Tibetan festivals are where faith and everyday life intertwine.
From the Losar Tibetan New Year at the beginning of the year to the Ganden Ngamchoe (Butter Lamp Festival) and Gutor Night at year’s end, Tibetans celebrate through prayers, chanting,
horse racing, mask dancing, and life-releasing rituals — traditions that have carried their spiritual devotion and cultural memory for over a thousand years.
Below is the 2026 calendar of the most iconic Tibetan festivals, along with their meanings and highlights.
1.When Is the Best Time to Visit Tibet? Check This Calendar
2.Nine Major Tibetan Festivals Overview
Tibetan New Year (Losar)
- Tibetan Calendar Date: Lunar New Year’s Day
- Estimated Gregorian Date: February 18, 2026
- Featured: The Tibetan New Year (Losar) and the Chinese Lunar New Year may differ by one day or occasionally fall on the same date. In 2026, both festivals are expected to occur on February 17, meaning they are most likely to coincide.
Losar is the most important and grandest festival of the Tibetan people. Families burn incense for blessings, paste auspicious symbols on their doors, and prepare Guthuk soup (nine-ingredient soup) to drive away misfortune. Monasteries chant sutras and ring bells to welcome the New Year. The entire city of Lhasa is filled with a strong festive atmosphere.
2.Butter Lamp Festival (Chunga Choepa)
- Tibetan Calendar Date: January 15
- Estimated Gregorian date.. 2026/03/03
At night, Lhasa glows with thousands of butter lamps. Monasteries display exquisite sculptures made of butter—flowers, figures, and deities—creating a mesmerizing play of light and shadow.
3.Saga Dawa Festival (Vesak Day)
- Tibetan Calendar Date: April 15
- Estimated Gregorian date.. 2026/05/30
This festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni. The entire fourth month of the Tibetan calendar is considered the “Month of Merit,” during which devotees perform good deeds—reciting prayers, freeing captive animals, and circumambulating sacred sites. The celebrations are especially grand in Lhasa and Shannan.
4.Gyantse Horse Racing Festival (Dama Festival)
- Tibetan Calendar Date: April 10–28
- Estimated Gregorian date.. 2026/05/25-06/12
Originating in Gyantse, this traditional folk festival features horse racing, archery, dancing, and local trade fairs. It is one of the most representative community celebrations in Tibet, blending entertainment with religious devotion.
5.Pilgrimage Festival (Chuba Tsechi)
- Tibetan Calendar Date: June 4
- Estimated Gregorian Date 2026/07/17
During this sacred pilgrimage, believers carry provisions and climb holy mountains, chanting prayers to honor nature and the divine. In some regions, mountain worship ceremonies are also held, creating a solemn and awe-inspiring atmosphere.
6.Shoton Festival (Opera & Yogurt Festival)
- Tibetan Calendar Date: June 30–July 5
- Estimated Gregorian date.. August 12, 2026 (main day)
Also known as the Yogurt Festival, this event begins with the grand unveiling of a giant Buddha thangka at Drepung Monastery, followed by Tibetan opera performances and butter banquets throughout Lhasa. It is one of the liveliest summer celebrations in Tibet.
7.Bathing Festival (Gamariji)
- Tibetan Calendar Date: Early July
- Estimated Gregorian Date Around mid to late August 2026
According to legend, heavenly deities descend to sprinkle nectar upon the earth. People bathe, wash clothes, and cleanse themselves by the riverside — symbolizing the washing away of illness and troubles from the past year, and welcoming a new season of peace and health.
8.Lamp Lighting Festival (Ganden Ngamchoe)
- Tibetan Calendar Date: October 25
- Estimated Gregorian date.. 2026/11/04
This festival commemorates the Parinirvana of Master Tsongkhapa. As night falls, Ganden Monastery and homes across Tibet are illuminated with countless butter lamps — symbolizing the light of wisdom and compassion shining upon the world.
9.Exorcism Festival (Gutor Night)
- Tibetan Calendar Date: December 29
- Estimated Gregorian date.. January 6, 2027
On the eve of the Tibetan New Year, families hold the “Guthuk” ceremony — eating nine-ingredient soup, driving away evil spirits, and welcoming good fortune. The ritual symbolizes cleansing away the old to usher in the new, followed by the celebration of Losar, the Tibetan New Year, the next day.
Based on the Tibetan calendar. Dates may vary slightly due to lunar adjustments.
