Sacred Celebrations
Bhutan Tshechu Festival Calendar 2026
Bhutan's tshechu festivals are not performances staged for tourists — they are living rituals, centuries old, where masked dancers embody deities, demons are vanquished, and entire communities gather to receive blessings that will sustain them until the next festival comes around.
The word tshechu means "tenth day" — most festivals are held on the tenth day of a month in the Bhutanese lunar calendar. Each dzong and monastery has its own tshechu, featuring elaborate mask dances (cham) performed by monks and laymen in vivid costumes. For travelers, attending a tshechu is one of the most profound and unforgettable experiences Bhutan has to offer.
2026 Festival Calendar
| Festival | Location | Date (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Korphu Drubchen Festival | Korphu village, Trongsa | 01 January – 05 January |
| Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Nabji village, Trongsa | 02 January – 06 January |
| Palden Lhamoi Drupchen/Festival of Mahakali | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | 23 February – 25 February |
| Punakha Dromchoe | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 24 February – 26 February |
| Trashi Yangtse Tshechu | Trashi Yangtse - New Dzong | 24 February – 26 February |
| Punakha Tshechu | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 27 February – 01 March |
| Tharpaling Thongdrol | Tharpaling Lhakhang, Chumi, Bumthang | 03 March |
| Chorten Kora | Chorten Kora, Trashi Yangtse | 03 March & 19 March |
| Tangsibi Mani Tshechu | Tangsibi Dechenling Lhakhang, Ura, Bumthang | 04 March – 06 March |
| Buli Mani Tshechu | Buli Lhakhang, Chhume, Bumthang | 04 March – 06 March |
| Gomphu Kora Tshechu | Gom Kora Lhakhang, Trashigang | 26 March – 28 March |
| Talo Tshechu | Talo Monastery, Punakha | 26 March – 28 March |
| Gasa Tshechu | Gasa Dzong, Gasa | 26 March – 28 March |
| Zhemgang Tshechu | Zhemgang Dzong, Zhemgang | 26 March – 28 March |
| Paro Tshechu | Paro Rinpung Dzong, Paro | 29 March – 02 April (Thongdrel on the last day) |
| Dzongdra Tshechu | Dzongdra Lhakhang, Paro | 01 April – 02 April |
| Domkhar Tshechu | Domkhar, Chhume, Bumthang | 26 April – 28 April |
| Ura Yakchoe Tshechu | Ura Lhakhang, Ura, Bumthang | 28 April – 02 May |
| Petsheling Kuchod | Petsheling Kuchod Monastery, Choekhor, Bumthang | 04 June – 06 June |
| Nimalung Tshechu | Nimalung Dratshang, Chhume, Bumthang | 22 June – 24 June |
| Kurjey Tshechu | Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 24 June |
| Dorlung Mani Tshechu | Dorlung monastery | 13 August |
| Wangdue Tshechu | Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, Wangdue Phodrang | 19 September – 21 September |
| Haa Tshechu | Haa | 19 September – 21 September |
| Thimphu Tshechu | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 21 September – 23 September |
| Tamshing Phala Chhoepa Tshechu | Tamshing Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 21 September – 23 September |
| Gangtey Tshechu | Gangtey Monastery, Phobjikha, Wangduephodrang | 24 September – 26 September (Thongdrel on the last day) |
| Thangbi Mani Tshechu | Thangbi Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 25 September – 27 September |
| Chhukha Tshechu | Chhukha Dzong, Chhukha | 19 October – 21 October |
| Jakar Tshechu | Jakar Dzong, Choekhor, Bumthang | 18 October – 21 October |
| Dechenphu Tshechu | Dechenphu Lhakhang,Thimphu | 21 October |
| Royal Highland Festival | Laya, Gasa | 23 October – 24 October |
| Changangkha Tshechu | Changangkha Lhakhang, Thimphu | 25 October |
| Jambay Lhakhang Drup Tshechu | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 26 October (evening) - 29 October |
| Traakar Duchhoed | Traakar Khakhang, Chumni, Bumthang | 27 October – 29 October |
| Prakhar Duchhoed Tshechu | Prakar Khakhang, Chhume, Bumthang | 27 October – 29 October |
| Black Necked Crane Festival | Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, Wangduephodrang | 11 November |
| Mongar Tshechu | Mongar Dzong, Mongar | 17 November – 19 November |
| Yeshey Goenpoi Drubchen/Festival of Mahakala | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | 14 November – 16 November |
| Nalakhar Tshechu | Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 24 November – 26 November |
| Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 24 November |
| Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | 18 December – 21 December (Thongdrel on the last day) |
| Lhuentse Tshechu | Lhuentse Dzong, Lhuentse | 17 December – 21 December (Thongdrel on the last day) |
| Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang | 18 November – 20 November |
| Samdrupjongkhar Tshechu | Samdrupjongkhar | 22 December – 24 December |
| Korphu Drubchen Festival | Korphu village, Trongsa | 22 December – 26 December |
| Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Nabji village, Trongsa | 23 December – 27 December |