Visit Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan monks in procession at a cultural festival
What's On

Events & Festivals

Sri Lanka's calendar brims with colour, from ancient temple processions to beach music festivals.

Submit your event

Showing 28 events

Poya Full Moon Ceremony, Anuradhapura
10
JUL
FreeCultural

Poya Full Moon Ceremony, Anuradhapura

Ruwanwelisaya Stupa, Anuradhapura

Experience the most sacred monthly Buddhist observance at Sri Lanka's oldest and most revered stupa. Thousands of white-robed pilgrims circumambulate the great dagoba by moonlight - profoundly moving.

Free EntryView details →
Arugam Bay Surf Classic
15
JUL
FreeAdventure & Sports

Arugam Bay Surf Classic

Pottuvil Point, Arugam Bay

Sri Lanka's premier professional surfing competition, drawing international competitors to one of Asia's top-rated right-hand point breaks. Watch world-class surfing, live music and beach parties.

Free EntryView details →
Dondra Perahera
25
JUL
FreeCultural

Dondra Perahera

Maha Vishnu Kovil, Dondra

A vibrant three-day Hindu festival at Sri Lanka's southernmost point, featuring ornate chariot processions, drumming troupes and colourful devotional rites at one of the island's oldest temples.

Free EntryView details →
Negombo Fish Market & Seafood Festival
30
AUG
FreeFood & Drink

Negombo Fish Market & Seafood Festival

Negombo Fish Market, Negombo

Celebrate Sri Lanka's rich fishing culture at Negombo's legendary fish market. Watch dawn auctions, enjoy freshly grilled seafood, and learn traditional boat-building techniques.

Free EntryView details →
Ella Ultra Trail Race
13
SEP
Adventure & Sports

Ella Ultra Trail Race

Ella, Badulla District

A world-class ultra-marathon through Sri Lanka's breathtaking hill country, past the Nine Arch Bridge, through tea estates and cloud forests. Distances of 21km, 50km and 100km available.

LKR 8,000View details →
Colombo International Film Festival
25
SEP
Cultural

Colombo International Film Festival

BMICH, Colombo

Sri Lanka's premier international film festival screens over 100 films from 40 countries across six days, celebrating world cinema alongside Sri Lankan independent filmmakers.

LKR 1,200View details →
Sri Lanka Food Festival
18
OCT
Food & Drink

Sri Lanka Food Festival

Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo

A three-day celebration of Sri Lanka's rich culinary heritage, featuring cooking demonstrations by renowned chefs, street food stalls, spice tastings and traditional recipes from all nine provinces.

LKR 1,500View details →
Colombo Jazz & Blues Festival
08
NOV
Arts & Music

Colombo Jazz & Blues Festival

Galle Face Hotel Grounds, Colombo

An annual two-day festival bringing international and local jazz and blues musicians to perform on the iconic Galle Face Green oceanfront against the Colombo skyline.

LKR 4,500View details →
Mirissa Whale Watching Opening Day
15
NOV
Wildlife & Nature

Mirissa Whale Watching Opening Day

Mirissa Harbour, Mirissa

The official launch of the blue whale watching season in Mirissa. Join a sunrise boat trip into the deep waters off the southern coast where blue whales, sperm whales and dolphins gather in extraordinary numbers.

LKR 4,500View details →
Yala Leopard Safari - Night Drive
06
DEC
Wildlife & Nature

Yala Leopard Safari - Night Drive

Yala National Park Gate 1

An exclusive after-dark safari experience through Yala's Block 1, searching for leopards, sloth bears and nocturnal wildlife with specialist naturalist guides. Maximum 8 guests per vehicle.

LKR 15,000View details →
Christmas & Midnight Mass
25
DEC
FreeCultural

Christmas & Midnight Mass

St. Lucia's Cathedral, Colombo

Sri Lanka's Catholic and Christian communities celebrate Christmas with joyful midnight masses and street decorations across Colombo, Negombo and the hill country. Negombo - known as 'Little Rome' - hosts some of Asia's most atmospheric Christmas celebrations.

Free EntryView details →
Duruthu Poya & Perahera
12
JAN
FreeCultural

Duruthu Poya & Perahera

Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, Colombo

The first full-moon Poya of the year commemorates Buddha's first visit to Sri Lanka. The Kelaniya Temple hosts a magnificent procession of elephants, drummers and dancers that rivals Kandy's Esala Perahera in spectacle.

Free EntryView details →
Thai Pongal
14
JAN
FreeCultural

Thai Pongal

Nationwide (Jaffna, Colombo)

The Tamil harvest festival of thanksgiving. Families boil fresh milk with rice outdoors in clay pots - when it overflows, it signals prosperity. The streets of Jaffna fill with kolam (rice flour art) and the aroma of sweet Pongal.

Free EntryView details →
Galle Literary Festival
23
JAN
Cultural

Galle Literary Festival

Galle Fort, Galle

A prestigious international literary festival held within the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort. Authors, poets and thinkers from across the globe gather for readings, discussions and workshops in one of the world's most beautiful settings.

