Image festival held annually in Perpignan, France transforms the city into an open-air gallery dedicated to impactful, critically acclaimed photojournalism from August 27 - September 11. Over in Italy, the glamorous Venice Film Festival kicks off on August 30, providing a spectacular stage for Hollywood stars and top directors to debut new cinema vying for the prestigious Golden Lion Award. The music festival calendar is particularly busy, with major events like Hungary's Sziget Festival (August 10-17), Way Out West in Sweden (August 10-12), Poland's Off Festival (August 4-6) and Rock en Seine in Paris (August 25-27) thrilling crowds with top international talent.
## Edinburgh Festival Fringe - Edinburgh, Scotland (August 5-29)
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world's largest arts festival, featuring more than 50,000 performances of 3,000+ shows across approximately 300 venues. Comedy, theatre, dance, physical theatre, circus, cabaret, children's shows, musicals, operas, exhibitions, and more make this an unmissable European cultural event.
## Nam June Paik Exhibition - London, England (July - October)
The Tate Modern in London will host a major retrospective of artist Nam June Paik's work from July to October 2023. The exhibit will showcase the pioneer of video art's innovative installations, sculptures, performances, and more.
## Bauhaus Exhibition - Paris, France (August - November)
The Centre Pompidou in Paris will present an exhibition from August to November 2023 exploring the legacy and far-reaching influence of the trailblazing Bauhaus art school.
## Way Out West - Gothenburg, Sweden (August 10-12)
Set in Slottskogen Park, this indie music festival has previously hosted acts like Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, The Cure, and Patti Smith. The 2023 lineup features headliners Kendrick Lamar, Haim, and St. Vincent.
## Flow Festival - Helsinki, Finland (August 11-13)
This urban music and arts festival is set in an industrial-chic setting in downtown Helsinki. The 2023 lineup boasts Gorillaz, Florence + The Machine, and Michael Kiwanuka.
## Salzburg Festival - Salzburg, Austria (July 18 - August 31)
This prestigious summer festival celebrates music, opera, and theatre, featuring over 200 productions and performances over its 6-week run. Concerts, operas, plays, and recitals take place in the city's gorgeous historic venues.
## Sziget Festival - Budapest, Hungary (August 9-16)
One of Europe's largest multicultural music and arts festivals, featuring headline concerts, circus acts, art installations, street theater, and more. Past performers include Ed Sheeran, Arctic Monkeys, and Dua Lipa.
## Amsterdam Gay Pride - Amsterdam, Netherlands (July 29 - August 7)
Amsterdam's iconic annual LGBTQ pride festival celebrates equality with parties, performances, and a vibrant canal parade with colorfully decorated boats. Over 500,000 visitors attend this vibrant event.
## Visa pour l'Image - Perpignan, France (August 27 - September 11)
This famed annual photojournalism festival transforms the city of Perpignan into a giant open-air gallery, with numerous exhibitions dedicated to highlighting international social and political issues through impactful images.
## Rock en Seine - Paris, France (August 25-27)
Hosted at the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud park just outside Paris, this major festival attracts top international rock, pop, and indie music acts. Headliners for 2023 are Arctic Monkeys, Tame Impala, and Rosalia.
## Venice Film Festival - Venice, Italy (August 30 - September 9)
The Venice Film Festival is the oldest in the world. Hollywood stars and top directors come to debut new films vying for the coveted Golden Lion award. Red carpet premieres and glamorous parties make this a highlight of the European cinema calendar.
## Made in Italy - Florence, Italy (September 17-23)
This cultural event celebrates Italian craftsmanship and design in the heart of Florence. Artisans and designers showcase high-end fashion, jewelry, furniture, food, wine, and more across the city. Style enthusiasts flock here to discover Italy's latest trends.
## La Tomatina Festival - Buñol, Spain (August 30)
La Tomatina is a food fight festival held annually in the town of Buñol, located in the Valencia region of Spain. Participants throw over 150,000 pounds of ripe tomatoes at each other in the streets, creating a colorful, pulpy mess. The week-long festival also features parades, fireworks, music, and paella cooking contests.
