Kathmandu Festival Calendar 2026
April 15, 2026 · Kata Jaam? Team
Kathmandu's festival calendar is one of the densest in the world — most weeks have at least one culturally significant event somewhere in the valley. Here's a month-by-month overview of what's coming in 2026.
Spring (Feb–May)
- Losar — Tibetan New Year celebrations in Boudha
- Holi — Colourful chaos across the city in March
- Nepali New Year (Bikram Sambat) — Mid-April, valley-wide
- Rato Machhindranath Jatra — Patan's month-long chariot procession
Summer (Jun–Aug)
- Ghanta Karna — Kathmandu-specific monster festival
- Gai Jatra — The procession of cows in August
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
- Indra Jatra — Kathmandu's biggest annual festival, around Durbar Square
- Dashain — 15 days of family and feasting
- Tihar — The festival of lights, five days of colour and candlelight
Winter (Dec–Jan)
- Yomari Punhi — Newari winter solstice
- Losar — Tibetan New Year (cycles annually)
Modern festivals
Alongside the cultural calendar, Kathmandu also hosts growing contemporary festivals — film festivals, music festivals, food fairs, and literature festivals. See all cultural events on Kata Jaam?.
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