Bhutan Festival Calendar 2026 - Dates, Places & Significance
With its mystical air and winding roads, Bhutan is a landlocked country in the Himalayas with pristine nature, sacred monasteries, and deep-rooted spirituality. The snow-capped mountain peaks, along with the emerald timberland, cup the hearts of tourists who venture to this haven.
Everything about this enchanted kingdom feels divine, but when tshechu festivals step into the spotlight, Bhutan truly comes alive. The atmosphere fills with laughter and music, locals present their rich culture by adorning the Bhutanese attire. These festivals symbolise the Bhutanese heritage with a splash of music and colours.
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Significance of Bhutanese Festivals
Bhutanese festivals hold deep spiritual and cultural meaning, celebrating ancient traditions through dance, music, and rituals. As a trusted Bhutan tour operator, RS Travels helps you experience these vibrant events up close.
Community Connections
Festival time is the time when the people in the villages and the towns are together. All families come together, and people eat together. The whole community comes together to celebrate in solidarity and happiness.
Preservation of Culture and Tradition
These festivals keep Bhutan's rich cultural heritage alive by means of traditional music, dance, costume, and rituals. The younger generation learns about their origins happily and memorably.
A Splash of Colour and Joy
From the vivid masks to exquisite traditional dress, Bhutanese festivals are a treat for the eyes. The colours, energy, and music put together create an enchanting setting that lifts the mood of everyone present.
A True Experience for Travellers
For tourists, a visit to a Bhutanese festival is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to feel the spirit of the nation. It's perhaps the best sightseeing as well as a live tour to the history of faith, creativity, and old-world wisdom.
Bhutan Festival Calendar 2026 - Month-wise
Discover the month-wise Bhutan festival schedule for 2026, curated by RS Travels to help you plan culturally immersive journeys across the Kingdom.
January
| Festival | Place | Date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samdrupjongkhar Tshechu | Samdrup Jongkhar | 1st - 3rd | Featuring a vibrant display of sacred mask dances and local traditions, this festival is celebrated to honour Guru Rinpoche. |
| Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Trongsa | 3rd - 5th | This festival is hosted in a sacred village temple, and it tells ancient stories of peace between rival kings. It also features rare folk performances. |
February
| Festival | Place | Date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lhamoi Dromchhen | Trongsa | 22nd - 24th | This festival is dedicated to the protective deity called Pelden Lhamo and features dance by monks to ward off evil and bring peace. |
| Punakha Dromchoe | Punakha | 24th - 26th | Commemorating Bhutan's military victory against Tibetan invaders, this festival's highlight is the dramatic war dance in which the locals reenact the scenes of battle. |
| Punakha Tshechu | Punakha | 27th - 28th | A sacred event where monks and laypeople perform religious dances in elaborate attire. This also features the unveiling of the giant Thongdrol or Holy Scroll. |
March
| Festival | Place | Date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tharpaling Thongdrol | Samdrup Jongkhar | 1st - 3rd | This sacred occasion includes the exhibition of a large holy scroll at Tharpaling Monastery, believed to bless the viewers. |
| Tangsibi Mani | Trongsa | 3rd - 5th | One of the lesser-known celebrations, this festival features prayers and mani recitations in Trongsa. |
| Chhorten Kora | Trashiyangtshe | 3rd - 19th | This festival attracts pilgrims from Arunachal Pradesh, where devotees circle the stupa praying for good fortune. |
| Gomphu Kora | Trashiyangtshe | 26th - 28th | Held at a sacred cave-temple blessed by Guru Rinpoche, the festival features mask dances and spiritual gatherings. |
| Talo Tshechu | Punakha | 26th - 28th | Held in the tranquil village of Talo, this festival showcases graceful dances by monks and women of the community. |
| Gasa Tshechu | Gasa | 26th - 28th | Celebrated amidst the scenic landscapes of Gasa, this festival is known for sacred dances and spiritual blessings. |
| Zhemgang Tshechu | Zhemgang | 26th - 28th | A rural festival that unites remote communities, featuring unique mask dances and prayers for protection and harvest. |
| Paro Tshechu | Paro | 29th - 2nd Apr | One of Bhutan's most celebrated festivals, drawing large crowds with its grand mask dances and religious rituals. |
April
| Festival | Place | Date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhododendron Festival | Thimphu | 1st - 3rd | Held in Lamperi Botanical Garden, it celebrates Bhutan's stunning floral biodiversity. The festival includes nature walks, local arts, and environmental awareness programs. |
| Domkhar Tshechu | Bumthang | 3rd - 5th | A small but colourful celebration in Bumthang, showcasing dances unique to the Choekhor valley. Locals and visitors gather for blessings and to strengthen community ties. |
| Ura Yakchoe | Bumthang | 28th - 2nd May | Famous for the display of a sacred relic believed to have been offered by a mysterious monk. |
June
| Festival | Place | Date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nimalung Tshechu | Bumthang | 22nd - 24th | Known for its grand performances and vibrant community participation. Monks perform mask dances to bless the valley and purify the environment. |
