Ladakh Monastic Festivals (2026–2027): Dates, Places, and What You’ll Witness
Monastic festivals in Ladakh are not “shows.” They are living, devotional days—when sacred masked dances (Cham), drums, horns, and prayers
fill old courtyards, and the high desert air seems to carry a deeper rhythm. If you time your trip well, a single festival morning can become
the emotional center of your journey.
Download the full Festival Calendar PDF (2026–2028)
Download Festival Calendar (PDF)
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Below is a clean, traveler-friendly summary of the 2026 and 2027 dates, with locations and quick notes on the atmosphere.
| Festival | Location | Dates (2026) | Dates (2027) | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spituk Gustor | Spituk Monastery | 16–17 Jan | 05–06 Jan | A classic winter Gustor—vivid Cham dances and chanting. |
| Dosmochey | Leh, Likir, Diskit | 15–16 Feb | 04–05 Feb | Purification rituals—strong community energy in Leh. |
| Yargon Tungshak | Yarma Monastery | 03–04 Mar | 10–11 Feb | A lively two-day festival with Cham, prayers, and local warmth. |
| Matho Nagrang | Matho Monastery | 02–03 Mar | 19–20 Feb | Famous for its oracles—intense, unforgettable atmosphere. |
| Stok Guru Tsechu | Stok Palace & Monastery | 08–09 Mar | 15–16 Feb | Mystic and ceremonial—known for prophecy and tradition. |
| Shey Doo Lhoo | Shey Monastery | 18 Mar | (Date announced closer to season) | A spring threshold—prayers for a good harvest, village mood. |
| Saka Dawa | All over Ladakh | 31 May | 18 Jun | The holiest Buddhist month—quiet devotion, offerings, lamps. |
| Sindhu Darshan | Near Shey Village | June (dates announced closer to season) | June (dates announced closer to season) | A river celebration—community gatherings and cultural harmony. |
| Phyang Tserup | Phyang Monastery | 12–13 Jul | 30–31 Jul | A village-and-monastery gathering—prayers, blessings, dance. |
| Karsha Gustor | Karsha Monastery, Zanskar | 12–13 Jul | 31 Jul – 01 Aug | Zanskar’s grand scale—color, rhythm, and mountain air. |
| Korzok Gustor | Korzok Monastery (Tso Moriri) | 17–18 Jul | 05–06 Aug | High-altitude magic—Cham dances beside a sapphire lake. |
| Takthok Tsechu | Takthok Monastery | 24–25 Jul | 11–12 Aug | Held at a cave monastery—deeply devotional, powerful chants. |
| Sani Naro Nasjal | Sani Monastery, Zanskar | 28–29 Jul | 16–17 Aug | An ancient Zanskar celebration—communal, grounded, joyful. |
| Tingang Tserkarmo | Tserkarmo Monastery, Tingmosgang | (Date announced closer to season) | 17 Aug | Traditional dances and local gathering—warm and intimate. |
| Ladakh Festival | Leh Town | 21–24 Sep | 21–24 Sep | Music, dance, craft—an easy way to feel Ladakh in one place. |
| Diskit Gustor | Diskit Monastery | 08–09 Oct | 27–28 Oct | Nubra’s signature Gustor—Cham dances and prayers for peace. |
| Nyoma Gustor | Nyoma Monastery | (Date announced closer to season) | 27–28 Oct | A remote, open-sky festival—quiet power and wide horizons. |
| Thiksey Gustor | Thiksey Monastery | 28–29 Oct | 16–17 Nov | A dramatic monastery setting—ritual and spectacle, perfectly balanced. |
| Chemrey Wangchok | Chemrey Monastery | 07–08 Nov | 25–26 Nov | A grand gathering—chants, prayers, and the glow of late autumn. |
| Galdan Namchot | All over Ladakh | 03 Dec | 22 Dec | Lamps everywhere—homes and monasteries glowing in winter night. |
| Ladakhi Losar (New Year) | All over Ladakh | 09 Dec | 28 Dec | Feasts, dances, and blessings—an intimate, family-filled season. |
Festival Etiquette: A Few Simple Do’s & Don’ts
Do
- Dress modestly (cover shoulders and knees).
- Ask permission before photographing people or rituals.
- Respect restricted areas and keep a quiet, observant presence.
- Walk clockwise around prayer wheels and sacred structures.
- Use designated bins and follow posted rules.
Don’t
- Interrupt private rituals or step into performance spaces.
- Use flash photography inside monasteries.
- Touch sacred items or disturb prayer flags and offerings.
- Climb on monuments, stupas, or religious structures.
- Mark, deface, or remove anything from heritage sites.
Join a Festival Journey with LIFE on the PLANET LADAKH
If you want to plan your trip around one of these festival days, we can also organize festival-focused journeys—designed with calm pacing,
comfortable logistics, and enough time to truly feel the ceremony (not just “tick it off”).
When you contact us, please include:
- Your preferred festival(s)
- Your travel dates (exact dates, or a flexible range)
- Number of participants
Share your dates and group size, and we will suggest the best festival match—along with a clean, well-paced itinerary to fit the season.
