About Festivals in Nepal
Nepal’s vibrant festivals in 2025, 2026, and 2027 offer travelers a unique cultural adventure. With more yearly celebrations than almost any other nation, Nepal blends Hindu, Buddhist, and Newari traditions, often punctuated by political strikes that leave you wondering how anything gets done.
For tourists planning to travel to Nepal, this guide to Nepal festivals 2025-2027 is essential. Why? 1) These events are fantastic and fun to experience. 2) Shops and services might close for a day or two. Check the festival dates below to plan your trip around these incredible celebrations!
Table of Contents
- Losar (Jan/Feb)
- Shivaratri (Feb)
- Holi (Mar)
- Bisket Jatra (Apr)
- Buddha Jayanti (Apr/May)
- Ropain (Jun/Jul)
- Janai Purnima & Gai Jatra (Aug)
- Teej, Yenya & Ganesh Chaturthi (Aug/Sep)
- Dashain & Tihar (Oct/Nov)
- Chhath Parva (Oct/Nov)
- Christmas & New Year (Dec)
Did you know?
Nepal’s diverse ethnic groups mean some festivals, like Losar or Gai Jatra, are regional or vary by date.
Festival dates in Nepal for 2025-2027 shift yearly due to lunar and Nepali calendar systems—check back before your trip!
Losar Festival in Nepal: January/February 2025-2027
| Event: Losar (Tibetan New Year) | Date: 17th February 2025 / 6th February 2026 / 26th January 2027 | Location: Boudhanath / Nationwide |
Experience Losar 2025-2027Celebrate Losar 2025 in Nepal over three days, starting the day before Tibetan New Year’s Eve. Monasteries host colorful rituals and dances.
See more Losar dancers in Nepal. |
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Shivaratri Festival in Nepal: February 2025-2027
| Event: Shivaratri | Date: 15th February 2025 / 5th February 2026 / 24th February 2027 | Location: Pashupatinath |
Where to See Shivaratri 2025Shivaratri 2025-2027 honors Lord Shiva with huge crowds at Pashupatinath. Sadhus make pilgrimages, and hashish is legal this day only.
Read about Shivaratri in Nepal & Sadhus in Nepal. |
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Holi Festival in Nepal: March 2025-2027
| Event: Holi | Date: 13th March 2025 / 2nd March 2026 / 22nd March 2027 | Location: Nationwide |
Celebrate Holi 2025 in NepalHoli, the "Festival of Colors," is a top Nepal festival in 2025-2027. Expect colored powder and water nationwide.
Learn to enjoy Holi in Nepal & Holi experiences. |
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Bisket Jatra / Nepali New Year: April 2025-2027
| Event: Bisket Jatra / Navavarsha (Nepali New Year) | Date: 13th April 2025 / 14th April 2026 / 13th April 2027 | Location: Nationwide / Bhaktapur |
Bisket Jatra 2025 HighlightsNepali New Year 2025-2027 (Bikram Sambat 2082-2084) is low-key nationwide but grand in Bhaktapur.
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Buddha Jayanti in Nepal: April/May 2025-2027
| Event: Buddha Jayanti (Buddha's Birthday) | Date: 4th May 2025 / 23rd May 2026 / 12th May 2027 | Location: Nationwide |
Buddha Jayanti 2025 TipsBuddha’s Birthday 2025-2027 sees processions nationwide.
Explore Lumbini travel guide. |
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Ropain Festival in Nepal: June/July 2025-2027
| Event: Ropain (Rice Planting Festival) | Date: 29th June 2025 / TBD June 2026 / TBD June 2027 | Location: Nationwide |
Join Ropain 2025Ropain 2025-2027 marks the monsoon rice planting season.
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Janai Purnima & Gai Jatra in Nepal: August 2025-2027
| Event: Janai Purnima | Date: 8th August 2025 / 28th August 2026 / 17th August 2027 | Location: Kathmandu |
Janai Purnima 2025 DetailsThe "Sacred Thread Festival" welcomes young men into manhood.
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| Event: Gai Jatra | Date: 9th August 2025 / 29th August 2026 / 18th August 2027 | Location: Kathmandu |
Gai Jatra 2025 HighlightsThe "Festival of Cows" brings colorful processions and humor.
Read about Gai Jatra and Gai Jatra in Bhaktapur. |
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Teej, Yenya & Ganesh Chaturthi in Nepal: August/September 2025-2027
| Event: Teej | Date: 26th August 2025 / 15th September 2026 / 4th September 2027 | Location: Kathmandu |
Teej 2025 ExperienceTeej, the "Festival of Women," features fasting and red costumes.
