BHUTAN FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE
Bhutan has almost 200 festivals (or tshechus) each year. These range from small local events in a single village to great celebrations in major monasteries. Attending a festival in Bhutan, such as the Paro Festival is an experience like no other. You’ll have the opportunity to mingle with friendly local people and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of ancient Bhutanese culture.
Time your travel to Bhutan to catch one of our favourite festivals in Bhutan!
Time your Bhutan Experience, Walking Holiday or Bhutan Trek to coincide with one of these fantastic festivals. Our expert team will e happy to help plan your tour.
Please note that Bhutan Festival dates are based on the lunar calendar, and sometimes change without notice. If we are including a festival in your itinerary we work on the most up to date information there is.
In the crisp mountain air, hundreds of local Bhutanese people come together to celebrate their country, their religion, and their unique culture. Their elaborate clothing is the same as has been worn by generations before them, a bloom of colourful brocade and patterned weave. Their smiles are infectious. The energy of the event buzzes with the joy that is ever-present in the Dragon Kingdom.
Bhutan Festivals 2025 & 2026
PUNAKHA TSHECHU
WHERE: Punakha Dzong
A unique festival that recreates in dramatic fashion a historic battle between the Bhutanese and Tibetan armies that took place in the 17th century. Bhutan was victorious, marking the beginning of a new age of peace and stability for the country.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Bhutan tour or Walking Holiday
9-11 March 2025
27-28 FEb & 1 march 2026
CHHORTEN KORA FESTIVAL
WHERE: Chorten Kora, Trashiyangtshe.
A vibrant and deeply spiritual celebration held at the stunning Chorten Kora stupa in eastern Bhutan. Steeped in legend and devotion, this festival is marked by ritualistic circumambulations, prayers, and traditional dances, the festival serves as a powerful gathering of faith, culture, and community.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Eastern Bhutan tour
14 & 29 March 2025
3 & 19 March 2026
TANGSIBI MANI FESTIVAL
WHERE: Tangsibi Lhakhang, Ura, Bumthang
A vibrant three-day celebration that unites the villages of Tangbi, Goling, and Kharsath. This traditional festival brings the temple to life with colours, music, and devotion. Monks perform sacred rituals while locals honor their ancestors and celebrate their roots. The festival is believed to bring happiness, ensure a bountiful harvest, and usher in prosperity. It’s a time of reverence, joy, and community spirit.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Central & Western Bhutan or Central & Western Bhutan Walking Holiday
15-17 march 2025
4-6 march 2026
GOMPHU KORA FESTIVAL
WHERE: Gom Kora Lhakhang, Trashigang
Gomphu Kora is attended by locals and tribal people from Merak and Sakten who circumambulate the gonpa throughout the night. Very few foreigners attend this festival.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Bhutan tour or Walking Holiday
5-7 April 2025
26-28 march 2026
TALO TSHECHU
WHERE: Talo Monastery, above Punakha
A lively and culturally rich celebration, known for its stunning traditional mask dances, folk songs, and vibrant religious rituals, the festival showcases the deep spiritual heritage of the region. Talo is renowned for its graceful dancers, particularly the women of the community, whose performances are a highlight of the event.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Bhutan tour or Walking Holiday
5-7 April 2025
26-28 march 2026
PARO TSHECHU
WHERE: Rinpung Dzong, Paro
Monks and laypeople perform mesmerising symbolic dances in one of Bhutan's biggest annual festivals. Lasting for five days in the spring, the Paro Tsechu is a joy-filled celebration in the town and a highlight of the year in Bhutan.
GOES BEST WITH: Paro Festival Journey and any itinerary in Bhutan
8-12 April 2025
29 march - 2 april 2026
RHODODENDRON FESTIVAL
WHERE: Lamperi Botanical Park, Thimpu
The Rhododendron Festival celebrates the arrival of spring, when vibrant rhododendron flowers bloom across Bhutan. It raises awareness of Bhutan’s biodiversity, promotes conservation, and honors the nation’s cultural heritage, emphasizing the importance of preserving its natural resources for future generations. Bhutan is home to 46 species of rhododendrons, with 29 found in the Lampelri Botanical Park, just 35 km from Thimphu. The festival highlights these flowers, which symbolize purity, beauty, and resilience in Bhutanese folklore.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Bhutan tour or Walking Holiday
DOMKHAR TSHECHU
WHERE: Chumey, Bumthang
For a very intimate, local experience of Bhutanese festivals, the best place to go is the countryside. Chumey is a tiny village off the beaten track in Bumthang, where you can be immersed in the Bhutanese lifestyle and traditions without the crowds.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Central & Western Bhutan or Central & Western Bhutan Walking Holiday
22-24 APRIL 2025
13-14 april 2026
7-9 May 2025
26-28 april 2026
URA YAKCHOE FESTIVAL
WHERE: Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang
Known for its famous dancing, this colourful festival is held on Ura’s hilltop monastery. A key component of the 3-day proceedings is an ancient Buddhist statue of passed on from the generation to generation. Read more here in our article about Bumthang’s Festivals.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Central & Western Bhutan or Central & Western Bhutan Walking Holiday
WANGDUE TSHECHU
WHERE: Wangdue Phodrang
