Festivals
There are numerous grand festivals held in Tibet every year, such as Tibetan New Year, Shoton Festival, Saga Dawa Festival... During the holidays in Tibet, it is the best time for tourists to experience Tibetan culture.
The main Tibetan festivals have strong religious characteristics. No matter what kind of festivals, they are closely related to Tibetan Buddhism. Activities such as pilgrimage, sacrificial offerings, prayers, and unfolding Buddhism images have penetrated into various holidays in Tibet. Nowadays, with the progress of the times and the continuous development of Tibet's tourism industry, the entertainment component of Tibetan holidays is becoming more and more intense. But no matter how it changes, during the festival, it's the best time to explore local traditions and customs. See also Tibetan festivals and events.
Check the following Tibetan festival calendar and start your dreamy festival tours of Tibet!
Great Tibet Tour sorted out the new calendar of 2020 Tibetan festivals
| Tibetan Festivals | Tibetan Calendar | 2020 Solar Calendar | 2019 Solar Calendar | 2018 Solar Calendar | Active Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tibetan New Year/Losar Festival (The most important one) |
Jan 01 | Feb 24 | Feb 05 | Feb 16 | TAR |
| Butter Lamp Festival | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Feb 19 | Mar 02 | Jokhang Temple |
| Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival | Between Jan. and Feb. | Mar 20 | Mid-mar to early Apr. | Mar 25 | Nyingchi |
| Tsurphu Cham Dance Festival | Apr 10 | Jun 02 | Jun 12 | May 24 | Tsurphu Monastery |
|
Saga Dawa Festival (The holiest one) |
Apr 15 | Jun 15 | Jun 17 | May 29 | TAR |
| Tashilhunpo Thangka Festival | May 14 to 16 | Jul 04 | Jul 14 to Jul 16 | Jun 26 | Tashilhunpo Monastery |
| Samye Dolde (Samye Festival/Zamling Chisang) | May 14 | Jul 04 | / | / | Samye Monastery |
| Chokor Duchen Festival | Jun 04 | Not yet issued | Aug 04 | Jul 16 | TAR |
| Gyangtse Horse Racing Festival(Gyantse Damar Festival) | Apr 19 | Jul 20 | Jul 20 | Jul 20 | Gyangtse |
| Ganden Thangka Festival | Jun 15 | Jul 29 | Aug 15 | Jul 27 | Gandan Monastery |
| Nagqu Horse Racing Festival | / | Aug 10 | Aug 10 | Aug 10 | Nagqu |
|
Shoton Festival (The most popular one) |
Jul 01 | Aug 20 | Aug 30 | Aug 11 | TAR |
| Drak Yerpa Thangka Festival | Jul 10 | / | Sept 08 | Aug 20 | Drak Yerpa |
| Damxung Horse Racing Festival | Jul 10 to Jul 12 | Aug 08 | Aug 20 | Aug 20 | Damxung |
| Bathing Festival | Jul 08 | Aug 26 | Sep 04 to Sep 10 | Sept 16 | TAR |
| Ongkor Festival | Between Jul. and Aug. | Jul 22 | End of Sept | End of Sept | TAR |
| Buddha's Descent Day(Lhabab Duchen) | Sept 22 | Nov 07 | Nov 19 | Oct 31 | TAR |
| Tibetan New Year in Kongbo Area | Oct 01 | Nov 16 | Nov 27 | Nov 07 | Nyingchi |
| Palden Lhamo Festival | Oct 15 | Not yet issued | Nov 23 | Nov 23 | Lhasa |
| Butter Lantern Festival | Oct 25 | Dec 10 | Dec 21 | Dec 02 | Lhasa |
