Kangra Valley Carnival 2026 in Dharamshala: Dates, Venue, Events and Where to Stay

Short answer: The Kangra Valley Carnival 2026 has been announced for 24 to 31 December 2026 in Dharamshala. Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa gave these dates at a preparations meeting reported by UNI on 30 September 2026, with an opening concert proposed at the Dharamshala cricket stadium. As of 26 October 2026, no programme, artist line-up, venue plan or entry details have been published. Last year the carnival ran 24 to 31 December 2025 at the Police Ground in lower Dharamshala, with eight evenings of music, a marathon, a drone show and a crafts and millets bazaar.

The carnival is the Kangra district administration's own winter festival, and it now lands in the Christmas and New Year week, when Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj are at their busiest. This guide sets out what is confirmed for the Dharamshala carnival 2026, what happened at past editions, and how to plan around it. We checked every fact against news reports and the district website on 26 October 2026 and will update this page as the programme comes out.

Kangra Valley Carnival 2026: Quick Facts

What is the Kangra Valley Carnival?

It is a district-level festival of music, culture, food and sport, run by the Kangra district administration in Dharamshala to promote tourism and give a stage to local artists, artisans and self-help groups. Former Mayor Devinder Jaggi told The Tribune in December 2025 that the carnival "has got the official status, courtesy the Chief Minister", and The Tribune described its aim as making Kangra "the tourism capital of the state".

In the 2025 edition, the programme mixed:

• Evening concerts by Bollywood, Punjabi and Himachali artists
• A procession (shobha yatra) of folk troupes in traditional dress on the opening day
• Sport: the Dharamshala Marathon, a cycle ride, and cricket and football matches
• Drone show, fireworks and hot air balloons
• A Millets Festival and a craft bazaar with stalls for local artisans, women and youth groups
• Live-streaming of events on social media

Do not mix it up with the Shimla Winter Carnival, a separate event held in Shimla.

When is the Kangra Valley Carnival 2026?

24 to 31 December 2026, as announced. On 30 September 2026, UNI reported from Dharamsala that the Deputy Commissioner had chaired a review meeting, said the carnival would be held from December 24 to 31, and asked all departments to begin preparations early for the week-long event. A concert at the Dharamshala cricket stadium was proposed for the inauguration, and other programmes with visiting dignitaries were also planned.

Treat these as the announced dates rather than a fixed schedule. In 2025 the dates moved once: in November 2025 the administration said 21 to 25 December (The Tribune, 13 Nov 2025), and the carnival actually ran 24 to 31 December. We will update this page when the district publishes the 2026 programme.

What happened at past editions?

The carnival has moved around the calendar. It became a Christmas-week event only in 2025, and The Tribune reported in December 2025 that it is being envisioned as "an annual calendar event beginning every Christmas".

The district website lists the 2025 edition as running from 24 December 2025 to 10 January 2026, longer than the news reports. We could not confirm what continued after 31 December.

The 2025 programme, day by day

From Hill Post (25 December 2025) and The Tribune (20 December 2025):

The marathon had 3 km, 5 km, 10 km, half and full marathon categories in 2025 (The Tribune, 3 Dec 2025). Whether it returns in 2026 has not been announced.

Is the carnival the same as the Dussehra mela at the Police Ground?

No. Both use the Police Ground (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Police Ground) in Jawahar Nagar, lower Dharamshala, which is why people confuse them.

For the October festival, read our Dussehra at the Police Ground guide. For everything on this winter, see the events page and our festivals and events calendar.

How do I reach the carnival from McLeod Ganj and Kotwali Bazaar?

The Police Ground is in the lower town, not in McLeod Ganj.

Parking and traffic: no 2026 traffic plan has been published. The Christmas and New Year week is the busiest of winter, and the town roads are narrow, so a taxi is easier than driving yourself.

Where should I stay for the carnival?

Rooms for 24 December to 1 January fill early every year, carnival or not. Read where to stay in Dharamshala and book as soon as your dates are fixed.

Christmas and New Year around the carnival

The carnival overlaps with Christmas and New Year's Eve, so you can combine them:

• Christmas: for church services, cafes and the holiday week up the hill, see Christmas and New Year in Dharamshala.
• New Year's Eve: the 2025 carnival ended with fireworks on 31 December. For parties in McLeod Ganj and Dharamkot, read New Year in McLeod Ganj and see our New Year parties page.
• Weather and snow: late December is cold, with snow possible higher up but never guaranteed. See Dharamshala in December and January, McLeod Ganj in December and our Himachal snowfall tracker.
• A winter walk: day hikes such as Triund are possible in clear weather; check treks and current rules before you go.

Tips for the Kangra Valley Carnival 2026

1. Book rooms now for the Christmas and New Year week; do not wait for the line-up.
2. Wait for the official programme before booking travel around a single concert. Dates moved once in 2025.
3. Dress for a cold evening outdoors. Shows run after dark on an open ground.
4. Fix your ride home before the evening show, especially if you stay in McLeod Ganj, Bhagsu or Dharamkot.
5. Follow the district administration and local news (The Tribune, Hill Post, UNI) for artist and venue announcements.

What is confirmed and what is not (26 October 2026)

We will update this guide as soon as the 2026 programme is published. For other winter plans, see the events page.