Nepal Festivals 2026: Dashain, Tihar, Holi & When to Visit

Nepal's major festivals in 2026 fall across three key windows: Holi on March 3, Buddha Jayanti on May 23, Indra Jatra from September 19–27, Dashain from October 2–12, and Tihar from October 20–24. If you are planning a trek or cultural trip to Nepal, these dates affect everything from trail conditions and lodge availability to whether shops are open in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Knowing the calendar before you book is the difference between arriving during a glorious street celebration and finding the permit office closed for ten days.

How Nepal's Festival Calendar Works

Nepal follows the Bikram Sambat (BS) lunar calendar, which runs about 56 years and 8.5 months ahead of the Gregorian calendar. Most Nepali festivals — Dashain, Tihar, Holi — shift by 10 to 14 days from year to year on the western calendar. The dates listed in this guide are confirmed for 2026 (BS 2082–2083). Always verify with the Nepal Tourism Board website before finalising tickets, because even official calendars sometimes update a day or two when the lunar month is confirmed.

For trekkers, the practical implication is straightforward: government offices, permit counters (TIMS, ACAP, SAARC), and many Kathmandu shops close for Dashain and to a lesser extent Tihar. If you need a permit, you must collect it before the holiday begins or wait until offices reopen. Teahouses and lodges in most trekking regions stay open, but staffing is reduced because many Nepali workers travel home to their villages for Dashain.

Holi — March 3, 2026

Holi is celebrated across Nepal on the full moon of the Nepali month Falgun. In Kathmandu, the street celebration is concentrated around Basantapur Durbar Square and Thamel, where locals and travellers join in throwing coloured powder and water from morning until mid-afternoon. Pokhara's Lakeside district holds an equally lively version. The festival lasts one day in the Hills (Pahad) and two days in the Terai plains.

For trekkers, Holi lands in the middle of the spring pre-season. Temperatures at altitude are still cold — Annapurna Base Camp sits at 4,130m and sees morning lows of –5°C in early March — but rhododendrons below 3,500m are beginning to bloom, and the days are rapidly lengthening. Most permit offices and trekking agencies remain open the day after Holi, so logistics are not disrupted. If you are flying into Kathmandu around March 3, expect festive chaos: carry a change of clothes and leave valuables at the hotel.

Buddha Jayanti — May 23, 2026

The birth, enlightenment, and death of Siddhartha Gautama are all commemorated on the same full moon day in Baisakh (Nepali month). In 2026 this falls on May 23. The most important sites are Lumbini (birthplace of Buddha, 27m altitude, Terai region), Swayambhunath Stupa in Kathmandu (1,360m), and Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu.

Lumbini sees the largest pilgrimage gathering in Nepal on this day — expect 50,000 to 100,000 visitors at the sacred garden. For anyone building a cultural Nepal itinerary, combining a Lumbini visit with Buddha Jayanti is genuinely special: monks from across Asia lead candlelit circumambulations of the Mayadevi Temple at dusk. Accommodation in Lumbini fills weeks in advance; book at least 6–8 weeks ahead. For trekkers, May falls at the tail end of the spring trekking season — most high passes on the Everest Three Passes circuit and Annapurna Circuit are still passable, though monsoon can arrive as early as mid-June.

Indra Jatra — September 19–27, 2026

Indra Jatra is Kathmandu's own festival, celebrating the Hindu god Indra and marking the end of the monsoon season. The centrepiece is the procession of the Living Goddess Kumari, who is carried through the streets of Kathmandu in a three-tiered wooden chariot. The festival runs for eight days, with the main chariot procession on the first full day. Bhaktapur and Patan hold parallel celebrations — the Indra image and masked dances in Bhaktapur's Dattatreya Square are especially atmospheric.

For trekkers, Indra Jatra signals that trekking season is about to begin. September is technically still late monsoon, but the passes are clearing, lodges are restocking, and trail conditions on the Everest and Annapurna routes are improving rapidly. If you can time arrival in Kathmandu to coincide with Indra Jatra before starting a trek, you add a significant cultural layer to a trip that would otherwise begin immediately in the mountains. All government offices remain open during Indra Jatra — it is not a national public holiday in the formal sense, so permits and logistics proceed normally.

Dashain — October 2–12, 2026

Dashain is Nepal's most important festival — the Nepali equivalent of Christmas, New Year, and Thanksgiving combined into fifteen days. The main celebration period for practical purposes is October 2–12, encompassing the key ritual days of Ghatasthapana (October 2), Fulpati (October 8), Maha Ashtami (October 9), Maha Navami (October 10), and Vijaya Dashami (October 11). Government offices and many businesses close from approximately October 8–13.

The festival celebrates the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. Families gather to receive tika (a mixture of rice, yoghurt, and red powder) on the forehead from elders — a deeply personal blessing that Nepali people travel hundreds of kilometres to receive. In Kathmandu, the sacrificial rituals at Hanuman Dhoka involve buffalo and goat sacrifices on Maha Ashtami and Navami; these take place in the courtyards of Durbar Square and at Kot Chowk.

What Dashain Means for Trekkers

October is the peak of trekking season in Nepal. Skies are clear, trails are dry, and visibility to peaks like Machhapuchhre (6,993m), Ama Dablam (6,812m), and Manaslu (8,163m) is at its annual best. The complication is that the TIMS permit counter, the ACAP registration counter at Pokhara's ACAP office, and various other government permit windows close for approximately five working days during Dashain. Collect all permits before October 8 or after October 14. Trekking agencies in Thamel and Lakeside Pokhara similarly close from October 8–13, though they reopen fully by October 15.