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| Event: Yenya (Indra Jatra & Kumari Jatra) | Date: 5th September 2025 / 25th September 2026 / 14th September 2027 | Location: Kathmandu |
Yenya 2025 HighlightsYenya, Kathmandu’s biggest festival, includes Indra Jatra dances and Kumari Jatra processions.
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| Event: Ganesh Chaturthi | Date: 25th August 2025 / 14th September 2026 / 3rd September 2027 | Location: Kathmandu |
Ganesh Chaturthi 2025Ganesh Chaturthi honors Ganesh with morning blessings.
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Dashain & Tihar in Nepal: October/November 2025-2027
| Event: Dashain | Date: 20th October 2025 / 10th October 2026 / 29th October 2027 | Location: Nationwide |
Dashain 2025 Travel TipsDashain 2025-2027 celebrates Durga’s victory with family reunions and kite-flying.
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| Event: Tihar/Newari New Year | Date: 9th November 2025 / 29th October 2026 / 18th November 2027* | Location: Nationwide |
Tihar 2025 HighlightsTihar 2025-2027, the "Festival of Lights," spans 3-5 days with candles and animal celebrations.
Plan your Tihar 2025 visit with daily guides. |
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Chhath Parva in Nepal: October/November 2025-2027
| Event: Chhath Parva | Date: 11th November 2025 / 1st November 2026 / 20th November 2027 | Location: Janakpur/Kathmandu |
Chhath Parva 2025Chhath Parva 2025-2027 honors the sun god with chants and candles over four days.
See Chhath photos. |
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Christmas & New Year in Nepal: December 2025-2027
| Event: Christmas | Date: 25th December 2025 / 25th December 2026 / 25th December 2027 | Location: Nationwide |
Christmas 2025 in NepalChristmas 2025-2027 is low-key, with decorations in tourist areas.
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| Event: New Years | Date: 31st December 2025 - 1st January 2026 / 31st December 2026 - 1st January 2027 / 31st December 2027 - 1st January 2028 | Location: Nationwide |
New Year 2025-2026New Year’s Eve 2025-2027 picks up with parties in Pokhara and Thamel.
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When is Nepali New Year 2025-2027?
Nepali New Year (Bisket Jatra / Navavarsha) follows the Bikram Sambat calendar, 56.7 years ahead of the Gregorian.
- 2025: 13th April (2082)
- 2026: 14th April (2083)
- 2027: 13th April (2084)
Best celebrated in Bhaktapur.
Other Festivals in Nepal 2025-2027
Beyond these, Nepal hosts smaller regional festivals. See my Nepal guidebook for more.
Why Do Nepal Festival Dates Change?
Many Nepal festivals 2025-2027 are lunar-based, shifting annually. Dates marked with * span multiple days—check specifics closer to your trip!
Travel Tip: Nepal stays open for tourists year-round, even during festivals. Plan around crowds in cities like Kathmandu.
Top Festivals: Shivaratri, Holi, Tihar, and Losar.
Nepal Festival Dates 2025-2027 Summary
| Festival | 2025 Date | 2026 Date | 2027 Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Losar | 17th Feb | 6th Feb | 26th Jan | Boudhanath |
| Shivaratri | 15th Feb | 5th Feb | 24th Feb | Pashupatinath |
| Holi | 13th Mar | 2nd Mar | 22nd Mar | Nationwide |
| Bisket Jatra | 13th Apr | 14th Apr | 13th Apr | Bhaktapur |
| Buddha Jayanti | 4th May | 23rd May | 12th May | Nationwide |
| Ropain | 29th Jun | TBD Jun | TBD Jun | Nationwide |
| Janai Purnima | 8th Aug | 28th Aug | 17th Aug | Kathmandu |
| Gai Jatra | 9th Aug | 29th Aug | 18th Aug | Kathmandu |
| Teej | 26th Aug | 15th Sep | 4th Sep | Kathmandu |
| Yenya | 5th Sep | 25th Sep | 14th Sep | Kathmandu |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | 25th Aug | 14th Sep | 3rd Sep | Kathmandu |
| Dashain | 20th Oct | 10th Oct | 29th Oct | Nationwide |
| Tihar | 9th Nov | 29th Oct | 18th Nov | Nationwide |
| Chhath Parva | 11th Nov | 1st Nov | 20th Nov | Janakpur |
| Christmas | 25th Dec | 25th Dec | 25th Dec | Nationwide |
| New Years | 31st Dec | 31st Dec | 31st Dec | Nationwide |
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Liked this page? You'll love my books!
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