Nepalese Festival Calendar 2026: Discover the ultimate Nepalese Festival Calendar 2026. Find exact dates for all major festivals in Nepal, including Tiji, Dashain, Holi, Teej, Indra Jatra, Buddha Jayanti, and more. Perfect guide for travelers, photographers, and culture enthusiasts.
January 2026 Festivals – Nepalese Festival Calendar 2026
01 January 2026 – English New Year / Nepali Topi Diwas
When is English New Year 2026 in Nepal, Topi Diwas 2026 Nepal
Celebrate English New Year in Kathmandu with fireworks, concerts, and parties in Thamel and Durbar Marg. On Topi Diwas, Nepalis proudly wear the traditional Dhaka topi. Perfect for photography and cultural experiences.
03 Jan – 01 Feb 2026 – Swasthani Barta
Swasthani Barta 2026 dates, Swasthani fasting festival Nepal
A month-long Hindu festival honoring Goddess Swasthani and Lord Shiva. Women observe fasts, take holy river dips, and perform prayers. Best photography: Sankhu, Bhaktapur, Patan.
14 January 2026 – Maghe Sankranti
Maghe Sankranti 2026 date, Nepal harvest festival 2026
Harvest festival celebrating Sun God with river dips and thanksgiving pujas. Best photography: Chitwan, Dang, Bardia focusing on the Tharu community.
19 January 2026 – Sonam Lhosar
Sonam Lhosar 2026 Nepal, Tamang New Year 2026
New Year of the Tamang community with prayers, traditional foods, and family celebrations. Best activity: visiting local homes.
February 2026 Festivals – Nepalese Festival Calendar 2026
15 February 2026 – Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri 2026 date Nepal, Pashupatinath festival
Devotees throng Pashupatinath Temple for prayers. Sadhus, bonfires, music, and midnight rituals create unforgettable spiritual experiences.
18 February 2026 – Gyalpo Lhosar
Gyalpo Lhosar 2026 date, Sherpa New Year 2026
Celebrates Tibetan New Year among Sherpa, Tamang, Bhutia, and Yolmo communities. Best photography: Boudhanath Stupa.
March 2026 Festivals – Nepalese Festival Calendar 2026
02–03 March 2026 – Holi (Fagu Purnima)
Holi 2026 Nepal, color festival Nepal
Marks arrival of spring with playful colors. Hilly region: 2 March; Terai region: 3 March. Best photography: Kathmandu, Janakpur.
18 March 2026 – Ghode Jatra
Ghode Jatra 2026 date, horse festival Nepal
Kathmandu’s horse festival featuring equestrian feats and gymnastics at Tundikhel showgrounds.
26 March 2026 – Swet Machindranath Jatra
Swet Machindranath 2026 date, Kathmandu chariot festival
Chariot procession honoring the rain god in Kathmandu. Best photography: Kathmandu Valley.
27 March 2026 – Ram Nawami
Ram Nawami 2026 Nepal, Lord Rama birthday festival
Devotees celebrate Lord Rama’s birth with fasting, prayers, and temple processions. Best photography: temples crowded with devotees.
April 2026 Festivals – Nepalese Festival Calendar 2026
14 April 2026 – Nepalese New Year / Bisket Jatra
Nepalese New Year 2026, Bisket Jatra 2026
Grand celebrations in Bhaktapur with chariot processions, tongue piercing, and cultural performances. Best photography: Bhaktapur, Kathmandu Durbar Square.
15 April 2026 – Sindur Jatra, Thimi
Sindur Jatra 2026 dates, Nepalese New Year festival
Colorful processions with simrik powder celebrating the Nepalese New Year. Best photography: Madhyapur Thimi, Bhaktapur.
18 April 2026 – Rato Machindranath Jatra
Rato Machindranath 2026, Patan chariot festival
Two-week chariot festival in Lalitpur, Patan, Bungmati, honoring the rain god.
