Bhutan Festivals
& Tshechus
Confirmed dates for all 46 Bhutan festivals and Tshechus in 2026 and 2027 — searchable by month, location, and name. Every district, every Dzong.
At a glance
Planning your trip around a festival? Found Bhutan arranges front-row access, expert cultural guides, and full logistics.
View Festival ToursBhutan Festival Dates 2026 & 2027 — Searchable Calendar
All 46 festivalsFind Your Festival
Which Bhutan Festival
Is Right for You?
First-Time Visitors
The most celebrated festival in Bhutan. Held inside the iconic Rinpung Dzong, it draws thousands of Bhutanese in traditional dress. The pre-dawn Thongdrol unveiling is unmissable. Best for travellers wanting the full, iconic Bhutan experience.
Learn about Paro Tshechu →Autumn Travellers
Bhutan's largest city festival, held in September in the Tashichho Dzong. A three-day celebration with spectacular Cham dances and the giant Thongdrol unveiled on the final morning. Pairs perfectly with autumn trekking and clear mountain views.
Learn about Thimphu Tshechu →Off-the-Beaten-Path
Held in the remote Ura valley of Bumthang, this intimate festival draws few foreign visitors. Witness sacred dances in a stunning high-altitude village, surrounded by locals who outnumber tourists a hundred to one. Genuinely authentic.
Learn about Ura Yakchoe →History & Drama
A dramatic re-enactment of Bhutan's 17th-century victory over Tibetan invaders, staged by hundreds of men in ancient armour and costumes. Unlike any other festival in Asia. Held in the breathtaking Punakha Dzong at the river confluence.
Learn about Punakha Drubchen →Nature & Wildlife
Held on 11 November at Gangtey's Phobjikha Valley to celebrate the annual arrival of the endangered black-necked cranes from Tibet. A joyful community festival combining wildlife spectacle with traditional Bhutanese dance and culture.
Learn about Black-Necked Crane Festival →Unique & Rare
One of Bhutan's oldest and most spiritually significant festivals, featuring the rare naked fire dance (Tercham) performed at midnight. Held in Bumthang at one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, dating to the 7th century. A profound experience.
Learn about Jambay Lhakhang Drup →What to Expect at a
Bhutan Festival
Attending a Tshechu is unlike any festival experience elsewhere in the world. Here is everything you need to know before you go — from what time to arrive to photography rules, dress code, and how long the dances last.
Arrive Early — Very Early
The best viewing positions fill up well before the first dance begins. For major festivals like Paro Tshechu, locals begin arriving at sunrise. The Thongdrol unveiling — the sacred scroll revealed before dawn on the final morning — requires arriving in complete darkness, often by 4am.
Found Bhutan tip: We arrange pre-dawn transport and reserved positioning for Thongdrol mornings.Dress Code
Tshechus are religious occasions. Men should wear long trousers and a collared shirt; women should cover shoulders and wear knee-length or longer skirts or trousers. Bhutanese people attend in their finest traditional dress — Gho for men, Kira for women. Shorts and sleeveless tops are not appropriate.
Wearing traditional Bhutanese dress is welcomed and appreciated, not considered cultural appropriation.Photography
Photography is generally permitted at Tshechus, but rules vary by festival and location. Some sacred moments — particularly during the Thongdrol unveiling and certain Cham sequences — prohibit photography entirely. Your guide will advise exactly when cameras must be lowered. Never use a flash during dances.
A telephoto lens (70–200mm) is invaluable for capturing mask dance detail from the crowd.Understanding the Cham Dances
Each Cham mask dance has specific symbolic meaning. The Black Hat Dance (Shana Cham) represents the assassination of an anti-Buddhist king. The Dance of the Lords of the Cremation Ground (Durdag) welcomes the deceased to the afterlife. The Dance of the Eight Manifestations celebrates Guru Rinpoche. Without context, the dances can seem abstract — with it, they are extraordinary.
Found Bhutan guides explain each dance sequence in real time as it unfolds.How Long Do Festivals Last?
Most Tshechus run for three to five days, with dances performed from approximately 9am to 5pm each day. Not every day is equally important — your guide will tell you which days and which dances are the most significant. The final morning (Thongdrol day) is always the spiritual climax and the most important to attend.
Even attending a single full day of a Tshechu is a life-changing experience.Etiquette & Respect
Walk clockwise around religious monuments and dzongs. Do not step over or point feet at monks, masks, or altar items. Avoid turning your back on sacred images. Do not leave during a dance mid-sequence — wait for natural pauses. Applause is not traditional; Bhutanese observers watch in respectful silence or move freely.