| Kurjey Tshechu | Bumthang | 24th | Held at the sacred site where Guru Rinpoche meditated. On this day, devotees gather to receive deep spiritual blessings and participate in age-old rituals. |
October
| Festival | Place | Date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pemagatshel Tshechu | Pemagatshel | 18th - 21st | This festival brings together Eastern communities for days of sacred dances and blessings. It's a rare glimpse into deeply rooted traditions of Bhutan's lesser-known regions. |
| Jhomolhari Mountain Festival | Thimphu | 14th - 15th | Celebrates the harmony between highlanders, nature, and wildlife, especially snow leopards. It includes cultural exhibits, trekking, and environmental awareness programs. |
| Chhukha Tshechu | Chhukha | 19th - 21st | A blend of spiritual rituals and community celebration in the southern district of Chhukha. Mask dances dominate the festivities, providing blessings and cultural pride. |
| Dechenphu Tshechu | Thimphu | 21st | A one-day festival honouring the guardian deity Genyen Jagpa Melen. In this festival, only male monks perform sacred dances. |
| Jakar Tshechu | Choekhor | 18th - 21st | Held in Bumthang's Jakar Dzong, this festival blends religious performances and local fun. |
| Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Choekhor | 26th - 29th | One of Bhutan's oldest and most mystical festivals, famous for the "fire dance" and the naked dance. These rituals are believed to bless infertile women and ward off evil spirits. |
| Traakar Duchhoed | Bumthang | 27th - 29th | A spiritual gathering centred around ancient rituals and sacred dances in Bumthang. |
September
| Festival | Place | Date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour of the Dragon (Mountain Bike Race) | Bumthang to Thimphu | 5th | Bhutan's most gruelling bike race across high-altitude passes. It celebrates endurance, nature, and the spirit of challenge in Bhutan's unique landscape. |
| Thimphu Drubchen | Thimphu | 17th | A prelude to the Thimphu Tshechu, featuring sacred warrior dances by monks to protect the capital city from evil forces and natural calamities. |
| Haa Tshechu | Haa | 19th-21st | A relatively new festival showcasing Haa's culture, traditions, and vibrant mask dances. |
| Wangdue Tshechu | Wangduephodrang | 19th-21st | Held in one of Bhutan's oldest dzongs, on this day the locals gather to celebrate life, honour their deities, and seek spiritual renewal. |
| Tamshing Phala Chhoepa | Bumthang | 21st - 23rd | This is an intimate festival held at Tamshing Monastery. It is known for its spiritual depth and rare dances performed by monks. |
| Thimphu Tshechu | Thimphu | 21st - 23rd | The largest festival in the capital attracts crowds with its dazzling dances and blessings. The highlight is the unfolding of the giant Thongdrol on the final day. |
| Gangtey Tshechu | Wangduephodrang | 24th - 26th | Held in the scenic Phobjikha Valley, a winter home to black-necked cranes. The festival supports conservation awareness while blessing the valley with sacred rituals. |
| Thangbi Mewang | Bumthang | 26th - 27th | A fire blessing ritual where participants jump over flames to purify sins and misfortunes. It's one of Bumthang's most distinctive and exciting spiritual events. |
November
| Festival | Place | Date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Necked Crane Festival | Wangduephodrang | 11th | Held in Phobjikha Valley, this festival celebrates the arrival of endangered cranes. |
| Goenpai Drupchen | Trongsa | 14th - 16th | A deeply religious festival showcasing Vajrayana rituals to subdue negative energies. During this the Monks and practitioners perform ceremonies to invoke peace. |
| Mongar Tshechu | Mongar | 17th - 19th | A joyful event that blends sacred Cham dances with eastern Bhutanese traditions. |
| Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang | 18th - 20th | One of eastern Bhutan's largest festivals, drawing massive crowds from remote regions. |
| Phuentsholing Tshechu | Chhukha | 17th - 19th | Celebrated in a border town, the festival attracts both Bhutanese and Indian attendees. |
| Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham | Choekhor | 24th | Part of the Jambay Drup festival, this sacred dance is performed only once a year. |
| Nalakhar Tshechu | Bumthang | 24th - 26th | A quiet yet beautiful festival in a remote Bumthang, where locals gather in colourful attire to witness the mask dance. |
December
| Festival | Place | Date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Thimphu | 13th | A modern festival honouring Bhutan's monarchy and military history through sacred dances. It features striking performances at Dochula Pass with Himalayan views. |
| Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa | 17th - 21st | A grand celebration at Trongsa Dzong, deeply connected to Bhutanese royal heritage. |
| Lhuentse Tshechu | Lhuentse | 17th - 21st | A highland festival that honours the lineage of Bhutan's royal family. It's rich in textile traditions and features rare Cham dances |
| Samdrupjongkhar Tshechu | Samdrupjongkhar | 22nd - 24th | A cultural highlight in the southeast, bringing together locals in prayer and celebration. |
| Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Trongsa | 24th - 26th | A festival symbolising peace and diplomacy, celebrated with unique local rituals. It is centred around an ancient temple known for uniting warring kings. |
Disclaimer
This festival calendar is based on the tentative 2026 schedule shared by ABTO and is subject to change. We've also added a few FAQs and insights of our own to help travelers plan better. Please refer to official sources for the most accurate updates.