LKR 3,500View details →
Independence Day
04
FEB
FreeCultural

Independence Day

Independence Square, Colombo

Sri Lanka's National Day marks independence from British rule in 1948. Colombo's Independence Square hosts a grand military parade, cultural performances by dancers from all nine provinces, and a spectacular fireworks display over the Indian Ocean.

Free EntryView details →
Colombo Art Biennale
07
FEB
Cultural

Colombo Art Biennale

Various venues, Colombo

South Asia's premier contemporary art festival, presenting cutting-edge installations, performances and exhibitions by Sri Lankan and international artists across Colombo's most iconic venues.

LKR 2,000View details →
Navam Poya & Colombo Perahera
11
FEB
FreeCultural

Navam Poya & Colombo Perahera

Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo

One of Colombo's most beloved festivals. The Gangaramaya Temple hosts an elaborate two-day perahera through the city streets with hundreds of adorned elephants, acrobats and traditional dancers alongside a spectacular float procession.

Free EntryView details →
Maha Shivaratri
26
FEB
FreeCultural

Maha Shivaratri

Koneswaram Temple, Trincomalee

The great night of Shiva draws thousands of Hindu devotees to Trincomalee's clifftop Koneswaram Temple for all-night prayers, fasting and rituals. The sight of thousands of oil lamps lit on the promontory above the ocean is unforgettable.

Free EntryView details →
Good Friday
03
APR
FreeCultural

Good Friday

Madhu Church, Mannar / St. Lucia's Cathedral, Colombo

Sri Lanka's large Catholic community holds solemn Good Friday processions across the island. The Madhu Church in Mannar - one of South Asia's great Marian shrines - draws over 500,000 pilgrims during Holy Week.

Free EntryView details →
Sinhala & Tamil New Year
13
APR
FreeCultural

Sinhala & Tamil New Year

Nationwide

Sri Lanka's most joyous national celebration marks the solar new year at the precise astrologically auspicious moment. Families light the hearth, prepare milk rice, play traditional games and exchange gifts. The whole island pauses to celebrate together.

Free EntryView details →
Vesak Festival
01
MAY
FreeCultural

Vesak Festival

Nationwide (Colombo, Kandy, Anuradhapura)

Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist festival commemorating the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha. The entire island is adorned with millions of lanterns, illuminated pandols and dansalas - free food stalls open to all.

Free EntryView details →
Poson Poya
11
JUN
FreeCultural

Poson Poya

Mihintale Sacred City, Anuradhapura

Poson commemorates the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka in 247 BC at Mihintale hill. Hundreds of thousands of white-clad pilgrims ascend 1,843 stone steps to the summit by torchlight - one of the most moving sights in Asia.

Free EntryView details →
Kataragama Festival
15
JUL
FreeCultural

Kataragama Festival

Kataragama Sacred City, Uva Province

An extraordinary 10-day multi-faith festival at Sri Lanka's most sacred pilgrimage site, revered by Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Veddhas alike. Devotees perform kavadi, walk on fire and pierce their bodies in devotion to the god Murugan.

Free EntryView details →
Aadi Vel Festival
20
JUL
FreeCultural

Aadi Vel Festival

Sea Street to Bambalapitiya, Colombo

Colombo's most spectacular Hindu procession. The sacred vel (trident) of Lord Murugan is carried in an elaborate golden chariot from the Sea Street Kovil to Bambalapitiya through the heart of the city, accompanied by drumming and kavadi dancers.

Free EntryView details →
Nallur Kandaswamy Temple Festival
05
AUG
FreeCultural

Nallur Kandaswamy Temple Festival

Nallur Kandaswamy Temple, Jaffna

A 25-day Hindu festival of extraordinary devotion at Jaffna's most revered temple. Chariot processions, fire-walking and kavadi dancing make this one of South Asia's most intense and moving religious experiences.

Free EntryView details →
Kandy Esala Perahera
07
AUG
FreeCultural

Kandy Esala Perahera

Temple of the Tooth, Kandy

The most spectacular of all Lankan festivals - a grand procession of 100 elaborately adorned elephants, whip-crackers, fire dancers and Kandyan dancers parading through the ancient streets of Kandy over 10 dazzling nights.

Free EntryView details →
Deepavali - Festival of Lights
08
NOV
FreeCultural

Deepavali - Festival of Lights

Nationwide (Jaffna, Colombo - Sea Street)

The Hindu Festival of Lights celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. Homes and temples are lit with thousands of clay oil lamps, fireworks illuminate the night sky, and sweets are exchanged. Colombo's Sea Street transforms into a river of light.

Free EntryView details →
Unduvap Poya - Sacred Bodhi Day
12
DEC
FreeCultural

Unduvap Poya - Sacred Bodhi Day

Sri Maha Bodhi, Anuradhapura

Unduvap Poya commemorates the arrival of a branch of the sacred Bodhi tree in Sri Lanka in 288 BC - now the oldest living tree on earth. Thousands of devotees gather at Anuradhapura to worship at this 2,300-year-old tree.

Free EntryView details →