Amsterdam
The Holland Festival
1-26 June
For over 50 years, this has served to highlight some of the most exciting and innovative performing arts in the world. Expect opera, drama, dance, music and film. www.hollandfestival.nl

Amsterdam Roots Festival
18-27 June
Fantastic world music and culture festival held in Oosterpark and several other venues around town. Park performances are free.Tel: +31 (0)20 531 8181, rootsfest@melkweg.nl

Athens
Beyond Infinity: The Art of M. C. Escher
All month
An exhibition of 150 woodcuts, engravings and lithographs by the enigmatic Dutch artist selected from a private collection of 250 pieces. The exhibition began in 2004 and ends this month. “Experience in the Visual Arts” Museum, Herakleidon 16, Thissio. Tel: +30 (0)210 3461981

Barcelona
Marató de l’Espectacle
3-4 June
A two night entertainment marathon of theatre, circus, dance, mime, puppets, poetry, video and film. Each show lasts less than ten minutes, so there’s no time for tedium. Opens with concert and closes at dawn DJ sessions. Mercat de les Lleida 59, Montjuïc.
www.marato.com

La Revetla de Sant Joan
23 June
Catalonia celebrates St John’s Eve on a grand pagan-like scale as it coincides with the summer solstice. Beach, street and rooftops parties with fireworks and flowing cava are the order of the night. The next day is a public holiday and usually spent recovering on the beach.
www.bcn.es

Brussels
Ensor to Bosch
15 June – 11 September
A unique opportunity to see work from Flanders’ three most important art museums: Bruges’ Groeninge Museum, Antwerp’s Royal Museum of Fine Arts and Ghent’s Museum of Fine Arts. This exhibition surveys art of the Southern Netherlands from the 15th century to the present day.
www.bozar.be

Made in Belgium
Five floors at the Dexia Art Center are being devoted to all things Belgian to mark the country’s 175th anniversary. Everything from paintings and comic strips to technology and human rights have been curated from 245 museums and 300 individuals for the biggest ever exhibition on Belgium.
www.expo.madeinbelgium.be All month

Catania
Ancient Drama Festival
Through 26 June
The theatrical season begins at the ancient Greek theatre of Siracusa and continues into July, with performances of two classics, Antigone by Sophocles and The Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus. www.indafondazione.org

Film Festival
11-18 June
Now into its 51st year, the Taormina film fest has an international flavour, attracting film personalities from near and far. www.taorminafilmfest.it

Faro
Orchestral Music
All month
Some of Portugal’s most prestigious orchestras play in churches, theatres and concert halls across the region. Ask tourist info for listings, or
tel: +351 289 80 04 00

Geneva
Bol D’Or
11-12 June
A summer favourite for over 50 years, this annual sailing regatta attracts some 600 boats to the lake.
www.boldor.ch

Fête de la Musique
17-19 June
Concerts, from rock to classical, are hosted at a variety of venues over the city. The hub of the festival is the Parc des Bastions. Tel: 0800 553 553

Lisbon
Fests dos Santos Populares
12-30 June
In June the city commemorates the birthdays of three ‘saints of the people’. The highlight is the night of June 12, the eve of St. Anthony’s Day, when the traditional Marchas Populares parade is held in Avenida da Liberdade and Lisboetas flock to the historic Alfama quarter for a feast of grilled sardines, wine,
music and dancing. www.localfestivities.com

Handicraft Fair
25 June – 3 July
Embroidery from Madeira and pottery from Barcelos will be on show amongst other crafts at the annual International Handicraft Fair, held at the FIL Exhibition Centre. www.fil.artesanato.com

Madrid
San Antonio de la Florida
12 June
If you make it to the hermitage, be sure to check out the superb Goya frescoes, but what this annual fiesta is really all about is matchmaking, so single girls head here for a little head-bowing to the saint. Meanwhile, outside, the fiesta spirit seriously kicks off with plenty of partying in the street. Any excuse! Ermita de San Antoni de la Florida. Tel: +34 91 547 07 22

Malaga
Torre del Cante
16 June
One of Spain’s most acclaimed flamenco competitions takes place at this small inland pueblo. Alhaurín de la Torre. Tel: +34 95 241 3529

Festival Internacional de Musica y Danza
25 June – 10 July
A tremendous month long festival and one of the country’s most important cultural showcases for music and dance in Granada. Tel: +34 958 22 10 22, www.granadafestival.org

Milan
Quintosole
Until 30 June
A food and wine fair where you can taste specialties from all over Italy, held at Via Quintosole, 35. www.quintosole.it

Puccini 15, 17, 20, 22, 28 June
Puccini’s wonderful classic “La Boheme” is performed at Teatro La Scala. www.teatroallascala.it

Murcia
Torrevieja Jazz Festival
7-9 June
This popular annual three-dayer, which takes place in the Eras de Sal theatre in Torrevieja, features Bill Bruford and the Count Bassie Orchestra amongst others. Torrevieja Cultural Institute. Tel: +34 966 706 838

Pablo Serrano Exhibition
Until July
This exhibition dedicated to the Spanish sculptor runs for two months at the Casa Díaz Cassou in Calle Santa Teresa, 21, Murcia. Tel: +34 968 930 202

Nice
Festival of Sacred Music
15-28 June
Nice Old Town bursts into song with the sound of Baroque vocalists and instrumentalists. The concert season attracts performers from all over Europe, who play in the cathedral and numerous churches. Shows kick
off around 9pm. Tel: +33 (0)4 97 13 36 89, www.nicetourisme.com

Garden Celebration
1-30 June
Menton’s microclimate is legendary. Throughout June eight of its many tropical and Mediterranean gardens (including several private ones) are open to the public. www.villedementon.com

Palma de Mallorca
Fiestas of San Joan
24 June
The fiestas of San Joan celebrate the arrival of summer with a variety of events from bonfires on the beach to open-air pop and classical concerts. www.a.palma.es

Rome
Canaletto: The triumph of the view
Until 2 June
38 paintings and 36 drawings by Canaletto, loaned by the most important museums in the world, will be on display at the beautiful Palazzo Giustiniani, seat of the Italian Senate. Open daily from 9.30am.
www.canaletto.it

Estate Romana
21 June – September
A variety of events from concerts to readings and open-air film festivals. Daily events happen in different locations. www.estateromana.it

Toulon
Yachting Regattas
11-15 June
Three days of yachting regattas in Saint Tropez, followed by the famous offshore race from Saint Tropez to Genoa, which first took place in 1953. www.yci.it /regate

The Garde’n Blues Festival
16-19 June
This outdoor Marseille event mixes local and international blues talents in the lovely setting of the Jardin de la Barasse. This year’s heroes include Albert Lee, Ana Popovic, The Inmates, Nina Van Horn and Liz Mac Comb. Tel: +33 (0) 4 91 36 28 01

Valencia
Eclectic Music Festival
Early June
Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences plays host to this weeklong musical and drama spectacle showcasing music of every type from big name rock bands to classical orchestras and also ballet – and its all free of charge.
www.cac.es

America’s Cup
16-26 June
The much-anticipated America’s Cup Regattas (acts 4 & 5) take place in the port of Valencia. Expect great racing and a host of other events. www.americascup.com