Events & Festivals in Vanuatu

Vanuatu hosts a wide variety of cultural festivals, musical events, conferences and sporting events throughout the year in addition to many of the tourist attractions across the country. During your time in Vanuatu, you’ll perhaps come across some of these events, but we suggest you plan your trip around being able to go to these events. Beyond the capital of Vanuatu, there are some great events that occur all through the country’s 83 islands. Below, we’ve added in a range of events, from horse racing, Fest’Napuan music events, Rowing competitions, The Barista and Salon Culinaire regional cooking contests, to the home of what is commonly known around the World as ‘bungy jumping’, Nagol on Pentecost Island (April to June), Vanuatu has something for everyone for that take home memorable experience.

Sia Raga Festival
This is the first event of its kind for the people of Pentecost. It is a week-long celebration consisting of various traditional and cultural activities and ceremonies such as pig killing ceremony, slow-food preparations and sand drawing, traditional marriage, weaving & traditional arts, songs, dances and drum beats.
There will also be sports competitions and live entertainment from prominent local music bands from Pentecost Island.

St Andrews and Leaf Fishing Festival
For more than 100 years, the people of Rah and neighbouring Mota Lava in the Banks group of islands have been coming together to combine custom tradition with Christianity celebrating the life of St. Andrew.

This is a three-day event, with visitors welcome to join in the extraordinary culture and celebrations. Fish using a giant traditional coconut leaves fishing net, taste the “volcano baked” food, see the famed sea snake dances and trek up the Rock of Rah or the Sleeping Giant mount. Rah island – Mota Lava island.

Unity Day
Unity Day in Vanuatu comes every 29 November and was specifically instituted in 1977 to engender a spirit of national unity among Vanuatu’s very diverse population.

Family Day
Family day is celebrated on the 26th December. A day where people enjoy time with and give thanks for their family, often taking part in community or religious events and feasts. Activities involving family spirit, celebrating, bringing families and extended families together. A holiday worth celebrating!