Spring begins
March Festival Highlights
Valleys awaken after winter and Bhutan’s festival season begins with sacred dances, prayers, and cultural gatherings.
5Events
Bhutan Festival Calendar
Plan your Bhutan journey around sacred festivals.
Explore Bhutan’s major tsechus, cultural celebrations, sacred ceremonies, national holidays, nature festivals, and seasonal highlights from spring to winter.
10Festival Months
40+Listed Events
OctoberPeak Festival Month
CultureMain Travel Theme
Festival Calendar
Select a month, then explore the festival details.
Browse by travel month to see the major festivals, cultural gatherings, sacred ceremonies, and special events that can shape a Bhutan itinerary.
March 5–7
Festival of Mahakali
Trongsa Dzong
A distinct festival honouring Bhutan’s guardian deity Pelden Lhamo, also known as Mahakali.
March 6–8
Punakha Drubchen
Punakha
A powerful historical festival showcasing mythical narratives connected to the construction of Punakha Dzong.
March 9–11
Punakha Tsechu
Punakha
A major festival featuring masked dances, local celebration, and the unfurling of the sacred Guru Rinpoche thongdrol.
March 14
Tharpaling Thongdrol
Chumi, Bumthang
A sacred unfurling ceremony of a holy applique silk scroll, believed to bring blessings and good karma.
March 15–17
Tangsibi Mani
Ura, Bumthang
A village festival at Tangsibi Tashiling Lhakhang with origins linked to the treasure discoverer Sherab Mebar.
Full Calendar
All listed festivals by month.
A complete month-by-month view for quick comparison when planning festival tours, route options, hotel bookings, and guest timing.
Spring begins
March
5
Valleys awaken after winter and Bhutan’s festival season begins with sacred dances, prayers, and cultural gatherings.
March 5–7
Festival of Mahakali
Trongsa Dzong
A distinct festival honouring Bhutan’s guardian deity Pelden Lhamo, also known as Mahakali.
March 6–8
Punakha Drubchen
Punakha
A powerful historical festival showcasing mythical narratives connected to the construction of Punakha Dzong.
March 9–11
Punakha Tsechu
Punakha
A major festival featuring masked dances, local celebration, and the unfurling of the sacred Guru Rinpoche thongdrol.
March 14
Tharpaling Thongdrol
Chumi, Bumthang
A sacred unfurling ceremony of a holy applique silk scroll, believed to bring blessings and good karma.
March 15–17
Tangsibi Mani
Ura, Bumthang
A village festival at Tangsibi Tashiling Lhakhang with origins linked to the treasure discoverer Sherab Mebar.
Peak spring
April
4
Bhutan becomes colourful with blooming forests, spring festivals, and intimate village celebrations.
April 5–7
Talo Tsechu
Punakha
An intimate three-day festival with masked and Atsara dances around Talo Monastery.
April 5–7
Gasa Tsechu
Gasa
A unique highland festival celebrating the distinct culture, songs, and dances of Gasa communities.
April 8–12
Paro Tsechu
Paro
One of Bhutan’s most famous festivals, known for sacred dances, colourful dress, and the Paro Dzong setting.
April 22–24
Rhododendron Festival
Dochula, Thimphu
A nature-focused festival celebrating Bhutan’s rhododendron species and spring mountain landscapes.
Late spring
May
3
Warm weather, lush valleys, and spiritual gatherings make May ideal for culture and nature travel.
May 2
Birth Anniversary of the Third Druk Gyalpo
Nationwide
A national holiday honouring His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and his contribution to Bhutan’s modernisation.
May 7–9
Domkhar Tsechu
Domkhar, Bumthang
A historic village festival with sacred masked dances and scroll unfurling on the final day.
May 9–13
Ura Yakchoe
Ura, Bumthang
A unique festival in eastern Bumthang focused on the escorting and invocation of a sacred Buddhist deity.
Green transition
June
2
June marks the shift toward summer, with sacred holidays and nature-focused celebrations.
June 2
Social Forestry Day
Nationwide
A national day encouraging tree planting and environmental care, linked to Bhutan’s conservation values.
June 11
Lord Buddha’s Parinirvana
Nationwide
A sacred Buddhist holiday marked by pilgrimages, temple visits, ceremonies, and blessings.
Summer culture
July
4
Summer brings sacred temple festivals, lush valleys, and regional celebrations.
