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Leiden Travel
Refreshing drinks on a terrace in Leiden's city centre

Events in Leiden — the yearly calendar of the City of Keys

Leiden celebrates all year round. This page collects the events that return every single year, so you can plan a visit around them. Each event has its own page with what to expect, where it happens and how to get there.

The event year, month by month

These festivals return every single year. Exact dates shift annually, so check the event's official site shortly before your visit.

  1. January

    Quiet, crisp winter days: museums without queues and misty canals.

    No fixed city festival — a calm month for museums and canals.

    • Museums without waiting
    • New Year's dip at the coast
    • Winter walk past the hofjes

  2. February

    Short but atmospheric: mostly indoors, with the first spring bulbs in the Hortus.

    • Leids Cabaret FestivalVisit Leids Cabaret Festival from 15 to 20 February 2027 at Leidse Schouwburg, with preliminary rounds, semi-final and final.
    • Hortus botanicus under glass
    • Indoor Rembrandt route
    • Early snowdrops and crocuses

  3. March

    The city wakes up: terraces open and the first tulips in the region.

    • Peel Slowly and SeeVisit Peel Slowly and See in Leiden on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 March 2027: two days of adventurous music across several city venues.
    • Keukenhof season starts
    • Terraces along the Nieuwe Rijn
    • Windmills turning again

  4. April

    Peak month for tulips and day trips — book tickets ahead.

    • King's Day LeidenCelebrate King's Day in Leiden on Tuesday 27 April 2027. See what is already officially confirmed and plan your day in the historic city centre.
    • Keukenhof at its best
    • King's Day in the old town
    • Canal cruise through the centre

  5. May

    Long evenings, full terraces and the start of festival season.

    • Leiden MarathonThe 36th Leiden Marathon takes place on 8 and 9 May 2027. See the confirmed distances, start and finish and plan your marathon weekend in Leiden.
    • Liberation Day LeidenCelebrate Liberation Day in Leiden on Wednesday 5 May 2027. See what is officially confirmed and plan your visit to the historic city.
    • Liberation Day programme
    • Cycling the bulb fields
    • Picnic in the Leidse Hout

  6. June

    Summer city with open-air stages and street music.

    No fixed city festival — a calm month for museums and canals.

    • Festivals in the old town
    • Swimming in the Kaag lakes
    • Sunset canal cruise

  7. July

    Holiday month: outdoor festivals, water and late terraces.

    No fixed city festival — a calm month for museums and canals.

    • Open-air concerts
    • Rent a SUP or a boat
    • Museum gardens and shady spots

  8. August

    Warm and busy at weekends, surprisingly calm midweek.

    No fixed city festival — a calm month for museums and canals.

    • Summer evening walks
    • Katwijk beach 20 minutes away
    • Terrace on the Beestenmarkt

  9. September

    Students return, culture season opens, pleasant weather.

    • Pride LeidenVisit Pride Leiden on Saturday 4 September 2027 for a canal boat parade and a festive Pride event at Lammermarkt.
    • Culture season opening
    • Heritage Day
    • Canals without the crowds

  10. October

    The month of 3 October: Leiden's biggest city festival.

    • Film Festival (LIFF)Visit LIFF in Leiden from 8–18 October 2026 for over 100 international films, from independent discoveries to major audience favourites.
    • 3 October Leidens Ontzet
    • Autumn colours in the Hortus
    • Museum weekend indoors

  11. November

    Grey outside, rich programme inside: film, music and museums.

    No fixed city festival — a calm month for museums and canals.

    • Film festivals and concerts
    • Cosy pubs and sharing boards
    • Shopping on the Haarlemmerstraat

  12. December

    Lights along the canals and Christmas mood in the centre.

    • Christmas & winterChristmas and winter in Leiden: lights along the canals, winter markets, warm museums and a compact centre at its most atmospheric in December.
    • Christmas market and lights
    • Ice skating in town
    • Wintry museum days

The year in Leiden

  • Spring: Keukenhof season (March–May), with Leiden as your base.
  • Lakenfeesten, Werfpop, Museum Night and Pasar Leiden return, but their organisers have not yet published a date for a next edition.
  • 19 September 2026: Night of Discoveries — art, music and science across seven venues.
  • 2 and 3 October 2026: 3 October Festival, marking Leiden's liberation in 1574.
  • 8–18 October 2026: Leiden International Film Festival (LIFF).
  • Winter: canal lights and seasonal activities; exact events vary by edition.

How to plan your visit

Around the big events — 3 October, the Lakenfeesten and LIFF — the old centre is busy and hotels sell out weeks in advance. Book accommodation early and arrive by train: Leiden Centraal is a ten-minute walk from the festival squares, and city-centre parking is restricted during celebrations.

Exact dates shift each year. Check the event's official website shortly before you travel for the final programme.

Frequently asked questions

What is Leiden's biggest event?
The 3 October Festival on 2 and 3 October, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors with a funfair, a historic parade and the traditional hutspot stew.
Are events in Leiden free?
The 3 October celebration and the Lakenfeesten are free to attend. LIFF, Museum Night and Werfpop require tickets; check the current price and terms for each edition on the official event website.

Continue exploring Leiden