Special Event Travel 2023

There is no experience quite like securing seat at a world-class special event. These occasions provide extraordinary thrills and excitement, such as the opportunity to watch the action at Wimbledon from courtside, taste rare wines at the Bordeaux festival, hear the roar of F1 cars racing through the streets of Monaco, or shout in excitement from a balcony at the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona.

Fan favorites such as the SuperBowl LVII are coming up fast. Hockey fans can watch their favorite players at the Stanley Cup in June. You’ll want to book the June NBA Finals in advance!
The World Figure Skating Championships (March 20-26) is just outside Tokyo – a fun city to explore after the last triple-toe loop has been landed.

Golfers should book now for the Masters (April 3-9) and tennis fans think about snagging Wimbledon tickets for the July 3-16 tournament in southwest London.

F1 racing offers travelers some spectacular locations: Monaco (May); Singapore (Sept); Italy (Sept and May); Mexico City (October); Abu Dhabi (November) and more.

The Tour de France from Bilbao to Bayonne is July 1-23. Or get your rodeo on and watch the Calgary Stampede July 7-16.

It’s been 69 years since the U.K. has seen a coronation and the pomp and circumstance should be legendary on May 6 when Charles III is crowned in Westminster Abbey.

Museums in France, Spain and the U.S. will mark the 50th anniversary of Pablo Picasso’s death. Check out exhibits at the Musée Picasso in Antibes, France (April 8-June 25); the Casa de Velázquez in Madrid (September-November); and the Guggenheim Museum (May 12-Aug. 7).

Book now for Mardi Gras in New Orleans (January-February), Venice Carnival (Feb) and Carnival in Rio de Janeiro (Feb). The music and revelry of each should be experienced at least once in a lifetime.

World Pride is celebrated in Sydney this year (Feb. 17–March 5). The city is an excellent jumping-off point to explore the wildlife and stunning scenery of Australia.

Raise a glass or three at the Bordeaux Wine Festival (June 22-25) but if you’d rather raise a stein than stemware, Oktoberfest in Munich (Sept 16-Oct 3) is your destination.

Classical music enthusiasts will love the Salzburg Music Festival (July 20-Aug. 31). If your music tastes run a little more indie, plan ahead for Glastonbury in Somerset, U.K. June 21-25 (Elton John is headlining!) or Burning Man in the Nevada desert (Aug.26-Sept 4).

If you’d like to watch the Running of the Bulls from the safety of your own private balcony, I can book your Pamplona balcony now for the July 6-14 festival. Or wade right into the tomato-throwing fun of La Tomatina, in Spain on Aug. 30. Tickets are now limited to join what’s known as the world’s biggest food fight, so grab yours soon. 

Celebrate your ancestors and the pageantry of the Day of the Dead in many cities throughout Mexico, from Oct. 31 till Nov. 2.

If you need a reason to travel, consider a special event!

Helen Jordan is the owner of Jordan Luxury Travel, an independent affiliate of Brownell Travel, a member of Virtuoso. She can be reached at 602-692-9379 or [email protected].