Quick Answer
Ladakh festivals by month: Spituk Gustor, Dosmoche, Matho Nagrang, Hemis Tsechu, Lamayuru, Phyang, Sindhu Darshan, the Ladakh Festival, Thiksey Gustor and Losar, with how dates are set.
Most of Ladakh's festivals are held by monasteries and follow the Tibetan lunar calendar, so their Gregorian dates move each year. The best known feature cham, masked dances performed by monks in courtyards over one or two days. A few are civic festivals with fixed dates.
Quick answer
Summer: Hemis Tsechu (June or July), Lamayuru Yuru Kabgyat and Phyang Tsedup (June to July), Sindhu Darshan (June). Autumn: the Ladakh Festival (September) and Thiksey Gustor (October or November). Winter: Losar (December or January), Spituk Gustor (January), Dosmoche (February), Matho Nagrang (February or March). Confirm exact dates each year.
Festivals by season
| Festival | Where | Usual month | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Losar (Ladakhi New Year) | Across Ladakh | December or January | Prayers, lights, family feasts |
| Galdan Namchot | Across Ladakh | December | Lamps on houses and monasteries |
| Spituk Gustor | Spituk | January | Masked dances |
| Dosmoche | Leh, Likir, Diskit | February | Dances to drive away misfortune |
| Matho Nagrang | Matho | February or March | Oracles in trance |
| Hemis Tsechu | Hemis | June or July | Two days of masked dances |
| Sindhu Darshan | Shey | June | Celebration of the Indus |
| Yuru Kabgyat | Lamayuru | June or July | Masked dances |
| Phyang Tsedup | Phyang | July | Dances and a giant thangka |
| Ladakh Festival | Leh and villages | September | Parades, archery, polo, music |
| Thiksey Gustor | Thiksey | October or November | Masked dances |
Dates vary year to year with the lunar calendar. The Ladakh tourism department and the monasteries publish dates closer to the season.
How to attend
- Arrive early for a place in the courtyard or on a roof.
- Dress modestly and keep to the edges; the dances are religious rituals.
- Ask before photographing monks, oracles and families.
- Book Leh hotels well ahead for Hemis Tsechu and the September Ladakh Festival.
- Winter festivals are cold and Ladakh is reached only by air; dress for well below freezing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest festival in Ladakh?
Hemis Tsechu, held at Hemis Monastery in June or July.
When is Losar in Ladakh?
Ladakhi Losar falls in December or January, earlier than Tibetan Losar.
Why do Ladakh festival dates change?
Most follow the Tibetan lunar calendar, so their Gregorian dates move each year.
What is the Ladakh Festival in September?
A tourism and cultural festival in Leh and villages, with parades, archery, polo and music.
Written by Via Kashmir Editorial Team
Last checked 2026
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