Dasara 2026 has ended. This page is a record of the 2026 programme, which ran from 11 to 21 October. We will update it with the Mysore Dasara 2027 dates and tickets as soon as they are announced.
Mysore Dasara 2026 ran for 11 days, from Sunday, 11 October to Wednesday, 21 October 2026. It opened with a puja on Chamundi Hill at 11:50 am on 11 October and ended with the Jamboo Savari and Torchlight Parade on Vijayadashami, 21 October. In between, there were more than 90 programmes across the city.
We are based in Mysuru, a few kilometres from the palace, and this is the list we would hand a friend coming for Dasara. Below is the full 2026 programme, day by day, followed by how tickets for the five paid events were booked.
Mysore Dasara 2026 dates at a glance
| What | Date |
|---|---|
| Festival dates | 11 to 21 October 2026 |
| Inauguration | 11 October, 11:50 am, Chamundi Hill |
| Palace lighting | Every evening, 11 to 21 October, from 7 pm |
| Drone shows | 17, 18, 20 and 21 October, 8 pm |
| Kambala | 18 and 19 October |
| Mahanavami (Ayudha Puja) | 20 October |
| Jamboo Savari | 21 October, after 4:35 pm |
| Torchlight Parade | 20 and 21 October, 7 pm |
| Tickets | Only on TicketGenie, from Rs 1,000 |
Source: Official Mysuru Dasara 2026 schedule, compiled from the official programme poster and the Palace panchanga.
Why 21 October and not 20? Many national calendars marked Dussehra on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Mysuru follows the Palace panchanga, which placed Vijayadashami, and the Jamboo Savari, on Wednesday, 21 October.
Before the Festival Begins
Dasara starts well before the inauguration. The elephants arrive weeks early, and some events run before the main festival.
| Date | What happens | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Aug | Gaja Payana: the elephants are flagged off from the forest | Veeranahosahalli, Nagarhole |
| 28 Aug | The elephants enter the palace (Gaja Puja) | Amba Vilas Palace |
| 21 to 30 Sep | Art workshops: sand-casting, murals, printmaking | CAVA, Siddarthanagar |
| 28 Sep to 5 Oct | Yuva Sambhrama, youth cultural programme, 5 pm to 10 pm | Manasagangothri Open Air Theatre |
Mysore Dasara 2026 Program List, Day by Day
The palace was lit from 7 pm every evening of the festival, and cultural programmes ran from 5 pm. Below are the highlights for each day. Every day is named after its tithi and the form of the goddess worshipped at the palace that day.
Day 1: Sunday, 11 October (Prathama, Shailaputri)
The opening day was packed. Most of the month-long events started that day.
- 9 am: Dasara CM Cup sports begin (4 days, 28 sports), Chamundi Vihar and university stadiums
- 11 am: Aahara Mela food festival opens, Maharaja's College Ground (till 25 Oct, 11 am to 10 pm)
- 11:30 am: Fruit and Flower Show opens, Kuppanna Park (till 21 Oct, 9 am to 9 pm). Theme: "Prajaprabhutvada Habba"
- 11:50 am to 12:13 pm: Inauguration of Mysuru Dasara 2026, Chamundeshwari Temple, Chamundi Hill
- 12:30 pm: Pushpa Mela flower fair, Lingambudhi Botanical Garden
- 4 pm: State-level art exhibition opens, CAVA (till 24 Oct)
- 5 pm: Opening evening of cultural programmes, palace stage
- 6:30 pm: City illumination switched on, Sayyaji Rao Road near K.R. Hospital Circle
- 7 pm: First night of palace lighting (till midnight, as it was a Sunday)
Day 2: Monday, 12 October (Dwitiya, Brahmacharini)
- 9 am: Dasara CM Cup, day 2
- 2 pm and 5 pm: Animation film show and cultural programmes, CAVA
- 7 pm: Palace lighting
Day 3: Tuesday, 13 October (Tritiya, Chandraghanta)
- 6:30 am: Rangoli competition in front of the palace
- 10 am: Mahila and Makkala Dasara (women's and children's Dasara) opens, J.K. Grounds
- 10 am: Dasara Kavigoshti poets' meet opens, B.M. Sri Auditorium, Manasagangotri
- 11 am: Humour and short verse poetry session. Drawing and clay-art competitions for schoolchildren at CAVA
- 7 pm: Palace lighting
Day 4: Wednesday, 14 October (Chaturthi, Kushmanda)
- 9 am: Dasara CM Cup, final day
- 10 am: Yoga Dasara opens, J.K. Ground
- 10:30 am: Mother-and-child fashion show and ragi-mudde eating contest, J.K. Grounds. Young poets' meet, Manasagangotri
- 11 am: Makkala Dasara (children's programmes), day 1, Karnataka Kala Mandira
- 7 pm: Palace lighting
Day 5: Thursday, 15 October (Panchami, Skandamata)
- 7 am: Heritage Dasara walk from the Town Hall
- 10:30 am: Children's poetry session. Women's cultural walkathon from Kote Anjaneya temple to J.K. Grounds
- 11 am: Makkala Dasara, day 2, Karnataka Kala Mandira
- 7 pm: Palace lighting
Day 6: Friday, 16 October (Shashthi, Katyayani)
Saraswati Puja began at the palace.
