By Karen Espig

We are about to complete the first quarter-century of the new millennium! That is quite a few trips around the sun for our little planet, but how much have you seen of it in your lifetime? Maybe 2025 is the year you should tick some more places off your bucket list.

One of the 2025 travel trends is to vacay in a big way by taking in an epic event. I’ve rounded up a few epic travel destinations that hit the mark. Don’t delay, though; several of these are date-specific and require advance planning and booking.

2025 World Expo: Osaka, Japan

At the top of my list of epic events for the year is the World Expo (once called the World’s Fair) which takes place in Osaka, Japan, and runs for 184 days, from April 13 to October 13, 2025. The theme for this event is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, and it will have over 150 participating countries and organisations.

It is happening on Yumeshima Island, a man-made island, where you will be among the first to see newly showcased technologies, innovations, and strategies for sustainable development, including a new metro line added to ensure easy access to the site.

Participating countries will have designated days to shine, so be sure to time your visit with any pavilions of personal interest. Can’t make it to Japan? You can participate in the experience virtually!

Jubilee Of Hope: Rome, Italy

Every 25 years, the Catholic Church celebrates “Jubilee Years”, which are special times to focus on renewal, forgiveness and pilgrimage. In Rome, it has been named the “Jubilee of Hope” for 2025, and pilgrims (of all denominations) are invited to pass through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica. 

This celebration of peace and solidarity begins in January, and events continue until December 14, 2025. The last event brought 80 million visitors to the city, so additional investments into sustainable and more comprehensive transit are being made to get people to the events and celebrations. Be smart and organise accommodation and flights early on.

South By Southwest (SXSW): London, UK 

SXSW London is the first European version of the renowned Austin, Texas, USA South by Southwest (SXSW) festival. This series of festivals brings together music, film, ideas, and technology, with discussion panels on global issues, such as climate change also happening. 

The conference includes a diverse array of thinkers and innovators and is a must-experience for creatives and techies alike. The participant list for London hasn’t been released yet, but previous SXSW notables include Michelle and Barack Obama, Dan Rather, Conan O’Brien, and Jay Shetty. 

The music festival portion will feature new and innovative artists, who will also share this stage with some iconic talent. There will also be discussion and debate events with experts and innovators in the music industry.

Attendees must be over 16 years of age.  It runs for six days only, from June 2 to June 7, 2025, and offers a variety of tickets and passes. If you are looking for creative, technological, or lifestyle inspiration, this event is for you!

Firenze Rocks Music Festival: Florence, Italy

Looking for a high-energy music vibe? The Florence Rocks Festival, which will be held from June 12 to June 15, 2025, includes epic headliners such as Guns N’ Roses, Korn, and Green Day. 

The Visarno Arena near Florence’s city centre accommodates 18,000 music lovers in seated and standing areas. For the junior festival-goers (ages 3-12), there is a dedicated area with their own entertainment and activities to enjoy. Tickets can be purchased via online platforms like Ticketmaster, Ticketone. and Vivaticket. Early booking is advised due to high demand. If you can’t make it to this festival, Europe has a whole collection to choose from!

Home of the renowned Uffizi Gallery, this gorgeous city in Tuscany has lots to offer, so be sure to add a few days before or after the festival dates.

FIFA World Cup: 12 Cities, USA 

Diehard soccer fan? The FIFA Club World Cup will be stateside from June 14 to July 13 2025. This new competition, modelled after the FIFA World Cup, includes 63 games in 12 host cities. You can watch world-class teams like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and CR Flamengo.

The matches begin June 14 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and finish on July 13 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey…. Just a hop away from Manhattan in New York. Tickets are on sale now.

These 2025 travel trends may not be for you or everyone in your group, but attending a large-scale event in a foreign country can be a great experience. The good news is that all the major events I suggested occur in amazing cities with so much to offer year-round. Or if you’ve got extended travel in mind, attend the events and add extra days to explore Osaka, Rome, Florence, London and New York City. You definitely won’t regret it! 

Happy travelling!