Visiting now? Dasara 2026 ended on 21 October. Until next Dasara, the palace is lit on Sundays and public holidays, from about 7 pm to 7:45 pm. We will add the Dasara 2027 timings as soon as they are announced.
During Mysore Dasara 2026, the Mysore Palace lit up every evening from 7 pm to 10 pm, from 11 to 21 October. On Sundays (11 and 18 October) and on Vijayadashami (21 October), the lights stayed on until midnight. Watching is free, and the palace forecourt opens to the public from 6 pm.
We make Mysore Pak a few kilometres from the palace, so the 7 pm switch-on is part of our Dasara every year. This guide gives you the timings for each night, where to stand, and how to fit the lights around the drone show and the Torchlight Parade.
Mysore Palace lighting at a glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Dasara lighting dates | 11 to 21 October 2026 |
| Daily timings | 7 pm to 10 pm |
| Extended nights | Till midnight on 11 Oct, 18 Oct (Sundays) and 21 Oct (Vijayadashami) |
| Entry | Free. Palace forecourt open from 6 pm |
| Number of bulbs | About 1,00,000 |
| Switch-on ceremony | 11 Oct, 6:30 pm, Sayyaji Rao Road, near K.R. Hospital Circle |
| Outside Dasara | Sundays and public holidays, around 7 pm to 7:45 pm |
Source: Official Mysuru Dasara illumination page. Timings can change, so check the official site on the day.
Mysore Palace Lighting Timings for Each Night of Dasara 2026
The palace was lit on all 11 nights of Dasara 2026. It came on at 7 pm every evening and went off at 10 pm, except on the two Sundays and Vijayadashami, when it stayed on till midnight. Here is every night, with what else was happening in the city.
| Date | Day | Palace lighting | Also that evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct | Sunday | 7 pm to midnight | City lights switched on at 6:30 pm, first night of palace lighting |
| 12 Oct | Monday | 7 pm to 10 pm | Cultural programmes from 5 pm |
| 13 Oct | Tuesday | 7 pm to 10 pm | Cultural programmes |
| 14 Oct | Wednesday | 7 pm to 10 pm | Cultural programmes |
| 15 Oct | Thursday | 7 pm to 10 pm | Cultural programmes |
| 16 Oct | Friday | 7 pm to 10 pm | Cultural programmes |
| 17 Oct | Saturday | 7 pm to 10 pm | First drone show, 8 pm, Bannimantap |
| 18 Oct | Sunday | 7 pm to midnight | Drone show, 8 pm, Bannimantap |
| 19 Oct | Monday | 7 pm to 10 pm | Kambala buffalo race earlier in the day, near VTU College |
| 20 Oct | Tuesday | 7 pm to 10 pm | Torchlight Parade from 7 pm, drone show at 8 pm, Bannimantap |
| 21 Oct | Wednesday (Vijayadashami) | 7 pm to midnight | Torchlight Parade from 7 pm, drone show at 8 pm, after the Jamboo Savari |
Source: Official Mysuru Dasara 2026 schedule and illumination page.
When did the Dasara lighting start and end in 2026?
The 2026 Dasara lighting started on Sunday, 11 October and ended on Wednesday, 21 October. The city illumination, called Deepalankara, was switched on at 6:30 pm on 11 October by Energy Minister K.J. George on Sayyaji Rao Road, near K.R. Hospital Circle. The palace lights came on for the first time that evening at 7 pm.
The last night was Vijayadashami, 21 October, when the palace stayed lit until midnight after the Jamboo Savari.
Mysore Palace lighting timings outside Dasara
Outside the festival, the palace is lit only on Sundays and public holidays, for about 45 minutes from 7 pm. Most visitor guides, including Mysore.ind.in, list the timing as 7 pm to 7:45 pm. On other evenings, the palace runs a sound and light show about the history of the Mysore kingdom instead.
The palace itself is open to visitors from 10 am to 5:30 pm every day. The evening lighting is free to watch and needs no ticket.
One thing to know: the lighting can be cancelled at short notice if the state declares official mourning.
How Many Bulbs Light Up Mysore Palace?
About one lakh (1,00,000) bulbs light up Mysore Palace during Dasara. They trace every arch, dome and edge of the Amba Vilas Palace, and all of them come on together at 7 pm. That single moment, when the palace goes from dark to gold, is what most people come for.
The lighting scheme was first used for the Maharaja's Dasara about a century ago, according to the official Dasara website. Today it is looked after by the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC). For 2026, CESC set aside Rs 13.77 crore for the Dasara illumination and the drone show, as reported by News Karnataka.
The palace you see lit up today was completed in 1912, after a fire destroyed the earlier wooden palace in 1897.
Best Places to Watch the Mysore Palace Lighting
The best place to watch the lighting is the palace forecourt, inside the palace grounds. Entry is free from 6 pm. Get there by 6:30 pm to find a good spot before the 7 pm switch-on.
The official Dasara website suggests three viewing spots:
- Palace forecourt: The classic front view, with the full palace in front of you. Best for the switch-on moment.
