Nepal Festival Calendar 2026-2027: Dashain, Tihar and Every Major Celebration

Nepal Runs on Festivals

There are more than 50 festivals in Nepal's official calendar. Some last a week. Some close the entire country. If you're planning a trek or a visit, the festival calendar isn't just interesting background. It determines which days flights run, which trails are quiet, which teahouses are fully staffed, and whether the streets of Kathmandu are decorated with oil lamps or deserted because everyone went home to their village.

This guide covers every major festival in 2026-2027, when they fall, what happens, and how they affect your travel plans.

The Big Five: Nepal's Most Important Festivals

1. Dashain (October 2-11, 2026 / October 21-30, 2027)

Nepal's biggest festival. Fifteen days of celebration honouring the goddess Durga's victory over evil. The final five days are the most intense.

What happens: Animal sacrifices (goats, chickens, buffalo) at temples. Elders place tika (red vermillion paste mixed with rice) on foreheads of younger family members as a blessing. Bamboo swings go up in every village. New clothes for everyone. Family gatherings are mandatory. The entire country feels like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and a national holiday rolled into one.

How it affects trekking: Domestic flights and buses are packed in the days before Dashain as millions of Nepali workers return to their home villages. Teahouse staff also go home, so some lodges (particularly on the Annapurna circuit) may be understaffed or closed. Kathmandu is eerily quiet during the main days. But if you're already on a trek when Dashain starts, it can be magical. Guides and porters celebrate on the trail, and you may be invited to join village ceremonies.

Tips: Book domestic flights early. Don't try to travel by bus on the day before Dashain Tika (the main day). Do try to be near a village or town on Tika day itself.

2. Tihar / Deepawali (October 16-20, 2026 / November 5-9, 2027)

The Festival of Lights. Five days, each dedicated to different beings: crows (Day 1), dogs (Day 2), cows (Day 3), oxen and self (Day 4 - Laxmi Puja), and siblings (Day 5 - Bhai Tika).

What happens: Every house, shop, and temple is decorated with oil lamps, candles, marigold garlands, and rangoli patterns. The evening of Laxmi Puja turns Kathmandu into a sea of light. Groups of children and teenagers go door to door singing Deusi-Bhailo songs (similar to carolling). Dogs wear garlands. Cows get fed special food. It is genuinely beautiful.

How it affects trekking: Less disruption than Dashain. Most teahouses stay open. The lower sections of trails (Pokhara area, lower Annapurna, lower Langtang) may have festive decorations. If you're in Kathmandu for Tihar, spend the evening walking through Patan or Bhaktapur with a camera.

3. Holi (March 14, 2026 / March 4, 2027)

The Festival of Colours. One day of water and coloured powder thrown at everyone, including tourists.

What happens: In the morning, people gather in squares and streets. Coloured powder (abir/gulal) flies through the air. Water balloons and water guns target anyone within range. By noon, everyone is multicoloured. Music plays from every window. It's chaotic, joyful, and slightly aggressive if you're not expecting it.

How it affects trekking: Holi is mainly a lowland festival. If you're above 3,000m on a trek, you'll probably hear about it from your guide but not experience it. If you're in Kathmandu or Pokhara on Holi day, wear old clothes (colours don't wash out of everything), protect your camera, and join in.

4. Maha Shivaratri (February 26, 2026 / February 15, 2027)

The great night of Lord Shiva. The most important Hindu religious festival for Shiva devotees.

What happens: Tens of thousands of sadhus (holy men) and pilgrims gather at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. Bonfires burn all night. Cannabis (bhang) is openly consumed by sadhus as part of religious practice. The temple complex becomes an extraordinary scene of devotion, smoke, chanting, and photography. Our Shivaratri tour takes you to the heart of the celebration.

How it affects trekking: No significant impact on trekking operations. Kathmandu hotels near Pashupatinath fill up. If you're flying into Nepal around Shivaratri, book accommodation in advance.

5. Indra Jatra (September 2026 / September 2027)

Kathmandu's own festival. Eight days of masked dances, chariot processions, and the living goddess Kumari being paraded through the streets.

What happens: The festival starts when a wooden pole (lingo) is erected in Kathmandu Durbar Square. Masked dancers perform traditional Newari stories. The Kumari (a pre-pubescent girl worshipped as a living goddess) is pulled through the old city on a chariot. Crowds fill the narrow streets. Local rice beer (chhyang) flows freely. It's the most photogenic festival in Kathmandu.

How it affects trekking: Kathmandu-based only. No impact on treks. But if you're arriving or departing through Kathmandu during Indra Jatra, spend an extra day to see it.

Festival Calendar: 2026-2027

Note: Most Nepali festivals follow the lunar Bikram Sambat calendar, so exact dates shift each year. Dates above are approximate. We confirm exact dates when you book.

Trekking + Festivals: How to Combine Them

Sherpa New Year (Gyalpo Lhosar) + EBC Trek

If you're on the EBC trail in late February or early March, you may coincide with Gyalpo Lhosar in Namche Bazaar. The Sherpa community celebrates with traditional dances, special food, and monastery prayers. Namche transforms from a trekking hub into a Sherpa festival ground.

Tihar + Annapurna Circuit

Trekking the Annapurna Circuit in mid-October means the lower sections (Besisahar to Chame) may coincide with Tihar. Walking through villages decorated with oil lamps and marigold garlands is an experience few tourists have.

Dashain + Any Trek

If your trek coincides with Dashain, ask your guide to explain what's happening. You may see tika ceremonies at teahouses, animal sacrifices at trail-side temples, and children playing on bamboo swings. It adds cultural depth to any trek. Just book transport in advance.

When to Avoid Travelling

• Day before Dashain Tika (main day): Do NOT try to catch a domestic flight or long-distance bus. Every seat is booked weeks in advance. Even taxis in Kathmandu become scarce.
• First 3 days of Dashain: Many businesses in Kathmandu close. Tourist restaurants in Thamel stay open, but local shops, banks, and offices close.
• Holi day in Kathmandu: Unless you want to be covered in paint. Seriously, it's unavoidable if you're outside.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will festivals disrupt my trek?

Only Dashain causes real disruption (transport and teahouse staffing). All other festivals either don't affect trekking areas or add cultural interest without causing problems.

Can I attend festivals as a tourist?

Most festivals are public and welcoming. Pashupatinath during Shivaratri, Durbar Square during Indra Jatra, and any village during Tihar are all open. Temple interiors may restrict non-Hindus, but the exterior celebrations are for everyone.

Should I plan my trip around a festival?

If possible, timing your trip to include Tihar (beautiful, minimal disruption) or Indra Jatra (Kathmandu spectacle) adds genuine value. Avoid arriving during peak Dashain unless you specifically want to experience it, as the transport chaos can waste precious trekking days.

Are festival dates fixed?

No. Nepal uses the Bikram Sambat lunar calendar, so festival dates shift by 10-15 days each year in the Western calendar. Always confirm exact dates for your travel year. We provide current festival dates to all our trekkers during booking.

Nepal doesn't pause for festivals. It accelerates. The country becomes louder, more colourful, and more alive. If you can time even one festival into your trip, do it. You'll understand Nepal in a way that mountains alone can't show you.

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Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday and third-generation Himalayan guide. TAAN Member #1586.