Asking your guide before doing anything uncertain is always the right instinct.Festival Entry Fees for International Visitors
Bhutan's festivals are free and open to the public — there is no separate festival entry fee. International visitors do pay a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of USD $100 per person per night, but this is a general tourism levy, not a ticket that unlocks festival access — some monuments, museums, and dzongs charge their own separate entry fees that aren't included in the SDF. Bhutanese citizens and Indian, Bangladeshi, and Maldivian nationals are exempt from the SDF. All foreign visitors must enter Bhutan through a licensed tour operator; independent travel is not permitted. Found Bhutan handles all permits and logistics from your arrival to departure.
Bhutan Festivals
Month by Month
February
Peak festival season begins. Book well in advance.
March
Paro Tshechu is the most popular festival in Bhutan.
April
Rhododendrons in bloom across the valleys.
June
Quieter festival month — fewer crowds at sites.
September
Autumn peak season. Thimphu Tshechu is the highlight.
October
Bumthang is the centre of the October festival calendar.
November
Eastern Bhutan festivals — one of the most rewarding regions to visit.
December
Winter festivals — cold but clear skies and very few tourists.
Sacred Festivals of
Living Culture
Tshechus are annual religious festivals held throughout Bhutan in honour of Guru Rinpoche, the saint who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century. They are celebrated with elaborate mask dances called Cham — sacred performances that represent the deities defeating evil forces.
Unlike festivals in many countries, Tshechus are acts of genuine devotion, not performances for tourists. The monks who dance have trained for years. The communities gather in traditional dress. The atmosphere is both joyful and deeply reverent.
Festival dates in Bhutan follow the Bhutanese lunar calendar, which is based on Buddhist astrology. Because the lunar calendar shifts each year relative to the Gregorian calendar, Bhutan festival dates for 2026 and 2027 differ from previous years. Found Bhutan confirms the current-year dates for every booking we arrange.
Cham Mask Dances
Sacred dances performed by trained monks. Each dance has specific symbolic meaning representing the subjugation of evil and the triumph of Buddhist dharma.
Dzong Courtyards
Most Tshechus are held in the courtyards of Dzong fortress-monasteries. The architecture of the setting is part of the experience.
Lunar Calendar Dates
Festivals follow the Bhutanese lunar calendar. Exact Gregorian dates shift each year. Found Bhutan confirms current-year dates for every booking.
Thongdrol Unveilings
Many major festivals culminate with the unveiling of a giant Thongdrol — a sacred silk applique depicting Guru Rinpoche or other deities. Liberation is said to come from merely seeing it.
Complete List of Bhutan Festivals 2026 & 2027
All 46 Bhutan festivals and Tshechus with confirmed dates for 2026 and 2027, listed by month. Dates follow the Bhutanese lunar calendar and are confirmed annually by the Tourism Council of Bhutan. Use the searchable calendar above to filter by location or month.
2026
| Festival | Location | Date (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Punakha Drubchen | Punakha | 24–26 February 2026 |
| Punakha Tshechu | Punakha | 27 Feb – 1 March 2026 |
| Tharpaling Thongdrol | Bumthang | 3 March 2026 |
| Tangsibi Mani | Bumthang | 4–6 March 2026 |
| Chorten Kora Festival | Trashi Yangtse | 3 March & 19 March 2026 |
| Talo Tshechu | Punakha | 26–28 March 2026 |
| Gomphu Kora | Trashigang | 26–28 March 2026 |
| Paro Tshechu | Paro | 29 March – 2 April 2026 |
| Gasa Tshechu | Gasa | 26–28 March 2026 |
| Zhemgang Tshechu | Zhemgang | 26–28 March 2026 |
| Rhododendron Festival | Thimphu | 13–14 April 2026 |
| Domkhar Tshechu | Bumthang | 26–28 April 2026 |
| Ura Yakchoe | Bumthang | 28 April – 2 May 2026 |
| Samtse Tshechu | Samtse | June 2026 |
| Nimalung Tshechu | Bumthang | 22–24 June 2026 |
| Kurjey Tshechu | Bumthang | 24 June 2026 |
| Haa Tshechu | Haa | July 2026 |
| Tour of the Dragon | Thimphu | 5 September 2026 |
| Thimphu Drubchen | Thimphu | 17 September 2026 |
| Haa Summer Festival | Haa | 19–21 September 2026 |