- 7 am: Heritage cycle ride from the Town Hall
- 8 am: State-level Yogasana competition
- 9:30 am: Raitha Dasara (farmers' Dasara): bullock carts and farm machinery procession to J.K. Grounds
- 11 am: Agricultural exhibition opens, J.K. Grounds
- 7 pm: Palace lighting
Day 7: Saturday, 17 October (Saptami, Siddhidhatri)
In the Palace calendar, this is the night of Mahishasura's defeat. It was also the first drone show night.
- 6:30 am: Milk-yielding competition for cattle, J.K. Grounds
- 7 am: Heritage tonga ride for couples in traditional dress, from the Town Hall
- 10:30 am: Pradhana Kavigoshti, the main poets' meet, Manasagangotri
- 7 pm: Palace lighting
- 8 pm: Drone show inauguration and first display, Bannimantap
Day 8: Sunday, 18 October (Ashtami, Durgashtami)
- 6 am: Rural Yoga Dasara, Nanjangud
- 9 am: Kambala (traditional buffalo race), day 1, near VTU College
- 10 am: Pet animals show, J.K. Grounds. CAVA alumni art sale, all day
- 7 pm: Palace lighting (till midnight, as it was a Sunday)
- 8 pm: Drone show, Bannimantap
Day 9: Monday, 19 October (Ashtami, Durga Puja)
- 6 am: Yoga Charana and Durga Namaskara, Chamundi Hill
- 9 am: Kambala, day 2, near VTU College
- 7 pm: Palace lighting
Day 10: Tuesday, 20 October (Navami, Mahagauri)
Mahanavami. Weapons, elephants and horses are worshipped at the palace, and the Torchlight Parade has its first evening.
- 9 am: Ayudha Puja, Gaja-Ashva (elephant and horse) Puja and other rituals, Amba Vilas Palace
- 7 pm: Torchlight Parade, first evening, Bannimantap (smaller crowd than the next day)
- 7 pm: Palace lighting
- 8 pm: Drone show, Bannimantap
Day 11: Wednesday, 21 October (Vijayadashami)
The grand finale.
- 1:36 to 1:56 pm: Nandi Dhwaja Puja by the Chief Minister, Amba Vilas Palace
- 4:10 to 4:35 pm: Floral tribute (Pushparchane) to the goddess in the golden howdah
- After 4:35 pm: The Jamboo Savari leaves the palace for Bannimantap, with Prashantha carrying the Ambari
- 7 pm: Torchlight Parade, the closing act, Bannimantap
- 7 pm: Palace lighting, till midnight
- 8 pm: Drone show, Bannimantap
For the route, the elephants and where to stand, read our guide to the Jamboo Savari timings. For everything about the four drone show nights, see the drone show dates guide.
After the Finale
A few events carried on after Vijayadashami, so visitors could still catch some of Dasara the following weekend.
| Date | What happens | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Oct, 10:45 am | The elephants begin their journey back to the forest | Palace to Veeranahosahalli |
| Till 24 Oct | State-level art exhibition | CAVA, Siddarthanagar |
| 24 Oct | Chamundeshwari Rathotsava (chariot festival) | Chamundi Hill |
| Till 25 Oct | Aahara Mela food festival | Maharaja's College Ground |
The Dasara Exhibition opposite the palace is announced separately and usually runs longer still, often into December. See our Dasara Exhibition timings page.
Source for all days: Official Mysuru Dasara 2026 schedule.
