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Celebrate Spring Across Europe: Unique Festivals and Traditions to Experience in 2026


April/May 2026 Radisson Hotel Group Projecting Roll-out


of 100 Verified Net Zero Hotels by 2030 for how hospitality can reduce its environmental impact while continuing to support people, destinations, and economic activity. Independently verified by TÜV Rheinland, the program is already showing that environmental and commercial performance can advance together, while giving guests greater confidence to travel responsibly.” With VNZ hotels, Radisson Hotel Group brings the future forward. Guests can experience 100% renewable energy, low- carbon menus, and minimal waste hotels while their stay or meeting has a net- zero footprint. Year-to-date


THE next steps of the initiative were unveiled at the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) 2026. Radisson Hotel Group have announced


the roll-out of their Verified Net Zero Hotels program, marking a pivotal step- up following their 2025 pilot phase. The program aims to achieve


100 Verified Net Zero hotels by 2030. Which will feature a phased 2026 roll-out beginning in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the UK and South Africa. With


plans


to expand to expand into countries such as, Germany, Austria, and Canary Islands. Federico


J. González Tejera, CEO of


SPRING is celebrated across Europe through festivals, performances and centuries-old customs. From Valencia’s vibrant Fallas Festival to the Bartók Spring International Arts Weeks in Hungary! As springtime finally arrives in the UK, bringing longer days, milder weather and the first signs of blossom, it is also celebrated across Europe through festivals, performances and centuries-old customs. From Valencia’s vibrant Fallas Festival in Spain, to the Bartók Spring International Arts Weeks in Hungary, which showcases the country’s arts through music, these unique celebrations mark the arrival of spring. Experience Las Fallas and Celebrate Ten


Years as a UNESCO World Heritage Tradition – Valencia, Spain (1-19 March 2026) In 2026, the celebration marks the tenth anniversary of this prestigious designation. Over the course of nearly a month, the city comes alive with parades, fireworks, music and towering artistic monuments, all building towards La Cremà, the dramatic final night when the elaborate wooden Fallas sculptures are ceremonially set ablaze in a spectacular culmination of the festivities. Discover Bartók Spring International Arts Weeks


– Hungary’s Celebrated


Cultural Season (1-12 April 2026) Budapest comes alive each spring with


Bartók Spring International Arts Weeks, a major contemporary arts festival inspired by the legacy of Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. Held across venues throughout the


Airport Liquid Rules Changing: List of Airports Allowing More in Hand luggage


The roll-out comes after various


UK and European airports introduc- tion of new security scanners allow- ing passengers to carry significantly larger quantities of liquid on board. Airports are starting to move


away from traditional liquid lim- its, with the long-standing plastic bag rule becoming a thing of the past. A new analysis by Omio, a global com- parison and booking platform for trav- el connections, shows which airports in the United Kingdom and across Europe have already introduced the new rules. Expanded liquid allowances are al-


city, the festival brings together renowned Hungarian and international artists for a vibrant programme of music, dance, theatre and visual arts. The 2026 line- up features world-class performances, including Bach’s St John Passion by the English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir, Vivaldi’s opera Il Tamerlano. Celebrate the Start of Spring at Sechseläuten


– Zurich,


Switzerland (20 April 2026) Each year Zurich celebrates Sechseläuten,


a tradition which dates back to the 16th century marking the start of spring. Today, guild members in historic dress parade through the city with music, horses, flowers and flags. The festival culminates when a snowman symbolising winter, the Böögg, is burned. The faster his firework-filled head explodes, the better the coming summer is said to be. Celebrate Spring at Camellia Festival in the


Bay of Kotor – Montenegro (21-23 March) The Camellia Festival in Stoliv, set along Montenegro’s stunning Bay of Kotor, is a charming spring celebration dedicated to the camellia flower, a symbol of the region believed to have been brought to the bay by sailors centuries ago. Taking place each spring, the festival brings the small coastal village to life with flower exhibitions, cultural performances, art displays, and traditional music, alongside local food, wine and craft markets that showcase Montenegrin heritage.


Radisson


Hotel Group, said: “At Radisson Hotel


Group,


s u st a in a bi l i ty ultimately


starts


with people. It is about delivering for our guests, creating value for our owners, and supporting the communities where we operate. Verified Net Zero Hotels are an important step in our net zero transformation, setting a new standard


Chicago To Host UNESCO International Jazz Day 2026


ON 30th April 2026, Chicago will take center stage as the official host city for UNESCO’s International Jazz Day, the world’s largest global celebration of jazz. Marking the 15th anniversary of the Annual International Jazz Day, this


year’s programme will be the most ambitious to date, with more than 40 internationally acclaimed artists confirmed and a dynamic citywide schedule of performances, conversations and cultural events. Throughout April, Chicago will


Up to 2 litres allowed through security


at: London Heathrow – LHR, London Gat- wick – LGW, Birmingham – BHX, Bristol – BRS, Liverpool – LPL, Edinburgh – EDI, Belfast – BFS, Derry – LDY, Bournemouth – BOH, Eu- ropean airports introduc- ing new liquid allowances. The new scanner tech-


ready in place at several UK airports. At some airports, passengers are now allowed to carry liquids of up to two litres in their hand luggage – including drinks, sham- poo bottles, sun cream and other items.


nology is also already be- ing used at many airports across Europe. Expanded liquid allowances apply at security checks at sev- eral major airports. Pas- sengers can already carry extended liquids amounts in hand luggage at the fol- lowing international air- ports: Rome – FCO, Mála- ga – AGP, Barcelona – BCN, Prague – PRG, Madrid – MAD, Palma de Mallorca – PMI, Helsinki – HEL, Dub- lin – DUB, Malta – MLA, Milan Malpensa – MXP, Amsterdam – AMS, Berlin


– BER, Frankfurt – FRA, Munich – MUC The new scanners are expected to


roll out across Europe by 2030 with the goal of majority of airports be- ing equipped with modern scanners.


results from the two operational VNZ hotels in Manchester and


Oslo, indicate that environmental


and


commercial performance can advance together. Each hotel registers awareness


scores above 70% and about 20% of guests indicate they booked the hotel because of its Net Zero status.


transform into a vibrant festival of sound, bringing together legendary performers, rising talent and music lovers from around the world. The final week of celebrations alone (25th April - 2nd May) will feature more than 40 major events, showcasing the city’s rich jazz heritage and its continued influence as a global hub for the art form. Key moments across the programme highlight both Chicago’s history and its contemporary scene. Celebrations begin with an immersive exploration of Bronzeville, long regarded as a center of Black cultural innovation. Through At the Forum: The Bronzeville Roots of Chicago Jazz, an event combining guided tours, live performance and community dialogue to trace the deep connections between place, migration and music. The city’s evolving sound is further reflected in Chicago’s Women in Jazz: The Sound of the City, a showcase spotlighting leading female artists and the next generation shaping Chicago’s jazz identity. The celebrations will culminate at the


Lyric Opera of Chicago with the 15th Anniversary All-Star Global Concert, directed by Herbie Hancock and Kurt Elling. Broadcast worldwide, the concert will bring together an exceptional, genre- spanning lineup, reflecting jazz’s global reach and its ongoing evolution across musical traditions. Beyond the festival, visitors can further explore Chicago’s deep artistic connections at the Art Institute of Chicago, which will present Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color, a major exhibition showcasing the complete set of prints from Henri Matisse’s celebrated jazz-inspired work.


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