- Balarama Gate on Sayyaji Rao Road: Frames the whole facade from outside the palace. Good if the forecourt is too crowded.
- The lit streets around the palace: Ashoka Road and Albert Victor Road are lit through the festival, so a walk around the palace is a show in itself.
Photo tips:
- Stand well back in the forecourt to fit the whole palace in one frame.
- Switch off your flash. It does nothing at this distance and spoils other people's photos.
- Shoot in the first 10 minutes after 7 pm, when the sky still has a little blue in it.
Other Places That Light Up During Dasara
The palace is not the only thing lit up during Dasara. The whole city joins in:
- Chamundi Hill temple: The temple tower is lit every evening and can be seen from across the city.
- K.R. Circle and the Silver Jubilee Clock Tower: At the heart of the procession route, a short walk from the palace.
- Brindavan Gardens: Musical fountains from 7 pm, about 21 km from the city at the KRS dam.
- Bannimantap drone show: In 2026, on 17, 18, 20 and 21 October at 8 pm, CESC's drones lit up the sky over the Torchlight Parade ground.
Source: Official Mysuru Dasara illumination page.
How to Plan Your Evening at the Palace
The simplest plan is to arrive at the palace forecourt by 6:30 pm, watch the 7 pm switch-on, stay for 30 to 45 minutes, and then head out for dinner. Here is how a Dasara evening usually works:
| Time | What to do |
|---|---|
| 5 pm | Catch the cultural programme on the palace stage |
| 6 pm | Forecourt opens. Pick your spot |
| 7 pm | Switch-on. The whole palace lights up at once |
| 7:30 pm | Walk the lit streets around the palace |
| 8 pm | Dinner, or head to the Aahara Mela at Maharaja's College Ground (open till 10 pm) |
On drone show nights: The drone show starts at 8 pm at Bannimantap, and ticketed gates there open from 4:30 pm. If you want both the palace switch-on and a good drone show seat, it is easier to do them on different nights. Our drone show guide has the details.
Looking for food before or after the lights? See our list of where to eat near Mysore Palace.
Tips for Watching the Palace Lighting
- Go on a weekday if you can. Sundays and the last few nights draw the biggest crowds.
- Use the festival shuttles. Free shuttles run from the parking hubs during Dasara, according to the official site, so you do not need to park near the palace.
- Carry little. Security checks at the gates are faster with a small bag.
- Keep children close. The forecourt gets packed just before 7 pm.
- Save the helpline. The Dasara helpline, 1077, runs 24x7 through the festival.
For the full festival plan, dates and events, read our complete Mysuru Dasara guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the Mysore Palace lighting timings during Dasara 2026?
During Dasara 2026, Mysore Palace was lit every evening from 7 pm to 10 pm, from 11 to 21 October. On Sunday 11 October, Sunday 18 October and Vijayadashami on 21 October, the lights stayed on until midnight. The forecourt opens free to the public from 6 pm.
What are the Mysore Palace lighting timings today?
Outside Dasara, Mysore Palace is lit only on Sundays and public holidays, for about 45 minutes from 7 pm. On other evenings, the palace holds a sound and light show instead. During Dasara, the palace is lit every night from 7 pm.
Do I need a ticket to see the Mysore Palace lighting?
No. Watching the Mysore Palace lighting is free, and you do not need a ticket. During Dasara, the palace forecourt is open to the public from 6 pm. A ticket is needed only for daytime entry into the palace, which is open from 10 am to 5:30 pm.
When did the Mysore Dasara lighting end in 2026?
The Mysore Dasara lighting ended on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, which was Vijayadashami. On that last night, the palace stayed lit until midnight after the Jamboo Savari procession. After Dasara, the palace goes back to being lit only on Sundays and public holidays.
How many bulbs are used to light up Mysore Palace?
About one lakh (1,00,000) bulbs are used to light up Mysore Palace. They outline every arch, dome and edge of the building and are switched on together at 7 pm. The lighting is maintained by the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC).
Can I see the palace lighting and the drone show on the same night?
Yes, but it is tight. The palace lights come on at 7 pm and the drone show at Bannimantap starts at 8 pm. Ticketed drone show gates open from 4:30 pm, so many visitors watch the palace lighting on one night and the drone show on another.
Take Mysuru Home
Mysore Pak was first made in the kitchen of this same palace, for Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. After you have seen the palace lit up, take a box of Mysore Pak from the palace city home with you. We make it with pure ghee in Mysuru and deliver across India.
About the Author
The World of Mysore Pak team works out of Mysuru, a short drive from the palace, and makes Mysore Pak and Mysuru namkeens with pure ghee using traditional recipes.
Sources
- Official Mysuru Dasara 2026: illumination and drone show
- Official Mysuru Dasara 2026: full schedule
- Official Mysuru Dasara 2026: tickets (shuttles, drone show gates)
- News Karnataka: Mysore Dasara illumination, what changes in 2026
- Mysore.ind.in: Mysore Palace lighting timings outside Dasara
- InMysore: Mysore Palace timings and visitor guide