Tiji Festival 2026: Date, Meaning & Where to See It
Three days of masked dances in the walled city of Lo Manthang, Upper Mustang, retelling the victory over a demon.
- Next
- Usually in May
- Usual month
- May
Monks of Chhoede monastery dance in the square below the royal palace, telling the story of Dorje Jono, who defeated a demon to bring water back to Lo. It is the best time to see Lo Manthang's people in festival dress.
Upper Mustang needs a restricted-area permit (US$500 for 10 days) and a guide; book well ahead for Tiji.
Where to see it
Quick answers
- When is Tiji Festival in 2026?
- Usually in May. The exact date for the next one is not published yet.
- What is Tiji Festival?
- Three days of masked dances in the walled city of Lo Manthang, Upper Mustang, retelling the victory over a demon.
- Where is the best place to see Tiji Festival?
- Lo Manthang and Upper Mustang.
Other festivals
DashainTihar (Deepawali)ChhathHoliMaha ShivaratriLosar (Tibetan, Sherpa, Tamang and Gurung New Year)Nepali New Year and Bisket JatraBuddha JayantiTeejJanai PurnimaKrishna JanmashtamiGai JatraIndra JatraMaghe SankrantiUbhauli and UdhauliMani RimduVivaha Panchami
Calculate the cost for your group →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.