Taking New Zealand's rich and diverse music scene to the world is the aim of Womad's Emere Wano, who has launched the music expo Sounds Aotearoa to provide an opportunity for NZ artists to be heard overseas.

Paula Yeoman looks at the hottest music festivals on offer over the next few months and talks to an expert on the subject of sweet summer vibes, Tiki Taane.

Like your frocks fabulous and your produce pesticide-free? Dunedin's for you, writes Rachel Grunwell.

This fabulous annual festival of wordless performance spans the full mime spectrum, including live art, physical theatre, circus and puppetry.

In 2009, a recession-generated ‘perfect storm’ saw poor ticket sales and losses for the biennial Auckland Arts Festival. Yet, as Alan Perrott finds, its director David Malacari is upbeat for 2011.

This annual music and arts festival is held on a farm surrounded by the beautiful Otway rainforest above Victoria's stunning Great Ocean Rd.

A road trip to the Gisborne Wine & Food Festival is a hilarity-filled affair for Sarah Ivey and friends.

Welsh town Hay-on-Wye is the perfect spot for bookworms, finds Geraldine O'Sullivan Beere.

North America's diverse indigenous culture is explored and celebrated at this massive pow wow and festival.

Ex-Police frontman Sting has been confirmed as the headline act for the 2011 Mission Concert.

The nation's largest fireworks show will light up the skies over the Hudson River straddling New York and New Jersey, to celebrate American Independence Day.

Recent nay-saying that the festival neglects the young is insane. Teens were the most visible age-bracket on site.

No, we have not long waved goodbye to all the festivals. Australia's largest winter musical festival, We Love Sounds, is coming to Auckland for the first time, for Queen's Birthday Weekend (June 4).

It's time again for Pacific culture to be celebrated through music, food and fine performances.

Photos of the Hindu festival of colours, which heralds the coming of spring.

For Malaysian Estelle Goh and her Hong Kong boyfriend Tim Chan, this weekend will be when they celebrate Valentine's Day.

Hundreds of festival-goers slapped on sunscreen and absorbed three days of music and art by the sea at the biannual Splore festival at the weekend.

The Unidos da Tijuca samba group has been crowned champion of the Rio Carnival parades for the first time in more than seven decades.

Calexico's 'cactus rock' is inspired by the beautiful yet harsh Mexican-United States borderland. Photo / Supplied

Tahuna Breaks get set to jam at the Splore Festival.

At Rio's Carnival, collecting as many pecking partners as possible at one of the 650 massive street parties is truly a competitive sport.