Teahouses on the Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp trail, and Everest Base Camp trail remain open throughout Dashain — in fact, this is their busiest period. Expect lodges at Namche Bazaar (3,440m), Deurali (3,230m), and Thorong Phedi (4,500m) to be fully booked without advance reservation. Prices for a standard dal bhat dinner at a teahouse run $6–10 USD along most major routes; dorm beds are $3–6 USD and private rooms $10–20 USD depending on altitude.

Tihar — October 20–24, 2026

Tihar is Nepal's festival of lights, falling five days after Dashain. Each of the five days honours a different being — crows, dogs, cows, oxen, and finally humans (Bhai Tika, the bond between brothers and sisters). The third day, Laxmi Puja (October 22 in 2026), is the visual centrepiece: homes throughout Nepal are outlined with oil lamps and strings of coloured lights after dark, and the goddess of wealth is welcomed into each household with marigold garlands and lit diyas.

In Kathmandu, Thamel is closed to traffic on Laxmi Puja evening and the streets fill with Deusi and Bhailo singing groups moving from house to house. In Pokhara, Lakeside becomes a river of lantern light reflected in Phewa Lake. Both cities are extraordinarily beautiful on this night.

Tihar and Trekking Logistics

Government offices close for approximately two days during Tihar (October 22–23). Permit counters reopen October 25. For trekkers mid-route, there is essentially no impact — lodges and teahouses celebrate Tihar with lights and song but remain fully operational. The dogs-of-Nepal are given garlands and special food on the second day of Tihar (Kukur Tihar), which makes for an unexpectedly charming sight on the trail: even the notoriously territorial teahouse dogs are wearing yellow marigold necklaces.

Planning Your Trek Around the Festival Calendar

The sweet spots for combining festivals with optimal trekking conditions are narrower than they appear. Here is how the windows stack up:

• Late September + Indra Jatra: Spend 2–3 days in Kathmandu for the chariot procession, then begin a trek to Everest Base Camp or Annapurna in late September. Permits are freely available, crowds are moderate, and skies are clearing.
• Pre-Dashain October (October 1–7): Collect all permits by October 7, start your trek, and spend the Dashain holiday on the trail. Teahouses are busy but the mountain views are exceptional. Return to Kathmandu after October 14.
• Tihar in Kathmandu (October 20–24): Plan your trek to finish around October 19, giving you two to three days to experience Tihar in Thamel or Lakeside before flying home.
• Holi as a standalone addition: If your primary goal is a cultural trip, March 3 in Kathmandu combined with a short trek to the Annapurna foothills (Ghandruk at 1,940m, or Poon Hill at 3,210m) is one of the most enjoyable 10-day itineraries possible. See our Annapurna region guide for trail details.

Before finalising any itinerary, check the Nepal trekking permits guide and the Nepal visa requirements page — visa-on-arrival is available at Tribhuvan International Airport for most nationalities at $30 USD (15 days) or $50 USD (30 days), and the process is straightforward, but during peak October season the queue can be 45–90 minutes long. Applying for the e-visa online before travel saves time. For city sightseeing around the festival days, our Nepal cultural tours pair temple visits with the celebrations, and the best treks in Nepal guide helps you pick a route to slot around the calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the exact date of Dashain in 2026?

The main Dashain celebration in 2026 runs from October 2 (Ghatasthapana) through October 12 (Kojagrat Purnima, the full moon). The most significant days are Fulpati (October 8), Maha Ashtami (October 9), Maha Navami (October 10), and Vijaya Dashami (October 11). Government offices and permit counters are closed from approximately October 8–13, reopening October 14.

Can I trek in Nepal during Dashain?

Yes — teahouses and lodges on all major trekking routes remain open throughout Dashain. The practical constraint is permits: collect your TIMS card and national park or conservation area permit before October 8. October is peak trekking season, so trails are busy and lodges at popular stops like Namche Bazaar, Thorong Phedi, and Annapurna Base Camp fill quickly. Book teahouses in advance or start walking early each day to secure a room.

Is it safe to travel to Nepal during Holi?

Holi in Nepal is safe and genuinely fun for travellers. The crowds in Thamel and Basantapur Durbar Square can be boisterous — expect colour powder and water balloons — but serious incidents are rare. Wear old clothes you do not mind staining, leave your camera in a waterproof bag or at the hotel, and avoid the streets in Thamel after about 4pm when the atmosphere becomes rowdier. Outside Kathmandu and Pokhara, rural Nepal barely observes Holi.

Do festivals affect flight availability into Kathmandu?

Yes, significantly. Dashain is the single biggest travel period in Nepal — Nepali diaspora workers return from the Gulf, India, and further abroad to celebrate with their families. Domestic flights between Kathmandu and Lukla (gateway to Everest) and Kathmandu and Pokhara are fully booked weeks in advance around October 2–15. International flights into Tribhuvan International Airport also fill up. Book flights at least 8–10 weeks before Dashain if your itinerary requires travel in that window.

Which Nepal festival is best to witness as a traveller?

Tihar's Laxmi Puja evening (October 22, 2026) is the most visually spectacular and easiest for visitors to experience — the entire Kathmandu Valley glows with oil lamps and fairy lights, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming rather than crowded or chaotic. Indra Jatra's Kumari chariot procession is a close second: it is a genuinely rare sight (the Living Goddess appears in public only a handful of times per year), and the masked Mahakali and Kumari dances in Durbar Square are unlike anything else in Asia. For those trekking in the Everest region, many lodges in Namche Bazaar celebrate both Dashain and Tihar with home-cooked feasts — an unexpectedly festive experience at 3,440m.