Mysore Dasara Festival 2026 and How the City Celebrates All Ten Days

Mysore Dasara Festival 2026 Dates

The official Mysore Dasara festival dates for 2026 are 11 October to 21 October. The Mysore Dasara festival 2026 began with a puja to Goddess Chamundeshwari at Chamundi Hill on 11 October. The city's festive lights were switched on that evening as well.

Since Dasara follows the lunar calendar, the Mysore Dasara dates change every year. The festival usually falls between late September and late October.

Mysore Dasara Schedule 2026

Planning to attend a few events during your visit? Here's the Mysore Dasara schedule, with the main events, dates, venues and timings listed on the official festival website.

The palace lights are switched on every evening from 7 pm to 10 pm throughout the festival, so you can make time for them even if your visit doesn't coincide with the main procession.

Mysore Dasara Events Worth Planning Around

Yuva Dasara

If live music is your thing, make room for Yuva Dasara in your plans. The festival's main music event features film and pop artists performing across five nights. It's one of the liveliest parts of the Mysore Dasara program, especially if you enjoy concerts and large crowds.

The food fair and flower show

Both events run for much of the festival and are easy to fit into your itinerary. The food fair is a chance to sample regional dishes, while the flower show at Kuppanna Park offers colourful displays that are worth exploring during the day. Both are good options if you're travelling with family.

Wrestling and Kambala

Wrestling has a long-standing place in Mysuru's traditions, and the Dasara kusti bouts continue to draw enthusiastic crowds. Kambala, the traditional buffalo race associated with coastal Karnataka, brings another regional sporting tradition into the festival's celebrations.

Drone shows

On four evenings, thousands of drones take to the sky to create coordinated images and patterns. These shows are one of the newer additions to the Mysore Dasara events and are especially appealing to families with children.

How the Ten Days Feel on the Ground

The atmosphere changes as the festival progresses. The first few days are generally a good time to explore the illuminated streets and attend events without the heaviest crowds. By the middle of the festival, concerts, sporting events and weekend visitors bring more activity to the city.

The final three days, from Mahanavami to Vijayadashami, are usually the busiest. Palace rituals, the grand procession and the torchlight parade draw large crowds, so it's worth planning ahead if you want to attend them.

If you'd prefer a more relaxed visit, consider arriving earlier in the festival to enjoy the lights and other events, then plan a separate trip around the procession if needed. Our guide to the Mysore Dasara procession and its timings covers the final day in more detail.

How Can You Celebrate Dasara at Home with a Cup of Coffee? 

For many families, Dasara is also about visiting friends, admiring gombe displays and sharing a cup of hot coffee. These small moments are part of what makes the festive season special.

As the Mysore Dasara celebrations come to a close, the festive spirit often continues at home through conversations, family gatherings and familiar traditions. A cup of Levista coffee can be a simple way to carry that warmth into the days that follow, keeping the joy of the season alive over one more shared cup.

Levista coffee is grown and processed on the SLN group's own Coorg estates, a short drive from Mysuru. If you're expecting friends and family over the festive season, you can stock up on your favourite coffee from the Levista filter coffee range.

Key Takeaways

• The Mysore Dasara festival runs for ten days, from 11 to 21 October 2026.
• The celebrations include Yuva Dasara, a food fair, a flower show, wrestling, Kambala and drone shows.
• The palace lights are switched on every evening from 7 pm to 10 pm.
• The final three days tend to draw the biggest crowds, with the Jamboo Savari and torchlight parade bringing the festival to a close.

Conclusion

There's plenty to experience at the Mysore Dasara festival beyond the final day's procession. Choose events that interest you, plan around the schedule and leave some time to explore the illuminated streets at your own pace. With celebrations spread across ten days, you can find something to enjoy whether you're interested in music, food, cultural traditions or the grand royal procession.

FAQs

What is the Dasara festival in Mysore?

It's Mysuru's ten-day Navaratri celebration honouring Goddess Chamundeshwari. The festival includes palace rituals, cultural programmes and the Jamboo Savari procession on Vijayadashami.

What are the 10 days of Dasara?

The first nine days are Navaratri, when the goddess is worshipped in different forms. The tenth day, Vijayadashami, marks the victory of good over evil.

What is the schedule of Mysore Dasara?

In 2026, the festival runs from 11 to 21 October. Yuva Dasara takes place from 13 to 17 October, Mahanavami puja is scheduled for 20 October, and the Jamboo Savari takes place on 21 October.

What is the ticket price of the Mysore Dasara VIP pass?

The Gold Card, which offers access to several key festival experiences, costs ₹6,500 before booking charges and GST. A Jamboo Savari seat costs ₹3,500, while a torchlight parade seat costs ₹1,500.

Which state celebrates Mysore Dasara?

Mysore Dasara is celebrated in Karnataka, where it is recognised as the state festival, known as Nada Habba.

What is Yuva Dasara?

Yuva Dasara is the music-focused part of the festival, featuring concerts by film and pop artists across several evenings.