3.Religious Festivals in Tibet (Ceremonies & Prayer Assemblies)
Tibetan festivals are deeply intertwined with nature. From spring mountain prayers for a good harvest to summer horse racing events, each celebration reflects gratitude toward heaven and earth, and blessings for a harmonious life.
| Festival Name | Tibetan Calendar Date | Estimated Gregorian Date | Festival Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Festival | The first day of the third month of the Tibetan calendar | Approximately early April 2026 | Originating from ancient hunting traditions, it has evolved into a popular competitive festival. |
| Mountain Festival | The sixth day of the third month of the Tibetan calendar | About mid-April 2026 | Honoring the mountain deity and praying for favorable weather, peace, and safety for all beings. |
| Bird-Welcoming Festival | The 15th day of the 3rd month of the Tibetan calendar | Approx. late April 2026 | Symbolizing good fortune through birds, the festival welcomes blessings and prays for a bountiful harvest.. |
| Nyangnai Festival (April Assembly) | The 14th day of the 4th month of the Tibetan calendar | Approx. end of May 2026 | Commemorating the Buddha’s enlightenment by chanting the Six-Syllable Mantra to accumulate merit and blessings. |
| Sangye Menlha Festival | The fifth day of the fifth month of the Tibetan calendar | About mid-June 2026 | During the Medicine King Festival, people go to the mountains to collect medicines and pray for health and safety. |
| Xianglang Festival (Gannan) | The sixth day of the sixth month of the Tibetan calendar | Approximately early July 2026 | The festival originated from the tradition of firewood collection and has now become a national picnic festival. |
| Rinka Festival (Incense Burning Festival) | The 15th day of the 5th month of the Tibetan calendar | Approx. late June 2026 | People burned incense in the forest and paraded through the park, symbolizing happiness and a good harvest. |
| Northern Tibet Horse Racing Festival | The sixth month of the Tibetan calendar | Approx. July-August 2026 | The grassland horse race is the hottest summer festival in northern Tibet. |
| Ya'an Cultural Festival | 15th day of the 8th month of the Tibetan calendar | Approx. mid-September 2026 | Exhibits the human origins of Tibet and the cultural landscape of Shannan. |
Based on the Tibetan calendar. Dates may vary slightly due to lunar adjustments.
4.Regional & Seasonal Festivals in Tibet (Local Cultural Events)
In addition to the well-known festivals, there are many local celebrations throughout Tibet, most of which are closely related to agricultural and pastoral life, and are also popular themes for photography and cultural tourism.
| Festival Name | Tibetan Calendar Date | Estimated Gregorian Date | Festival Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kangding Jockey Club | 18th day of the 5th month of the Tibetan calendar | Approx. end of June 2026 | An annual event in the Sichuan-Tibet region combining song, dance and trade. |
| Ox King Festival | The eighth day of the sixth month of the Tibetan calendar | Approximately early July 2026 | Sacrifice to the God of Cattle to give thanks for a good harvest and to pray for the prosperity of the animals and the well-being of the people. |
| Lanzarge Festival | The fourth day of the fifth month of the Tibetan calendar | About mid-June 2026 | A pastoral summer festival showcasing traditional songs, dances and competitions. |
| Pabong Tangkol Festival | Tibetan Summer | Approximately summer 2026 | Ancient Kadam Puja, an important Buddhist event around Lhasa. |
| Tingri Horse Racing Festival | The Tibetan calendar has three times a year (spring, summer, and fall). | About spring, summer, and fall, once each. | A traditional herdsmen's horse racing event in Tingri. |
| Winter Puja (Qiangm Festival) | November 23rd to 29th in the Tibetan calendar | Approx. December 2026 | Monks wear masks and perform a sacred dance to pray for peace and prosperity in the coming year. |
Based on the Tibetan calendar. Dates may vary slightly due to lunar adjustments.
5.Understanding Tibet’s Spiritual Rhythm Through Its Festivals
Tibetan festivals are not merely markers of time, but living expressions of faith.
From the New Year’s celebrations of Losar to the light-filled Ganden Ngamchoe, from solemn prayer assemblies to vibrant horse races on the grasslands — every festival reflects the Tibetan people’s deep reverence for nature and their enduring love for life.
If you’re planning to visit Tibet in 2026, consider arranging your trip around the festival calendar.
Embark on a soulful journey that flows with Tibet’s festivals.