29 April 2026 – Mother’s Day (Mata Tirtha Aunsi)
Mother’s Day Nepal 2026, Mata Tirtha Aunsi date
Families honor mothers at Mata Tirtha Temple and Kathmandu’s sacred sites.
May 2026 Festivals – Nepalese Festival Calendar 2026
01 May 2026 – Buddha Jayanti
Buddha Jayanti 2026 Nepal, Buddha birth anniversary
Celebrates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and salvation at Boudhanath and Swayambhu.
01 May 2026 – Ubhauli Parba
Ubhauli Parba 2026 Nepal, Kirat planting festival
Marks Kirat communities’ upward migration and planting season. Best photography: Tundikhel, Kathmandu.
14–16 May 2026 – Tiji Festival, Lo Manthang
Tiji Festival 2026 dates, Upper Mustang festival
Three-day Tibetan Buddhist festival with mask dances, rituals chasing demons, and stunning Mustang landscapes.
31 May 2026 – Saga Dawa Festival, Tarboche
Saga Dawa 2026, Tibetan Buddhist festival
Celebrates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death with pilgrimages, offerings, and rituals.
20 June 2026 – Sithi Nakha
Sithi Nakha 2026 date, Newar cleaning festival Nepal
Traditional Newar festival marking the end of monsoon. Streets and water sources are cleaned, with rituals for health and prosperity. Best photography: historic streets of Kathmandu.
29 June 2026 – Panauti Jatra
Panauti Jatra 2026 date, local festival Nepal
Annual chariot festival in Panauti with vibrant processions and rituals.
01 July 2026 – Ropain Festival
Ropain 2026 Nepal, rice planting festival
Celebrated as rice pudding day, marking the start of planting season in rural Nepal.
15 July 2026 – Gunla Parva
Gunla Parva 2026, Lalitpur Buddhist festival
Month-long Buddhist festival in Lalitpur and Kathmandu with prayers, sutra recitations, and temple visits.
23 July 2026 – Gathemangal Newari Festival
Gathemangal 2026, Newari demon festival
Kathmandu valley festival involving effigy burning, traditional dances, and rituals to ward off evil spirits.
17 August 2026 – Nag Panchami
Nag Panchami 2026 Nepal, snake worship festival
Hindu festival honoring snakes with offerings of milk and rice.
28–29 August 2026 – Janai Purnima and Gai Jatra
Janai Purnima 2026 Nepal, Gai Jatra 2026 date
Janai Purnima: Brahmins change sacred threads and perform pujas.
Gai Jatra: Cow festival with lively processions in Kathmandu Valley. Best photography: Naag Pokharai for Janai Purnima, Bhaktapur for Gai Jatra.
September 2026 Festivals – Nepalese Festival Calendar 2026
04 September 2026 – Shree Krishna Janmastami
Krishna Janmastami 2026 Nepal, Lord Krishna birth festival
Devotees celebrate Krishna’s birth with night-long prayers, dances, and temple visits. Best photography: Krishna Mandir, Patan.
05 September 2026 – Bagh Vairab Yatra, Kirtipur
Bagh Vairab Yatra 2026, Kirtipur local festival
Grand procession celebrating deity Bagh Bhairab, with music, dances, and rituals.
11 September 2026 – Father’s Day (Kushe Aunshi)
Kushe Aunshi 2026 Nepal, Father’s Day festival
Families perform rituals and offer Tika at temples such as Gokarna Mahadev.
14 September 2026 – Teej
Teej 2026 Nepal, women fasting festival
Hindu women fast for marital bliss, dance, and pray at Pashupatinath Temple.
25 September 2026 – Indra Jatra
Indra Jatra 2026 Kathmandu, Kumari Jatra festival
Week-long festival honoring Lord Indra and living goddess Kumari. Best photography: Kathmandu Durbar Square.
