Tshechus are Bhutan's great religious festivals, held in dzong and temple courtyards to honour Guru Rinpoche. Whole communities gather in their finest gho and kira to watch sacred mask dances that bless all who see them. Dates follow the Bhutanese lunar calendar, so they change every year. Here are the dates for 2026 and 2027.
Coming up
11 Nov 2026
13 Dec 2026
13–15 Feb 2027
20 Feb 2027
Major festivals
Rinpung Dzong, Paro
Bhutan's best-loved spring festival, held at Rinpung Dzong since the 17th century. Before sunrise on the final morning a giant thongdrel of Guru Rinpoche is unfurled. Seeing it is said to cleanse a lifetime of sins.
Next: 18–22 Mar 2027
Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu
The capital's great autumn festival: three days of mask dances in the courtyard of Tashichho Dzong, watched by crowds in their finest gho and kira, with atsara clowns keeping everyone laughing.
Next: 10–12 Oct 2027
Punakha Dzong
Unlike other festivals, the Drubchen re-enacts the 17th-century defence of Bhutan against Tibetan forces, with local men playing the pazap warriors, followed straight after by the Punakha Tshechu.
Next: 13–15 Feb 2027
Jambay Lhakhang, Bumthang
Held at one of Bhutan's oldest temples, built in the 7th century, and known for its midnight fire blessing (mewang) and sacred night-time dances.
Next: 14–17 Nov 2027
Gangtey Goenpa, Phobjikha
A one-day celebration on 11 November of the endangered black-necked cranes that winter in the Phobjikha valley, with crane dances by local children and a conservation message.
Next: 11 Nov 2026
Ura village, Bumthang
A village festival built around a sacred relic said to have been left by a wandering lama; the statue is carried out and displayed for blessings, with dances in the lanes of Ura.
Next: 18–22 Apr 2027
Dangochang, below Jomolhari
A two-day highland festival at the foot of Jomolhari celebrating yak-herder culture and the snow leopard, with songs, dances and local produce. Best combined with a trek.
Next: 14–15 Oct 2027
Laya, Gasa
Held in Laya, one of Bhutan's highest villages, celebrating highland life with yak shows, horse races, songs and dances.
Next: 23–24 Oct 2027
Dochula Pass
Performed by the Royal Bhutan Army every 13 December at Dochula, with the Himalayas as a backdrop, a festival honouring the armed forces.
Next: 13 Dec 2026
Chorten Kora, Trashi Yangtse
Pilgrims from eastern Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh circle a great 18th-century stupa modelled on Boudhanath in Nepal.
Next: 20 Feb 2027
Gomphu Kora, near Trashigang
An eastern festival at the cave temple where Guru Rinpoche meditated; the circumambulation of the rock goes on through the night.
Next: 16–18 Mar 2027
Royal Botanical Park, Lamperi
Spring's arrival celebrated among more than 40 species of rhododendron below Dochula, with food stalls, crafts and cultural shows.
Next: 22–23 Apr 2027
Full calendar
Dates follow the lunar calendar and are published yearly by Bhutan's Department of Tourism; we confirm them with you before booking. Going to one? Read our festival etiquette and dress code first.
Bhutan festival FAQs
Still wondering about something? Ask our Thimphu team directly. We're happy to help.
Ask us on WhatsAppA Tshechu ('tenth day') is a religious festival held in a dzong or temple courtyard to honour Guru Rinpoche, usually on the tenth day of a lunar month. Monks and laymen perform sacred mask dances (cham) that are believed to bless everyone who watches, and many end with the dawn unveiling of a giant thongdrel.
The next Paro Tshechu is 18–22 Mar 2027, based on the current lunar calendar. The Department of Tourism confirms dates each year, and we confirm them before you book.
The next Thimphu Tshechu is 10–12 Oct 2027. Some calendars list slightly different dates, so we confirm them with the Department of Tourism before you book.
The tradition traces back to Guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century and in whose honour Tshechus are held. Many of the dances performed today were composed by the treasure-revealer Pema Lingpa, and the festivals were formalised in the dzongs under Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in the 17th century.
Paro Tshechu, in spring, is set against a smaller dzong courtyard and ends with the dawn unveiling of a giant thongdrel. Thimphu Tshechu, in autumn, is bigger and livelier, with the capital's crowds and usually clearer mountain weather. Both are wonderful; choose by season.
The major festivals in 2026 include Punakha Drubchen (24–26 Feb 2026), Punakha Tshechu (27–28 Feb 2026), Chorten Kora (5–19 Mar 2026), Gomphu Kora (26–28 Mar 2026), Paro Tshechu (29 Mar – 2 Apr 2026), Rhododendron Festival (13–14 Apr 2026), Ura Yakchoe (28 Apr – 2 May 2026), Thimphu Tshechu (21–23 Sep 2026), Jomolhari Mountain Festival (14–15 Oct 2026), Royal Highland Festival (23–24 Oct 2026), Jambay Lhakhang Drup (26–29 Oct 2026), Black-necked Crane Festival (11 Nov 2026), Druk Wangyel Tshechu (13 Dec 2026). See the full calendar above for every date.
No. Tshechus are free and open to everyone. You simply attend with your guide as part of your tour. Some hotels charge festival-season supplements, and Paro and Thimphu get busy, so book early.
Modest clothing with long sleeves and long trousers or skirts. Many visitors love wearing a gho or kira for the day, which we can help arrange.
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