RAVEL Prepare to party at one of the globe’s wackiest yet THE FUTURE

FESTIVAL fun is off this summer thanks to the pandemic, but there are plenty of exciting events on the horizon, says LUKE RIX-STANDING.

It’s getting to the point where it is hard to think of events that haven’t been hit by the coronavirus, let alone list all the ones that have so far been cancelled. The entire sporting calendar is on hold for now, while Glastonbury, Coachella and Eurovision have all fallen by the wayside. In these uncertain times, we need something to look forward to. So check out these fantastic global festivals that could offer a trip of a lifetime once the Covid chaos subsides...

Exactly what it sounds like, this Taiwanese lantern festival sees even the dullest city streets illuminated by countless paper lamps.

The flagship event occurs in the otherwise ordinary Taipei district of Pingxi, where thousands of sky lanterns are released into the night.

Each carries the written wishes of its owner. It’s staggeringly beautiful, if not particularly eco-friendly.

More info: eng.taiwan.net.tw.

The Day of the Dead has been around for centuries but, thanks partly to the opening scene in James Bond movie Spectre, it has been catapulted into public consciousness over the last few years.

Just as joyous and vibrant as Halloween is dark and brooding, the festival celebrates the departed with elaborate costumes, singing, dancing and painted skulls.

Oaxaca has long been the festival’s spiritual home. Come early November, the southern state is swamped with revellers, pop-up markets and altars heavy with candles and intricate figurines.

More info: visitmexico.com/en.