July 3–5
Nimalung Tsechu
Bumthang
A three-day festival of cham dances, highlighted by the unfurling of the Guru Tshengye Thongdrol.
July 5
Kurjey Tsechu
Kurjey, Bumthang
A one-day temple festival honouring Guru Rinpoche with tantric dances and ceremonies.
July 5
Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche
Nationwide
A sacred day celebrated across Bhutan to honour Guru Rinpoche, one of the country’s most revered religious figures.
Dates not final
Haa Summer Festival
Haa
A lively festival celebrating Haa Valley’s cuisine, nomadic culture, traditional sports, village life, and local performances.
Lush summer
August
2
Bhutan’s valleys are deep green in August, with food festivals, forests, waterfalls, and river adventures.
August 15–16
Mushroom Festival
Genekha, Thimphu
A local festival featuring mushroom foraging, cultural performances, and mushroom cooking experiences.
August 15–16
Matsutake Festival
Ura, Bumthang
A food and nature festival celebrating the prized matsutake mushroom with picking excursions and cultural programs.
Autumn opening
September
4
Cooler weather arrives and Bhutan’s autumn festival season begins with major cultural events.
September 6
Tour of the Dragon
Bhutan
A legendary cycling race across Bhutan, known as one of the world’s toughest one-day mountain bike races.
September 24
Blessed Rainy Day
Nationwide
A traditional holiday marking the end of the rains, when sacred water is used for cleansing and blessings.
September 28
Thimphu Drubchen
Thimphu
Consecration ceremonies leading into Thimphu’s biggest festival, the Thimphu Tsechu.
September 30–October 2
Wangdue Tsechu
Wangdue
A three-day festival known for the Raksha Mangcham, the Dance of the Ox.
Peak autumn
October
7
October is one of Bhutan’s richest festival months, with major tsechus, mountain festivals, and colourful valley celebrations.
October 2–4
Tamsing Phala Choepa
Bumthang
A three-day Bumthang festival linked to the dances of the treasure discoverer Pema Lingpa.
October 2–4
Thimphu Tsechu
Thimphu
The capital’s biggest festival, held at Tashichho Dzong with sacred dances, songs, and ceremonies.
October 5–7
Gangtey Tsechu
Gangtey
A scenic festival at Gangtey Goempa featuring masked dances, cultural performances, and tantric ceremonies.
October 7–8
Thangbi Mewang
Bumthang
A fire purification festival where attendees leap over flames for blessings and protection.
October 14–15
Jhomolhari Mountain Festival
Jhomolhari Base Camp
A remote mountain festival reached by trekking, celebrating highland culture and Himalayan landscapes.
October 29–31
Jakar Tsechu
Jakar, Bumthang
A colourful festival at Jakar Dzong with dances and performances from the monastic body and local communities.
October 31
Dechenphug Tsechu
Thimphu
A special annual opening and festival at Dechenphug, a sacred temple near Thimphu.
Late autumn
November
5
November brings royal holidays, iconic crane celebrations, and some of Bhutan’s most meaningful cultural events.
November 1
Coronation Anniversary of His Majesty the King
Nationwide
A national commemoration of His Majesty the King’s coronation in 2008.
November 5–8
Jambay Lhakhang Drup
Bumthang
A famous festival at one of Bhutan’s oldest temples, known for fire dances and purification rituals.
November 6–8
Prakhar Duchhoed
Chumi, Bumthang
A local festival with dances and songs connected to the temple’s unique origin story.
November 11
Black Necked Crane Festival
Gangtey, Phobjikha
A conservation-focused festival celebrating the arrival of black-necked cranes in Phobjikha Valley.
November 11
Birth Anniversary of the 4th Druk Gyalpo
Nationwide
A national celebration honouring His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan.
Winter festivals
December
4
December closes the festival year with sacred Bumthang events, Dochula celebrations, and Bhutan’s National Day.
December 4
Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham
Bumthang
A unique festival focused on the Singye Cham, or Lion Dance, believed to cleanse negative karma.
December 4–6
Nalakhar Tshechu
Nalakhar, Bumthang
A village festival at Nga Lhakhang, symbolising prosperity, harvest blessings, and community wellbeing.
December 13
Druk Wangyel Tsechu
Dochula, Thimphu
A unique festival organised by the Royal Family and performed by the Royal Bhutan Army.
December 17
Bhutan National Day
Nationwide
Bhutan’s National Day commemorating the coronation of Ugyen Wangchuk in 1907.
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