| Wangdue Tshechu | Wangdue Phodrang | 19–21 September 2026 |
| Thimphu Tshechu | Thimphu | 21–23 September 2026 |
| Gangtey Tshechu | Wangdue Phodrang | 24–26 September 2026 |
| Tamzhing Phala Choepa | Bumthang | 21–23 September 2026 |
| Tangbi Mewang | Bumthang | 26–27 September 2026 |
| Dagana Tshechu | Dagana | September – October 2026 |
| Tsirang Tshechu | Tsirang | September – October 2026 |
| Trashi Yangtse Tshechu | Trashi Yangtse | September – October 2026 |
| Sarpang Tshechu | Sarpang | September – October 2026 |
| Jomolhari Mountain Festival | Thimphu | 14–15 October 2026 |
| Jakar Tshechu | Bumthang | 18–21 October 2026 |
| Chhukha Tshechu | Chhukha | 19–21 October 2026 |
| Pemagatshel Tshechu | Pemagatshel | 18–21 October 2026 |
| Dechenphu Tshechu | Thimphu | 21 October 2026 |
| Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Bumthang | 26–29 October 2026 |
| Prakhar Duchhoed | Bumthang | 27–29 October 2026 |
| Black-Necked Crane Festival | Wangdue Phodrang | 11 November 2026 |
| Goenpai Drupchen | Trongsa | 14–16 November 2026 |
| Phuntsholing Tshechu | Chhukha | 17–19 November 2026 |
| Mongar Tshechu | Mongar | 17–19 November 2026 |
| Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang | 18–20 November 2026 |
| Nalakhar Tshechu | Bumthang | 24–26 November 2026 |
| Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham | Bumthang | 24 November 2026 |
| Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Thimphu | 13 December 2026 |
| Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa | 17–21 December 2026 |
| Lhuentse Tshechu | Lhuentse | 17–21 December 2026 |
2027
| Festival | Location | Date (2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Punakha Drubchen | Punakha | 13–15 February 2027 |
| Punakha Tshechu | Punakha | 16–18 February 2027 |
| Tharpaling Thongdrol | Bumthang | 20 February 2027 |
| Tangsibi Mani | Bumthang | 22–24 February 2027 |
| Chorten Kora Festival | Trashi Yangtse | 20 February & 8 March 2027 |
| Gomphu Kora | Trashigang | 16–18 March 2027 |
| Talo Tshechu | Punakha | 16–18 March 2027 |
| Gasa Tshechu | Gasa | 16–18 March 2027 |
| Zhemgang Tshechu | Zhemgang | 16–18 March 2027 |
| Paro Tshechu | Paro | 18–22 March 2027 |
| Rhododendron Festival | Thimphu | April 2027 (TBC) |
| Domkhar Tshechu | Bumthang | 16–18 April 2027 |
| Ura Yakchoe | Bumthang | 18–22 April 2027 |
| Nimalung Tshechu | Bumthang | 12–14 June 2027 |
| Kurjey Tshechu | Bumthang | 14 June 2027 |
| Tour of the Dragon | Thimphu | 5 September 2027 |
| Thimphu Drubchen | Thimphu | 5 October 2027 |
| Wangdue Tshechu | Wangdue Phodrang | 8–10 October 2027 |
| Tamzhing Phala Choepa | Bumthang | 10–12 October 2027 |
| Thimphu Tshechu | Thimphu | 10–12 October 2027 |
| Gangtey Tshechu | Wangdue Phodrang | 13–15 October 2027 |
| Jomolhari Mountain Festival | Thimphu | 14–15 October 2027 |
| Tangbi Mewang | Bumthang | 15–16 October 2027 |
| Chhukha Tshechu | Chhukha | 6–8 November 2027 |
| Jakar Tshechu | Bumthang | 6–9 November 2027 |
| Pemagatshel Tshechu | Pemagatshel | 6–9 November 2027 |
| Haa Tshechu | Haa | 6–8 November 2027 |
| Dechenphu Tshechu | Thimphu | 8 November 2027 |
| Black-Necked Crane Festival | Wangdue Phodrang | 11 November 2027 |
| Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Bumthang | 14–17 November 2027 |
| Prakhar Duchhoed | Bumthang | 15–17 November 2027 |
| Goenpai Drupchen | Trongsa | 3–5 December 2027 |
| Mongar Tshechu | Mongar | 6–8 December 2027 |
| Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang | 7–9 December 2027 |
| Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham | Bumthang | 13 December 2027 |
| Nalakhar Tshechu | Bumthang | 13–15 December 2027 |
| Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Thimphu | 13 December 2027 |
| Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa | January 2028 |
| Lhuentse Tshechu | Lhuentse | January 2028 |
| Samdrup Jongkhar Tshechu | Samdrup Jongkhar | 10–12 January 2028 |
| Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Trongsa | 12–14 January 2028 |
Plan Your Festival Tour with Found Bhutan
We arrange personalised tours timed to specific festivals — front-row positioning, expert cultural guides, accommodation within walking distance, and full logistics managed from Thimphu.
Plan My Festival Trip