Mysore Dasara 2026 Tickets
Only five Dasara events needed a ticket in 2026, and all five were sold on TicketGenie, the official ticketing partner. Prices started at Rs 1,000 for the drone show and went up to Rs 6,500 for the Gold Card. Everything else, including the palace lighting and the procession route, was free.
| Ticket | Date and gates | What you get | Price (per person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Card | Valid 11 to 21 Oct | One entry each to the palace, Chamundi Hill and the zoo. Numbered seat at the Jamboo Savari (gates 10 am to 12:30 pm). Gold Card enclosure at the Torchlight Parade (gates 4:30 to 6:30 pm). Drone show on the date printed | From Rs 6,500 |
| Procession | 21 Oct, gates 10 am to 12:30 pm | Numbered seat in Enclosure I, palace forecourt, facing where the golden howdah leaves | From Rs 3,500 |
| Torchlight Parade | 21 Oct, gates 4:30 to 6:30 pm | Free seating in the ticketed enclosure at Bannimantap | From Rs 1,500 |
| Torchlight Parade rehearsal | 20 Oct, gates 4:30 to 6:30 pm | Free seating in Enclosure E. Same show, smaller crowd | From Rs 1,500 |
| Drone Show | 17 or 18 Oct, gates from 4:30 pm | Free seating in the ticketed enclosure. Separate ticket for each day | From Rs 1,000 |
Source: Official Mysuru Dasara 2026 tickets page.
How to Book Mysore Dasara Tickets Online
Mysore Dasara tickets are booked online on TicketGenie in three steps. The official site says there are no other counters and no agents, so avoid anyone else selling seats.
- Choose your event on the TicketGenie Mysuru Dasara page and tap Book now.
- Sign in, pick your seats and pay. You get a redemption voucher, not a ticket.
- Exchange the voucher for a physical ticket before the event, as the voucher explains. Carry that ticket and a photo ID on the day.
Good to know before you book:
- Security comes first. Entry can be restricted on security grounds even with a valid ticket, and no refund applies in that case.
- Seats: Only the Gold Card and Procession ticket have numbered seats. The other three are free seating inside the enclosure, so arrive early.
- The zoo is closed on Tuesdays, which matters for Gold Card holders.
- Parking: Park only where your Gold Card says, or use the free festival shuttles from the parking hubs.
- Refunds follow TicketGenie's own policy. For festival questions, call the 24x7 helpline, 1077.
What Is Free at Mysore Dasara?
Most of Dasara is free, according to the official site:
- The whole 5 km Jamboo Savari route
- The palace lighting every evening
- The cultural stages
- The Fruit and Flower Show
- The Aahara Mela
- The public (non-ticketed) enclosures at Bannimantap
For more on seeing Dasara on a budget, read our guide to Mysore Dasara.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Mysore Dasara 2026 date?
Mysore Dasara 2026 ran from Sunday, 11 October to Wednesday, 21 October 2026. The inauguration was at 11:50 am on 11 October at the Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hill. The Jamboo Savari and the Torchlight Parade took place on Vijayadashami, 21 October.
When was Vijayadashami in Mysuru in 2026?
Vijayadashami in Mysuru was on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. Many national calendars marked Dussehra on 20 October, but Mysuru follows the Palace panchanga. That made 20 October Mahanavami, with Ayudha Puja at the palace, and 21 October the day of the Jamboo Savari.
Where can I find the Mysore Dasara program list?
The full Mysore Dasara program list is on the official website, mysoredasara.gov.in, under Full Schedule. The 2026 list had more than 90 programmes across 11 days, with times and venues. This page summarises the highlights of each day.
How much were Mysore Dasara tickets in 2026?
Mysore Dasara 2026 tickets cost from Rs 1,000 for the drone show, Rs 1,500 for the Torchlight Parade or its rehearsal, Rs 3,500 for a numbered Jamboo Savari seat at the palace, and Rs 6,500 for the Gold Card. All were sold only on TicketGenie, the official ticketing partner.
How do I book Mysore Dasara tickets online?
Book on TicketGenie's Mysuru Dasara page. Choose your event, sign in, pick your seats and pay. You will get a redemption voucher, which you exchange for a physical ticket before the event. Carry that ticket and a photo ID on the day. There are no counters or agents.
What does the Mysore Dasara Gold Card include?
The 2026 Gold Card, from Rs 6,500, included one entry each to Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hill and the zoo, a numbered seat at the Jamboo Savari, a seat in the Gold Card enclosure at the Torchlight Parade, and the drone show on the date printed on the card. It was valid from 11 to 21 October.
Take Mysuru Home
Whichever days you come for, leave room in your bag for Mysore Pak. It was first made in the Mysore Palace kitchen, and it is still the sweet most people take home from Dasara. Browse our Mysore Pak collection. 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.