Festivals and Fairs in India Happening in February 2026

February and March are India's most festive months, marking the transition from winter to spring. Across the country, from Gujarat's salt deserts to Mizoram's bamboo forests, festivals and fairs are in full swing. The weather is ideal for travel, and the variety of celebrations is astounding. In six weeks, you can experience everything from craft melas and Holi in Vrindavan to Bharatanatyam performances at ancient temples. Witness 1.46 lakh tulips in Delhi or the Mahashivaratri frenzy. For an authentic glimpse of India's vibrant culture, February and March 2026 are the perfect months. Here's your guide.

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1. Rann Utsav, Kutch, Gujarat

Running Until: 4 March 2026

Set in the vast Great Rann of Kutch, the Rann Utsav transforms the salt desert into a cultural haven, running from October 23, 2025 until March 4, 2026. The festival is India's most visually spectacular cultural event. The most visited period extends from November to February, when the weather remains pleasant and full-moon nights offer spectacular views across the glowing white desert. Camel safaris, folk music, handicraft villages, and traditional Kutchi dance performances run every evening. The white landscape under a full moon looks surreal, almost lunar. For anyone who hasn't experienced the Great Rann of Kutch by night, this is the most beautiful few weeks to do it.

Where: Dhordo Village, Kutch, Gujarat | Entry: Package-based via Gujarat Tourism

2. Delhi Tulip Festival, New Delhi

Dates: 11 February – 22 February 2026

Inaugurated on 11 February 2026 at Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, the Delhi Tulip Festival runs for 12 days, showcasing a vibrant display of tulips across the capital. More than 1.46 lakh tulip bulbs have been planted across the grounds, featuring amazing varieties in multiple colours. Most tulips are imported from the Netherlands, making it a celebration that strengthens international solidarity between India and the Netherlands, with officials from the Netherlands embassy participating. The festival is free. The best time to visit is early morning for photographs. The nearest metro station is Shanti Path on the Yellow Line, making it very accessible.

Where: Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi | Entry: Free | Timings: 10 AM – 6 PM

3. Nagaur Cattle Fair, Rajasthan

Dates: 17 – 21 February 2026

The Nagaur Cattle Fair, scheduled from February 17 to 21, 2026, is the second-largest livestock fair in India, where traders gather to buy and sell camels, horses, and bulls. The festival goes beyond commerce—visitors are treated to folk music, puppet shows, camel races, and even a lively Mirchi Bazaar. This is one of those festivals where you watch actual Rajasthani rural commerce happening in real time—not a staged cultural performance, but genuine trade alongside genuine celebration. The camels are decorated with elaborate gear, the horses are groomed and displayed proudly, and the traders are extraordinarily photogenic in their turbans and kurtas. Rajasthan at its most authentic.

Where: Nagaur, Rajasthan | Best for: Photography, rural Rajasthan experience

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4. Khajuraho Dance Festival, Madhya Pradesh

Dates: 20 – 26 February 2026

The Khajuraho Dance Festival is conducted from the 20th to the 26th of February and highlights the richness of Indian classical dance styles such as Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Gaudiya Nritya, and Kathakali. Performances are set against the backdrop of the historic Khajuraho temples, blending art with spirituality under starlit skies, with renowned artists showcasing India's finest classical traditions. This is open-air classical dance at its most cinematic. The 11th-century Chandela temples glow with lighting while performers dance in front of intricate stone carvings that are themselves celebrations of the human body in movement. It's a genuinely magical combination of architecture, art, and performance.

Where: Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh | Entry: ₹250 onwards | Best for: Classical arts, heritage

5. Taj Mahotsav, Agra

Dates: 18 – 27 February 2026

Taj Mahotsav has been a fixture since 1992, held at Shilpgram just outside the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal. Organised by Uttar Pradesh Tourism, the festival brings together 400 legendary artists from across the country to display their exquisite works of art alongside food from across India and fun fair rides that make it a family destination. The ten-day fair creates a bazaar of arts, crafts, music, food, and performances against the backdrop of the most famous building in the world. Evening cultural programmes showcase North Indian classical and folk traditions. You can spend a morning at the Taj Mahal itself and an afternoon at the Mahotsav for one of India's most satisfying one-two cultural combinations.

6. Dibrugarh University International Literature Festival

Dates: 18 – 21 February 2026

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The Dibrugarh University International Literature Festival (DUILF) returns for its third edition from February 18-21, 2026, at Dibrugarh University, Assam. Building on two successful years, it draws over 150 authors from 25 countries for 52 lively sessions in English, plus some in Hindi, Urdu, and Assamese. Expect talks on literature, business, music, cinema, sports, politics, and history, blending global views with regional stories. Highlights include British author Anna Morgan (Relearning to Read), South Korean author Shin Kyung-sook (Please Look After Mom), Indian journalist Ghazala Wahab (Born a Muslim), and Syrian writer Shahla Ujayli (A Bed for the King's Daughter). Don't miss this vibrant literary meet!