Kites are a universal language of wind and imagination, shaped by culture, history, and local traditions. From centuries-old designs flown during seasonal festivals to modern sport and artistic kites pushing the limits of form and motion, every region brings something unique to the sky. This gallery celebrates the diversity of kiting around the globe, highlighting how different cultures interpret flight through color, symbolism, materials, and movement. Together, these kites tell a shared story of creativity, community, and our timeless fascination with the wind.
Australia: Michael Alvarez of Perth, Australia, uses his large cellular kite in workshops he presents for school children Australia: Tony Wolfenden lives in Sidney but travels to kite festivals around the world. Brazil: Mr. Zecca das Pipas is called the “King Of Kites” in Rio de Janeiro.Canada: Robert Trepanier of Montreal, Canada, is known for the haunting faces he paints on his kites.Canada: Erick Curtis and Ann Sloboda of Ontario screen print and hand dye all of their kites.Canada: Art Ross of Vancouver B.C. is known for his huge parafoils.China: The Beijing Swallow Kite is often flown over Tianamin Square.China: Another traditional kite from China is the Weifang Dragon which is flown with as many as 200 cellular panes behind the ornate head.Columbia: Bogota hosts a popular festivals each spring that draws 100,000 spectators.Curacao: Many unique kites come from throughout the Caribbean.Denmark: The International Kite Party on the Danish Island of Fano has some of the best buggy riding in the world.France: Andre Cassagne designed a series of ring kites to celebrate the Olympics. He is the best known kitemaker in France and the original inventor of the Etch-a-Sketch.France: This large Japanese style kite was made for the international kite festival in Dieppe. The artwork copies the front page of the local newspaper.France: The dramatic “No. 9” by Pierre FabreGermany: Uwe Grysback creates interesting spinning kites that maneuver on multiple lines.Germany: Rolf Sturm is the president of the Drachen Club Deutchland (German Kite Club). He is famous for his Snoopy and Red Baron inflatable kites.Germany: Team No Limit flies large turning “wheels” and inflated kites that look like Sesame Street CharactersGuadeloupe: An international sport kite competition was held on the island of Guadeloupe in 1998.Holland: A new kite design called the “circoflex” was invented by Ton Oostveen and Helmut Schiefer in Holland during the 1990’sIndia: Festivals involving millions of people and kites are held each January in Ahmenabad, India. Kites are sold on the street in simple stalls like this.India: Lightweight paper kites are used in India for fighting on glass coated line. The loser is cut free.Indonesia: The bird kites of Indonesia are made from hand-painted silk.Israel: Gill Marcus stitches pop art into each of his kites.Italy: Italian festivals feature large kites and banner shows.Italy: One Italian team has created a symphony of instrument kites that they fly to music. Italy: Claudio Capelli paints the faces of his friends on his kites..Japan: Launching an O-dako (a giant rectangular kite). Roughly 200 of these huge kites are destroyed each year in the kite battles of Shirone.Japan: A hand painted Edo kite (“Edo” is the former name of Tokyo) featuring the rabbit and wave theme from a traditional folk tale.apan: This is a humming Bee Kite made by Satoshi Hashimoto. The bee is crafted from rice paper and bamboo that has been aged for more than 100 years. When flown, the “hummer” on the top makes a loud buzzing noise.Korea: A huge “Phoenix” bird kite flown by the Korean Kite AssociationKorea: The traditional Korean combat kite with a hole in the center.Martinique: A leaf kite. Small, lightweight and completely natural.Malaysia: The delicate Wau Kuching (cat kite) and Wau Bulan (moon kite). These examples were made for decorative contests and are too heavy to fly.Mexico: Jose Sainz, who now lives in San Diego, has traveled the world with his unique kites. This one combines traditional Mexican art with modern materials.Nepal: Kites from Nepal are some of the highest flying in the world.New Zealand: Designer Peter Lynn created a series of huge inflatable kites (no sticks) in the shape of various sea creatures.New Zealand: Peter Lynn also designed a modern kite “buggy” made from stainless steel and powered by large maneuverable kites. George Pocock used the same idea in England in 1822. Norway: The kites and kite fliers of Oslo are interesting and a bit different.South Africa: Here’s a sport kite team at a festival near Cape TownSpain: Josep Nieto of Barcelona flies cartoon character kites.Switzerland: Winter kite skiing is popular in the AlpsThailand: The traditional kites of Thailand represent male and female characters. This one, called a “chula’ is the male kite. The kites are flown in sophisticated “battles” designed to capture a mate.Thailand: Every two year, a festival is held before the royal palace in Bangkok.Turkey: Turkey has hosted several kite festivals near Istanbul.. United Arab Emirates: These three giant kites were flown at the First International Kite Festival of Dubai on the Persian Gulf.United Kingdom: The Cody Manlifting Kite was designed for the British Army about 100 years ago. It was invented by an American named Samuel Franklin Cody, who dressed much like Buffalo Bill.United Kingdom: Martin Lester of Bristol is known for making flying “Body Parts”.United Kingdom: A six member performance team from England called the Decorators USA: Randy Tom of San Diego won many awards with this “seven sisters” style kite with sewn copies of artwork by Patrick Nagel.USA: A six-sided Japanese kite is called a “rokkaku” (ro-ka-coo). Kathy Goodwind of Seattle made this model which she calls “Ro-ka-doodle-do. It now hangs in a Japanese kite museum.USA: Artist George Peters of Boulder, Colorado, combines interesting shapes to create whimsical kites. USA: Designer Scott Skinner of Monument, Colorado, combines traditional American quilting techniques with Japanese kite shapes.