The vibrant colours and sounds of the Tsechu brighten the usually quiet town of Wangdue Phodrang for three days in autumn. See the giant thangka, a sacred Buddhist image, that's only shown once a year at this time.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Central & Western Bhutan or Central & Western Bhutan Walking Holiday
9-13 May 2025
28 apr - 2 may 2026
30 Sep - 2 Oct 2025
19-21 sep 2026
THIMPHU TSHECHU
WHERE: Thimphu
The Bhutanese capital's biggest festival is a Buddhist extravaganza attended by thousands of people from the neighbouring districts. Monks and laypeople perform sacred religious dances, dressed in elaborate costumes and masks to represent deities from Buddhist lore.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Bhutan tour or Walking Holiday
2-4 October 2025
21-23 september 2026
THANGBI MANI
WHERE: Chokhor, Bumthang
This colourful village festival can only be reached by foot. Masked dancers perform in the grounds of an ancient monastery founded in 1470. The highlight is the fire blessing (Mewang) ceremony where locals leap over flames to purify themselves. Read more here in our article about Bumthang’s Festivals.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Central & Western Bhutan or Central & Western Bhutan Walking Holiday
7-8 October 2025
26-27 september 2026
GANGTEY TSHECHU
WHERE: Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha
The streets fill with colourful prayer flags during this 3-day festival and sacred masked dances are held in the large courtyard of Gangtey Gonpa monastery overlooking the fertile Phobjikha valley.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Central & Western Bhutan or Central & Western Bhutan Walking Holiday
5-7 October 2025
24-26 september 2026
ROYAL HIGHLAND FESTIVAL
WHERE: Laya
In the remote mountains of northwestern Bhutan, the Laya highland people showcase their unique culture and celebrate the highland lifestyle for two wonderful days. Only accessible by foot, this festival is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see people living the way they have for centuries.
GOES BEST WITH: Laya Ghasa Trek or a tailored made festival tour
23-24 October 2025
23-24 October 2026
JAKAR TSHECHU
WHERE: Jakar Dzong, Bumthang
Bumthang, in eastern Bhutan, is the cultural heartland of the country. Jakar Monastery's annual festival is a highlight in the area, a riot of colour and music for three days that enlivens the crowd in the otherwise quiet forested valleys of Bumthang.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Central & Western Bhutan or Central & Western Bhutan Walking Holiday
29 oct - 1 Nov 2025
18-21 october 2026
JAMBAY LHAKANG DRUP
WHERE: Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang
One of Bhutan’s most famous festival, Jambay Lhakhang Drup Festival is famous for its naked dance ( performed late at night) as well as the fire dance. This spectacular festival draws locals and toursists alike to the Bumthang Valley.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Central & Western Bhutan or Central & Western Bhutan Walking Holiday
5-8 NOVEMBER 2025
26-29 october 2026
PRAKHAR DUCHHOED
WHERE: Prakar Lhakhang, Chumni, Bumthang
A sacred and culturally significant event held at Prakhar Monastery in Bhutan’s Chhume Valley, this festival is features elaborate religious ceremonies, sacred mask dances (Cham), and vibrant rituals performed by monks and local devotees. The festival serves as a time for spiritual cleansing, blessings, and communal harmony, attracting pilgrims seeking merit and divine protection.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Central & Western Bhutan or Central & Western Bhutan Walking Holiday
6-8 NOVEMBER 2025
27-29 october 2025
BLACK NECKED CRANE FESTIVAL
WHERE: Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha
The Black-necked Crane Festival celebrates the majestic bird after which it is named. Native to the Tibetan Plateau, the Black-necked Crane migrates to Bhutan each autumn, heralding the harvest season and holding deep cultural significance for the local communities. During this vibrant one-day festival, local children perform a special crane dance in colourful costumes, paying homage to the bird, while other traditional folk performances bring the spirit of the season to life. A unique cultural celebration that honours both nature and tradition.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Central & Western Bhutan, Central & Western Bhutan Walking Holiday or Bhutan Explorer
11 NOVEMBER 2025
11 NOVEMBER 2026
MONGAR TSHECHU
WHERE: Mongar Dzong, Mongar
A vibrant and spiritually significant celebration, this festival is dedicated to Guru Rinpoche and features sacred Cham dances performed by monks symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. Set against the stunning backdrop of Mongar’s rolling hills, this festivalt offers a captivating experience of Bhutanese spirituality and tradition.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Eastern Bhutan tour
28-30 NOVEMBER 2025
17-19 november 2026
TRASHIGANG TSHECHU
WHERE: Trashigang Dzong
One of eastern Bhutan’s most significant religious festivals, held at the historic Trashigang Dzong. This vibrant celebration brings together people from remote villages, including the Brokpa, a semi-nomadic highland community, adding a unique cultural richness to the event. With its deep spiritual significance and social vibrancy, the Trashigang Tshechu is a captivating display of Bhutan’s living traditions.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Eastern Bhutan tour
29-30 Nov & 1 Dec 2025
18-20 november 2026
DRUK WANGYAL TSECHU
WHERE: Dochula Pass (3,100 m), between Thimphu and Punakha
The Dochula Festival, or Druk Wangyel Tshechu, is held annually to honor the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and commemorate the Royal Bhutan Army’s victory over insurgents in 2003. Established in 2011, it is uniquely performed by the Army, who train in folk and mask dances.
GOES BEST WITH: Any Experience Bhutan tour or Walking Holiday
