Nepal Festivals 2026–2027: Dates & Upcoming Festivals
When Dashain, Tihar, Holi, Losar, Teej, Chhath and Nepal's other festivals fall, what happens and where to see them. Dates update automatically every day.
Upcoming festivals
- 11–23 October 2026On now
Dashain
Nepal's biggest festival: fifteen days honouring the goddess Durga, ending with tika and blessings from elders.
- 8–10 November 2026In 28 days
Tihar (Deepawali)
The five-day festival of lights, honouring crows, dogs, cows and the goddess Laxmi, and ending with Bhai Tika between brothers and sisters.
- 15 November 2026In 35 days
Chhath
Four days of worship of the sun god in the Terai, with offerings made at sunset and sunrise while standing in rivers and ponds.
- 30 December 2026In 80 days
Losar (Tibetan, Sherpa, Tamang and Gurung New Year)
Three new years in one season: Tamu Lhosar (Gurung) in late December, Sonam Losar (Tamang) in January–February and Gyalpo Losar (Sherpa and Tibetan) in February–March.
Other festivals
- Usually in October–November
Mani Rimdu
Three days of masked Sherpa monastery dances at Tengboche, under Ama Dablam, on the Everest Base Camp trail.
- Usually in April–May, November–December
Ubhauli and Udhauli
The Kirat festivals of the east: Ubhauli in spring as herds move up to the hills, Udhauli in winter as they come down, both danced as Sakela.
- Usually in November–December
Vivaha Panchami
The re-enactment of the wedding of Ram and Sita at the Janaki Mandir in Janakpur, Sita's birthplace.
- Usually in January
Maghe Sankranti
The first day of Magh, marking the sun's turn north: holy bathing at river confluences, and the new year of the Tharu (Maghi).
- Usually in February–March
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Shiva, when hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and sadhus from Nepal and India gather at Pashupatinath.
- Usually in March
Holi
The festival of colours on the full moon of Falgun: coloured powder, water balloons and music in the streets.
- Usually in April
Nepali New Year and Bisket Jatra
The new year of the Bikram Sambat calendar on 1 Baisakh, celebrated most dramatically in Bhaktapur with the nine-day Bisket Jatra.
- Usually in April–May
Buddha Jayanti
The full moon of Baisakh, marking the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha, who was born at Lumbini in Nepal.
- Usually in May
Tiji Festival
Three days of masked dances in the walled city of Lo Manthang, Upper Mustang, retelling the victory over a demon.
- Usually in August–September
Teej
The women's festival: three days of feasting, fasting and dancing in red saris, with long queues of women at Pashupatinath.
- Usually in August
Janai Purnima
The full moon of Shrawan, when the sacred thread is renewed and thousands of pilgrims walk to the lake of Gosaikunda.
- Usually in August–September
Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna's birthday, celebrated through the night at the stone Krishna Mandir in Patan Durbar Square.
- Usually in August
Gai Jatra
The cow festival of the Kathmandu Valley, when families who lost someone that year join a procession, followed by satire and comedy.
- Usually in September
Indra Jatra
Kathmandu's biggest street festival: eight days of masked dances, the living goddess Kumari's chariot, and the Indra pole at Basantapur.
Quick answers
- When is Dashain in 2026?
- 11–23 October 2026. Nepal's biggest festival: fifteen days honouring the goddess Durga, ending with tika and blessings from elders.
- When is Tihar (Deepawali) in 2026?
- 8–10 November 2026. The five-day festival of lights, honouring crows, dogs, cows and the goddess Laxmi, and ending with Bhai Tika between brothers and sisters.
- When is Chhath in 2026?
- 15 November 2026. Four days of worship of the sun god in the Terai, with offerings made at sunset and sunrise while standing in rivers and ponds.
- When is Losar (Tibetan, Sherpa, Tamang and Gurung New Year) in 2026?
- 30 December 2026. Three new years in one season: Tamu Lhosar (Gurung) in late December, Sonam Losar (Tamang) in January–February and Gyalpo Losar (Sherpa and Tibetan) in February–March.
Dates from the public Holidays in Nepal calendar (Google Calendar), checked daily. Local festivals not in that calendar show their usual month; lunar dates can shift by a day locally. (2026-10-11)