Discover the Magic of Bhutan: Festivals Calendar 2025
Step into a land of living tradition, sacred rituals, and vibrant celebration with the Bhutan Festivals Calendar 2025. Known as the last Vajrayana Buddhist kingdom, Bhutan offers a truly spiritual and cultural immersion through its spectacular festivals, held across majestic monasteries and ancient dzongs throughout the year.
Festivals in Bhutan 2025 are more than just events - they are sacred gatherings filled with masked dances, spiritual chants, and dramatic reenactments of Buddhist legends. Locals and travelers alike dress in their finest traditional attire to celebrate these moments of devotion, community, and joy. From the vibrant Paro Tshechu in spring to the grand Thimphu Tshechu in autumn, the Bhutan Festivals Calendar 2025 is packed with opportunities to witness the country’s deep spiritual heritage and unique cultural identity. Whether you’re seeking a once-in-a-lifetime cultural journey or an enriching travel experience, Bhutan festivals 2025 offer an unforgettable window into the soul of the kingdom.
Many Bhutan tours are designed specifically around these festival dates, allowing travelers to combine scenic journeys with immersive cultural experiences. These tours take you beyond sightseeing, connecting you with local traditions, ancient temples, and the peaceful rhythms of monastic life. Plan your trip now and align your travel dates with these extraordinary cultural highlights. A well-timed festival is the heartbeat of any Bhutan tour - don’t miss it!
Most popular Bhutan Festival Events
Paro Tshechu
Held each spring in the Paro Valley, Paro Tshechu is one of the grandest festivals in Bhutan. Thousands gather at Rinpung Dzong to witness sacred cham dances, vibrant rituals, and the unveiling of the massive Throngdrel—a giant embroidered thangka believed to bless all who view it. As part of the Bhutan Festivals Calendar 2025, this event is a highlight for many Bhutan tours.
Thimphu Tshechu
Celebrated in Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu Tshechu is a three-day religious event that takes place at the majestic Tashichho Dzong. The festival features traditional mask dances performed by monks and laymen, drawing large crowds from across the country. It’s a top choice for travelers planning their journey around the Bhutan festivals 2025 experience.
Punakha Drubchen & Tshechu
Unique to the historic Punakha Valley, this festival combines sacred dances with a live reenactment of Bhutan’s 17th-century military victory over Tibetan forces. Locals dress in warrior costume, bringing history to life. Followed by Punakha Tshechu, it offers both spiritual significance and cultural drama—ideal for immersive festivals in Bhutan 2025.
Jambay Lhakhang Drup
Taking place in the spiritual region of Bumthang, this festival is known for its mystical rituals and the rare Ter Cham (Naked Dance) performed at midnight. Celebrated at one of Bhutan’s oldest temples, Jambay Lhakhang Drup is believed to bring blessings and fertility. A must-visit for those looking for profound cultural and spiritual moments in Bhutan festivals 2025.
Haa Summer Festival
Unlike the religious tshechus, the Haa Summer Festival celebrates the nomadic lifestyle and rich traditions of western Bhutan. Visitors can enjoy local music, food, yak riding, archery, and handicrafts. This off-the-beaten-path event is perfect for travelers seeking authentic Bhutan tours that go beyond the usual circuit.
Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Festivals in Bhutan
Festivals in Bhutan are not just colorful spectacles for tourists - they hold deep spiritual and social significance in the lives of Bhutanese people. These events, many of which are featured in Bhutan Festivals Calendar 2025, are sacred occasions to honor Guru Rinpoche, seek blessings, purify one’s karma, and strengthen community bonds. Attending a tshechu is considered a virtuous act, believed to bring good fortune in this life and the next. Beyond the religious rituals, festivals serve as moments of joy, where families reunite, dress in their finest attire, share traditional food, and celebrate their shared heritage. For the Bhutanese, festivals are a living expression of their devotion, identity, and cultural continuity - woven into the very rhythm of their lives.
Bhutan Festivals Calendar 2025
Festival | Place | Dates |
Punakha Drubchen | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 6th – 8th March |
Punakha Tshechu | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 9th – 11th March |
Tharpaling Thongdrol | Tharpaling Lhakhang, Chumi, Bumthang | 14th March |
Tangsibi Mani | Tangsibi Lhakhang, Ura Bumthang | 15th – 17th March |
Chhorten Kora | Chorten Kora, Trashiyangtshe | 14th March & 29th March |
Gomphukora | Gom Kora Lhakhang, Trashigang | 5th – 7th April |
Talo Tshechu | Talo Gonpa, Punakha | 5th – 7th April |
Gasa Tshechu | Gasa Dzong, Gasa | 5th – 7th April |
Zhemgang Tshechu | Zhemgang Dzong, Zhemgang | 5th – 7th April |
Paro Tshechu | Rinpung Dzong, Paro | 08th – 12th April (Thongdral on last day) |
Rhododendron Festival | Lamperi Botanical Park, Thimphu | 22nd – 24th April |
Domkhar Tshechu | Domkhar, Chumi, Bumthang. | 7th – 9th May |
Ura Yakchoe | Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang | 9th – 13th May |
Nimalung Tshechu | Nimalung Dratshang, Chumi, Bumthang | 3rd – 5th July |
I) Tour of the Dragon ii) Dragons Fury (Mountain Bike Race) | I) Bumthang to Thimphu ii) Lobesa to Thiphu | 6th September* |
Thimphu Drubchen | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 28th September |
Wangdue Tshechu | Wangduephodrang | 30th September 1st – 2nd October |
Tamshing Phala Chhoepa | Tamshing Lhakhang, Bumthang | 2nd – 4th October |
Thimphu Tshechu | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 2nd – 4th October |
Gangtey Tshechu | Gangtey Gonpa, Wangduephodrang | 5th – 7th October |
Thangbi Mewang | Thangbi Lhakhang, Choekor, Bumthang | 7th – 8th October |
Pemagatshel Tshechu | Pemagatshel Dzong, Pemagatshel. | 29th – 31st October 1st November |
Jhomolhari Mountain Festival | Dangochong, Thimphu | 14th – 15th October |
Chhukha Tshechu | Chhukha Dzong, Chhukha | 29th – 31st October |
Dechenphu Tshechu | Dechenphu Lhakhang, Thimphu | 31st October |
Jakar Tshechu | Jakar Dzong, Choekhor, Bumthang. | 29th – 31st October1st November |
Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 5th – 8th November |
Prakhar Duchhoed | Prakar Khakhang, Chumni, Bumthang | 6th – 9th November |
Black Necked Crane Festival | Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, Wangduephodrang | 11th November |
Mongar Tshechu | Mongar Dzong, Mongar | 28th – 30th November |
Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang. | 29th – 30st November 1st December |
PhuntsholingTshechu | Phuntsholing, Chhukha | 28th – 30th November |
Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 4th December |
Nalakhar Tshechu | Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 4th – 6th December |
Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Douchula, Thimphu | 13th December |
Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | 27th – 31st December (Thongdral on last day) |
Lhuentse Tshechu | Lhuentse Dzong, Lhuentse | 27th – 31st December (Thongdral on last day) |
Samdrupjongkhar Tshechu | Samdrupjongkhar | 1st – 3rd January 2026 |
Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, Trongsa | 3rd – 5th January 2026 |