Are there free things to do in Kathmandu at night?

Yes. Open mics and acoustic sets in Thamel and Pulchowk often have no entry fee — you only pay if you order something. Gallery late-openings, film screenings at cultural centres like the Alliance Française, and the evening aarti and butter-lamp lighting at Boudhanath and Pashupatinath are all free. For a quieter night, the lit-up stupa at Boudha after dark costs nothing and stays lively till late.

What's the difference between free and low-cover events here?

Truly free events have no ticket and no minimum spend — walk in and you're in. Low-cover events charge a small entry (often Rs. 200–500) or expect a one-drink minimum, common for band nights and some open mics. This page focuses on the genuinely free listings; if you don't mind paying a little, our paid and this-weekend pages widen the net.

How do I know a listed event is actually free?

Every event on Kata Jaam? shows its price up front, and this page only surfaces listings marked free by the organiser or our team. Tap any event to confirm the venue, time and whether there's a suggested donation before you head out — details are updated daily.

37 free events

Free Things to Do in Kathmandu

You don't need a full wallet to have a full weekend in Kathmandu. This is the evergreen guide to everything free across the valley — the gallery openings and bookshop readings, the sign-up open mics, the Saturday markets, the community meet-ups, and the timeless dusk kora around Boudhanath stupa. No ticket, no cover, no catch — just show up.

We keep this list current every day. For a tighter window, see what's free this weekend or free tonight. Want the wider picture beyond just the free stuff? Browse the full things to do in Kathmandu guide.

Free events across Kathmandu

Ends today

🇦🇷 THE LAST TANGO — MESSI FAREWELL WATCH PARTY ON BIG SCREEN

SWOORNA KARA, KathmanduFree

Today

Hacktoberfest Meetup Bharatpur 2026

Dreams College, Hakimchowk, BharatpurFree

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Today

Tumlet Game Night at Surface Coffee

Surface Coffee, Baneshwor, KathmanduFree

Today

Mohammed Rafi Tribute Night with Utsarga Band at Bhumi

Bhumi Restaurant & Bar, Lazimpat, KathmanduFree

Today

Sufi Night with Beenay & The Innov8 at Mantra

Mantra Lounge & Bar, Basantapur Plaza, KathmanduFree

Today· Every Wed

Shisha Wednesday Live Band: RiddimSons Band

Shisha Lounge and Bar, Thamel KathmanduFree

Tomorrow

ASTRA Bhaktapur Shake-Out Run #76

Mi:Loco Cafe, Bhajya Pukhu, BhaktapurFree

Tomorrow

Tana Bana: Weaving through Technology, Power and Justice

Yala Maya Kendra, Patan Dhoka, LalitpurFree

Tomorrow

Dashain Fest 2083 Expo at Bhrikutimandap

Bhrikutimandap, KathmanduFree

Tomorrow

Social Salsa Party S02E222

London Pub, DurbarmargFree

Friday, Oct 9

2nd Grand Amrapali Dashain Mela 2083

Amrapali Banquet, Naxal Bhatbhateni, KathmanduFree

Friday, Oct 9

Red Room: Basement Party by Rato Panda

Sunshine Boutique Hotel, Lazimpat, KathmanduFree

Saturday, Oct 10

Yatra 2.0: Run for the Mind — 5K for World Mental Health Day

Embark College to Patan Durbar Square, LalitpurFree

Saturday, Oct 10

World Mental Health Day at Basantapur by SWAA

Basantapur Durbar Square, KathmanduFree

Saturday, Oct 10

Hacktoberfest Hack Day Kathmandu

Sunway College, Maitidevi, Kathmandu, KathmanduFree

Saturday, Oct 10

LEGO Building & Hot Wheels Games by FunStation at OOPS!

OOPS!, Dhumbarahi, Pipalbot, KathmanduFree

Saturday, Oct 10

Xtreme Dashain Carnival at International Club, Sanepa

International Club, Sanepa, LalitpurFree

Saturday, Oct 10

Fight Saga 3 – Amateur Kickboxing Tournament

Fight Club Nepal, Kadaghari, Pepsi Cola, NepalFree

Saturday, Oct 10

Lai Bari Dashain Mela at Garden Project

Garden Project, Bhanimandal, LalitpurFree

Saturday, Oct 10

Live Music by Samyog Basnyat (Singer/Artist) at Tea Portal, Jhamsikhel

JhamsikhelFree

Saturday, Oct 10

Live music at Fusion Park: Featuring Samyog & Srijal

Fusion Park Restaurant, KathmanduFree

Saturday, Oct 10

Arsenal vs Leeds Live Screening at Octave

Octave Beer Garden, Durbar Marg, KathmanduFree

Saturday, Oct 10

Sukoon

Gurkhas Restaurant & Bar, Khola Pravesh MargFree

Saturday, Oct 10

Saturday Duet Night with Rupak & Friends ft. Kriti Tamang at Bhumi

Bhumi Restaurant & Bar, Lazimpat, KathmanduFree

Saturday, Oct 10

Chelsea vs Bournemouth Live Screening at Octave

Octave Beer Garden, Durbar Marg, KathmanduFree

Sunday, Oct 11

Namo: Udyam Dashain Carnival

Club Bagmati, Sipadol, BhaktapurFree

Sunday, Oct 11

Lights Out | F1 Fan Screening – Singapore GP at Beerville

Beerville, Bahiti Marg, Chhauni, KathmanduFree

Sunday, Oct 11

Singapore Grand Prix Live Screening at Octave

Octave Beer Garden, Durbar Marg, KathmanduFree

Sunday, Oct 11

Sunday Sufi & Ghazal Night with Utsarga Band at Bhumi

Bhumi Restaurant & Bar, Lazimpat, KathmanduFree

Monday, Oct 12

Temple Run — Monday Run Club

Maharajgunj, KathmanduFree

Tuesday, Oct 13

Tuesday Karaoke Night at Irish Pub

Irish Pub, Lazimpat, KathmanduFree

Oct 14

Changa Chaitt: Biker's Meet, Sundowner & DJ Rhino at Wabisabi

Wabisabi Bar & Cafe, Chagdol, Swayambhu, KathmanduFree

Oct 16

Janakpur Jhijhiya Festival 2083

Railway Station grounds, JanakpurdhamFree

Oct 17

Where Patan Celebrates Dashain | Heritage Walk at Patan

Patan Darbar Square, LalitpurFree

Oct 25

Dhvani Baithak

Department Of Plant Resources, Maternity Hospital RoadFree

Oct 31

EU Inclusion Run

Narayan Chaur, Naxal, Kathmandu, NepalFree

NEW DATE

Dec 26

Nepal Fitness Expo

The Malla Hotel, Lekhnath Marg, Kathmandu, NepalFree

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Frequently asked questions

A surprising amount runs on no cover charge. Gallery openings at spaces like the Nepal Art Council, Siddhartha Art Gallery and the Taragaon Museum are free and happen most weeks. Bookshop readings, poetry and open-mic nights around Jhamsikhel and Thamel are usually free or pay-what-you-want. Community markets — the Saturday farmers' market in Le Sherpa and pop-up craft bazaars in Patan — cost nothing to browse. And the daily kora (walking circuit) around Boudhanath stupa, busiest at dusk, is free and open to everyone.

Kathmandu guides

All guides

Date Night Ideas & Best Date Restaurants in Kathmandu (2026)

Thamel & Kathmandu Nightlife 2026 — Best Clubs, Bars & Live Music

Things to Do in Kathmandu This Weekend — The Local Guide

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