Festivals & Events
Plan your visit around spectacular cultural celebrations
Important: Festival Dates & Information
- • Dates may change: Festival dates, especially religious festivals following lunar calendars, can shift each year. Durations may also vary. Always verify current dates with official sources or local authorities before planning your visit.
- • Accommodation & prices: During major festivals, accommodation prices often increase significantly and availability becomes limited. Book well in advance and be prepared for higher costs during peak festival periods.
- • Business hours: Many businesses may close or have reduced hours during public holidays and festivals. Plan accordingly for essential services.
Vesak Poya (Buddha Day)
වෙසක් පොහොය
The most important Buddhist festival celebrating Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death
Poson Poya
පොසොන් පොහොය
Commemorates the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in 247 BCE
Kandy Esala Perahera
ඇසල පෙරහැර
Sri Lanka's most spectacular festival - a grand procession honoring the Sacred Tooth Relic
Unduvap Poya
උඳුවප් පොහොය
Celebrates the arrival of the sacred Bo Tree sapling from India
Duruthu Perahera
දුරුතු පෙරහැර
Festival celebrating Buddha's first visit to Sri Lanka
Nawam Maha Perahera
නවම් මහා පෙරහැර
Colombo's grand Buddhist procession at Gangaramaya Temple
Medin Perahera
මැදින් පෙරහැර
Procession at Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya marking Buddha's first visit to his home after enlightenment
Adhi Esala Perahera
අධි ඇසල පෙරහැර
Preliminary perahera before the main Kandy Esala Perahera
Thai Pongal
தைப்பொங்கல்
Tamil harvest festival celebrating the sun god and new rice harvest
Vel Festival
வேல் திருவிழா
Hindu festival honoring Lord Murugan with a grand chariot procession
Nallur Kandaswamy Festival
நல்லூர் கந்தசுவாமி திருவிழா
Jaffna's most important Hindu festival with 25 days of celebrations
Deepavali (Diwali)
தீபாவளி
Festival of lights celebrating the triumph of light over darkness
Kataragama Festival
කතරගම පෙරහැර
Multi-faith pilgrimage festival with dramatic displays of devotion
Thai Pusam
தைப்பூசம்
Tamil Hindu festival honoring Lord Murugan with kavadi processions
Maha Shivaratri
மகா சிவராத்திரி
The Great Night of Shiva - a night of fasting and prayer
Eid ul-Fitr
Festival marking the end of Ramadan fasting month
Christmas
Christian celebration of Jesus Christ's birth
Sinhala & Tamil New Year
අලුත් අවුරුද්ද / புத்தாண்டு
Sri Lanka's most important cultural festival celebrating the traditional new year
Independence Day
National holiday celebrating independence from British rule in 1948
Galle Literary Festival
International literary festival in the historic Galle Fort
Colombo Art Biennale
South Asia's premier contemporary art exhibition
Hikkaduwa Beach Festival
Annual beach music and water sports festival
Adam's Peak Pilgrimage Season
ශ්රී පාද සමය
Annual pilgrimage season to Sri Lanka's holiest mountain
Eid ul-Adha (Hajj Festival)
Festival of Sacrifice commemorating Ibrahim's devotion
Good Friday & Easter
Christian celebration of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection