Ganga Mahotsav 2026 Varanasi: Date 20–23 Nov (Proposed), RajghatGanga Mahotsav 2026 Varanasi: Date 20–23 Nov (Proposed), Rajghatगंगा महोत्सव 2026 कब है: 20–23 नवंबर (प्रस्तावित), राजघाट, वाराणसी

Ganga Mahotsav 2026 date: 20–23 November (proposed)

Not officially confirmed — check before you travel

Ganga Mahotsav 2026 is proposed for Friday 20 to Monday 23 November in Varanasi, on the four evenings before Dev Deepawali on Tuesday 24 November. These dates come from local reports of a preparatory meeting chaired by Divisional Commissioner S. Rajalingam on 18 August 2026. Desi Khabar and Live Aaryaavart both reported the meeting this way, and Navbharat Live repeated 20–23 November in early October.

Sources: [1] · [2] · [3] · [4] · [6]

Where is Ganga Mahotsav celebrated?

Ganga Mahotsav is held on the ghats of Varanasi, beside the river it is named after. For 2026 the main programme is proposed at Rajghat, with more cultural programmes at Namo Ghat, its neighbour to the north. This is the same arrangement as 2025, when the festival ran on 1–4 November at Rajghat and Namo Ghat.

Sources: [1] · [2] · [5] · [7] · [9] · [10] · [11]

What happens at Ganga Mahotsav

At its heart Ganga Mahotsav is a series of evening concerts on an open-air stage by the river: Hindustani vocal and instrumental music, classical dance, folk song and devotional singing. Uttar Pradesh Tourism describes it as closing with Dev Deepawali, and its festival page also lists a ten-day national crafts bazaar with artisans from more than 20 states, a Ganga marathon, a country-boat race and traditional wrestling. That page was last updated in January 2022, so not every one of these is held every year.

Sources: [10] · [1] · [2] · [3]

Artists: 2026 line-up not announced yet

No performer for Ganga Mahotsav 2026 has been officially named. Lists of '2026 artists' on travel and booking sites are guesses. Past editions give a sense of the scale:

• 2025 (1–4 Nov, Rajghat and Namo Ghat): bhajan singer Hansraj Raghuvanshi closed the festival; Padma Shri Malini Awasthi sang folk songs and Padma Shri Geeta Chandran danced Bharatanatyam, with Odissi, Kathak, sitar-violin and sitar-sarod jugalbandis and folk dance on other nights.
• 2024 (12–14 Nov, Assi Ghat): Padma Bhushan Pandit Sajan Mishra sang on the opening night, with artists from Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Mathura and other cities.
• 2006 (Rajendra Prasad Ghat): the sons of Ustad Bismillah Khan opened the festival on shehnai and tabla, and Shweta Mishra of Lucknow danced the story of Ganga's descent in Kathak.

Sources: [6] · [7] · [9] · [11]

Timings, entry and passes

Not officially confirmed — check before you travel

The 2026 timings have not been announced. In 2025 the programmes began at 4 pm each evening. In 2024 they ran from 5 pm to 1 am. Expect an evening start again, and check the official schedule when it is out.

Sources: [6] · [7] · [8] · [9]

How to reach Rajghat and Namo Ghat

Rajghat is at the northern end of the city's riverfront, beside the Malviya Bridge, where the Varuna meets the Ganga. The nearest major railway station is Varanasi Junction (Cantt), and the airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International. The smaller Kashi railway station stands on the high bank just above the ghat. Namo Ghat is a short walk north along the river, and its broad, step-free promenade is easier for older visitors and prams than the steep steps of the southern ghats.

Sources: [12] · [5] · [1]

Who organises it

Ganga Mahotsav is a state festival run by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department. In 2025 its Joint Director, Dinesh Kumar, announced the line-up. The Varanasi divisional and district administration handles the ghats, security, cleaning and traffic. We have not found a reliable source for the year the festival began, so we do not give one. Uttar Pradesh Tourism's own page does not say, and the dates on travel blogs disagree.

Sources: [6] · [7] · [10] · [3]

Planning a trip around it

Ganga Mahotsav is a good reason to arrive a few days before Dev Deepawali. Its evenings are calmer than the festival night itself, and hotels and boats fill up for the 24th, so book early whichever nights you choose.

• 20–23 Nov (proposed): evening concerts at Rajghat and Namo Ghat.
• 24 Nov: Dev Deepawali, with lamps on every ghat. See our Dev Deepawali 2026 guide for timing, boats and traffic.
• Mornings: the ghats are quiet for a walk or a sunrise boat ride before the evening crowds.

Sources: [1] · [2]