26 September 2026 – Siddhi Pokhari Mela, Bhaktapur
Siddhi Pokhari Mela 2026, Bhaktapur festival
Religious and cultural fair at historic Siddhi Pokhari pond. Best photography: Bhaktapur traditional celebrations.
October 2026 Festivals – Nepalese Festival Calendar 2026
04 October 2026 – Jitiya Festival, Tharu Community
Jitiya Festival 2026 Nepal, Tharu festival
Three-day festival for children’s well-being, with fasting and traditional rituals.
11–22 October 2026 – Dashain
Dashain 2026 Nepal, longest Hindu festival Nepal
15-day celebration of Goddess Durga’s victory over evil. Key days:
- 11 Oct – Ghatasthapana: sowing Jamara seeds.
- 17 Oct – Phulpati: flowers brought from Gorkha Durbar.
- 18 Oct – Maha Ashtami: mass animal sacrifices.
- 20 Oct – Mahanavami: worship of Goddess Saraswati.
- 21 Oct – Vijaya Dashami (Tika): elders bless juniors.
- 26 Oct – Kojagrat Purnima: final day with rituals and feasts.
November 2026 Festivals – Nepalese Festival Calendar 2026
07–11 November 2026 – Tihar (Festival of Lights)
Tihar 2026 Nepal, Diwali Nepal festival
Five-day festival honoring crows, dogs, cows, Laxmi Puja, and Bhai Tika. Best photography: vibrant lights and decorations across Nepal.
15 November 2026 – Chhath Festival, Janakpur
Chhath 2026 Nepal, Sun God festival
Devotees perform rituals and offer prayers to the Sun God at rivers and ponds in Janakpur.
21 November 2026 – Haribodhini Ekadashi
Haribodhini Ekadashi 2026 Nepal, fasting festival
Marks awakening of Lord Vishnu; devotees observe fasts and rituals.
30 November 2026 – Falgunanda Jayani (Kirati People)
Falgunanda Jayani 2026 Nepal, Kirat festival
Celebrated by Kirat communities with traditional music, dances, and prayers.
December 2026 Festivals – Nepalese Festival Calendar 2026
06–07 December 2026 – Marga Shirsa Sankrati & Bala Chaturdarshi, Pashupatinath
Marga Shirsa Sankrati 2026, Bala Chaturdarshi 2026
Rituals marking sun’s transition and honoring young Shiva devotees.
14 December 2026 – Bibah Panchami, Janakpur
Bibah Panchami 2026 Nepal, Lord Ram Sita wedding festival
Commemorates the divine wedding of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita with reenactments and processions.
19 December 2026 – Indrayani Jatra, Kirtipur
Indrayani Jatra 2026 Nepal, Kirtipur festival
Masked dances and chariot processions honoring Goddess Indrayani.
30 December 2026 – Tamu Lhosar
Tamu Lhosar 2026 Nepal, Gurung New Year festival
Celebrates Gurung New Year with dances, music, and traditional attire in Kathmandu and Gurung villages.
About Us – Red Reach Himalaya
At Red Reach Himalaya, we believe traveling in Nepal is more than just sightseeing – it’s about living the culture and creating lifelong memories.
We specialize in: Unique Adventures – From ancient honey hunting traditions in remote cliffs to witnessing rare mountain festivals like Mane in Humla or Dolpa. Authentic Encounters – Meet Nepal’s last remaining nomadic and indigenous people such as the Raute, Kusunda, and other remote Himalayan communities.
Festivals & Traditions – We don’t just show you the big festivals in Kathmandu; we take you deep into villages where rituals and celebrations remain untouched by time.
Tailored Journeys – Whether trekking in the high Himalaya, exploring hidden valleys, or joining locals in festival dances, we craft experiences that go beyond travel – we create memories. With our local expertise, trusted guides, and passion for Nepal’s living heritage, we invite you to celebrate these festivals with us and experience the heartbeat of Nepal.
