Tibetan Traditional Festivals and Events

Tibetan Traditional Festival-Shoton-festival Buddha Unfolding Festival, Tibetan Shoton-festival
Tibetan Traditional Festival-Shoton-festival

If you plan your tour of Tibet well, not only will you be able to see the pristine beauty of the region, you can also participate in the numerous highly colorful Tibet Traditional festivals of the region. Hardly a day passes without some festivities, ceremonial observances or pilgrimages occurring in some part of the region or the other. Whichever festival you include in your travel itinerary, be sure to take lots of pictures. So trust us, you are going to need it.

Name of the Festival Active Place 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
Tibetan New Year (Losar) Almost all Tibet  Feb 15  Feb 27    Feb 09 Feb 19 Mar 02
Monlam Prayer Festival Lhasa  Feb  Feb    Feb 23 Feb 22 Mar 05
Butter Oil Lantern Festival Almost all Tibet  Feb  Feb    Feb 23 Mar 05 Mar 16
Saga Dawa Almost all Tibet May  June 09    May 21 June 02 June 13
Gyantse Horse Racing Festival (Gyantse Damag) Gyantse July July   July 18 July 18 July 27
Tashi Lhunpo Thangka Display Shigatse July July 08 July 17 July 02 July 12
Zamling Chisang / Samye Dolde Samye Monastery July July   July 19 July 02 July 12
Chokor Duchen Festival Almost all Tibet Aug    Aug 27  Aug 6 July 20 July 31
Ganden Thangka Display Ganden Monastery Aug   Aug 01 Aug 18 July 31 Aug 10
Shoton Festival Lhasa  Sept 1 – 7  Aug 22  Sept 1 – 7 Aug 14 -20 Aug 25 – 30
Nachu Horse Racing Nachu Aug   Aug   Aug 10 – 16 Aug 10-16 Aug 10-16
Lhabab Duchen Festival(Buddha’s Descent Day) Almost all Tibet  Nov    Nov 10   Nov 20 Nov 03 Nov 13
Pal Lhamo Festival Lhasa  Dec    Dec 03  Dec 13 Nov 25 Dec 06
Ganden Ngacho Almost all Tibet  Dec  Dec  Dec 23 Dec 05 Dec 16
Labrang Monlam Festival Amdo,Labrang     — Mar 3rd Sept 02
Lithang Horse Racing Festival ( Not permanent) Lithang     — Aug 02 Aug 01 – 05
Jye Kundo (Yushu) Horse Racing Festival Yushu     July 25th July 25 July 25

Tibetan Traditional Festivals List