20 Reasons to Visit Europe in 2020

The White Nights - St.Petersburg

The white nights in St.Petersburg are a magical experience. Taking place between 22 May – 21 July 2020 the sun never fully sets, but the stars stay bright throughout the night. Stroll the canals of the city, enjoy outdoor concerts, fireworks and Jazz events. Plus don’t miss the Stars of the white night at Mariinsky concert hall, where you can experience world class ballet and opera shows. 

Sail onboard newly revolutionised Celebrity Silhouette® in 2020 and enjoy an overnight stay in St.Petersburg on selected sailings. 

Biennale Architettura - Venice 

2020 marks the 17th year this celebrated exhibition has been running. Taking place between 23 May – 29 November and named ‘how will we live together’ it brings architects from around the world to explore how we can use design to create more creative and diverse spaces. 

Bourse de Commerce – Paris

For the last three years, what was once a stock exchange has been transformed into a new art exhibition space to house the Pinault Collection (which includes over 5000 items from the 20th and 21st centuries). The new Bourse de Commerce will open to the public in June 2020. 

Athens Open Air Film Festival

Experience the iconic structures of Athens like never before at the Open Air Film Festival. 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the event, which screens much-loved movies in the Little Theatre of Epidaurus and Piraeus 260.

 Montenegro Folklore Festival

Montenegro’s annual Folklore Festival takes place in June, and aims to showcase local culture through song, music and dance, and also to celebrate other cultures from around the world. While in Montenegro, don’t miss Kotor, an atmospheric fortified town on the Adriatic Coast.

Taste of Roma Festival

September’s Taste of Roma Festival is Rome’s biggest and best restaurant festival. The best eateries in the city (and visiting chefs from across Italy) participate in cooking shows, classes, tastings and more. There’s never been a more delicious time to visit Italy’s spellbinding capital city. 

Kongens Nytorv - Copenhagen

In 2020, one of Copenhagen’s most loved and famous squares, Kongens Nytorv, is set to reopen after seven years. Closed during the construction of the city’s new metro line, Cityring, the square now once again offers access to famous buildings such as the D’Angleterre Hotel and the Charlottenborg Academy. 

Malta International Arts Festival

The International Arts Festival is one of the highlights of the Maltese Events Calendar. Hosted in the entrancing capital city of Valletta, the festival showcases the work of Maltese artists through musical performances, visual installations and dance shows.

Istanbul Music Festival

Classical music lovers won’t want to miss the Istanbul Music Festival, which takes place in June and July in the Turkish capital. It’s considered the most exciting and established musical event in Turkey, and has been running for over 40 years. Enjoy opera, ballet, classical music performances and more.

Bocuse D’Or - Tallinn

This year, the Estonian capital of Tallinn is the next city to host the Bocuse D’Or – a renowned gastronomy competition. Over the course of two days, you’ll watch talented chefs from 20 countries compete in the Saku Arena for the grand prize.

Sporting Events in Marseilles 

In 2020, the French port city of Marseilles will be the host for two world sporting events: the Rugby Challenge Cup and the Heineken Champion’s Cup, both in May. During these tournaments, European Club Rugby teams from the top leagues go head to head.

Lollapalooza Stockholm

In 2020, celebrated music festival Lollapalooza will take place in the Swedish capital of Stockholm. The impressive line-up includes world-famous artists such as Post Malone, Ellie Goulding and Zara Larsson. Extend your stay after the festival to experience some of Stockholm’s cultural highlights such as Gamla Stan (the old town) and Skansen, an open-air museum.

Norwegian Constitution Day

Norway’s annual Constitution Day (also known as Syttende Mai) is always a good time to visit the Scandinavian country. Attend celebrations in the capital of Oslo in 2020 to enjoy colourful parades, games and bountiful feasts.

Reykjavik Arts Festival

This biennial festival has been running since 1970, making it one of the oldest arts festivals in Europe. Most of the events are free, and you’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with both classical and contemporary art.

Nice Jazz Festival

The Nice Jazz Festival has been running since 1948, and is widely regarded as the first jazz festival to reach international renown in Europe (at the inaugural festival, Louis Armstrong was the headliner). The festival continues to impress today with the biggest names in jazz playing against the sun-soaked backdrop of the French Riviera in July. 

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is an unmissable event every year, but 2020 looks set to be the biggest and best yet. There will be more than 3,500 shows to choose from, spanning theatre, dance, comedy and music. Make 2020 the year you discover the biggest arts festival in the world.

Opening of the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki

Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium has been closed for renovations since 2016, and will reopen with a grand celebration ceremony in August 2020. After the opening, you’ll be able to visit the Sports Museum of Finland, which details the history of Finnish sports through immersive exhibits.

Cork Midsummer Festival 

For two weeks in June every year, the Irish city of Cork hosts an exciting programme of music, theatre and dance events to celebrate Midsummer. Plenty of the events are free and take place at venues across the city, so it’s easy and accessible to get involved. 

National Museum of Copenhagen

While you’re in Danish capital, check out the Museum of Copenhagen which has relocated for 2020. In February, it will unveil a new interactive exhibition which takes visitors on a journey through the fascinating history of Copenhagen.

The Friederichwerdersche Kirche - Berlin

After eight years of restorations, Berlin’s famous neo-gothic church is finally set to reopen in 2020. Once a museum, it has been transformed into an exhibition space for Schinkel sculptures. The church was first completed in 1831, making it Berlin’s first neo-gothic church.

Make sure the diverse destinations in Europe top your must-visit list in 2020. Find your perfect itinerary by browsing all of our Europe cruises.