Mysuru Dasara 2026: Dates, History, Events, Rituals & Complete Guide

Mysuru Dasara 2026, also called Mysore Dasara 2026, runs from Sunday, October 11, to Wednesday, October 21. The official programme runs from October 11 to October 21, covering Navaratri celebrations and the Vijayadashami finale across Mysuru. It opens atop Chamundi Hill and closes with the Jamboo Savari, when a gold howdah carries Goddess Chamundeshwari to Bannimantap, with a record-setting drone show returning this year.

When Is Mysuru Dasara 2026?

Mysuru Dasara 2026 runs from Sunday, October 11, to Wednesday, October 21, 2026, according to the official Mysuru Dasara Committee. The festival begins with the inauguration at Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hill at 11:50 AM on October 11 and concludes with Vijayadashami events, including the Jamboo Savari on October 21.

There is some confusion over whether Vijayadashami falls on October 20 or October 21. The Dashami tithi begins at 12:50 PM on October 20 and ends at 2:11 PM on October 21. Some regional calendars observe Vijayadashami on October 20, while the Mysuru Palace panchanga and official Mysuru Dasara programme designate October 21 as Vijayadashami, with the Jamboo Savari scheduled that afternoon. Drik Panchang's dedicated Mysore Dasara calendar also lists October 21 as Mysore Dasara.

For visitors planning to attend the Jamboo Savari, Torchlight Parade or other official Mysuru Dasara events, October 21 is the date to follow.

Mysuru Dasara 2026 Dates

The official programme runs from October 11 to October 21, with the Jamboo Savari scheduled for October 21.

What Is the History Behind Mysuru Dasara?

Mysuru takes its name from Mahishasura, the buffalo demon that Goddess Chamundeshwari is said to have defeated on this ground. The festival marks the win of good over evil. It's also why the goddess rides through the city on Vijayadashami, instead of staying inside a temple.

The organised celebration goes back to 1610. That's when Raja Wodeyar I held Navaratri here, right after taking Srirangapatna from the Vijayanagara empire. He was carrying forward a tradition the Vijayanagara kings had run for generations, from the Mahanavami Dibba platform at Hampi. The Wadiyar dynasty kept it going for four centuries of royal rule. After independence, the Karnataka government took over as organiser.

That's why people call it the Nada Habba, the state festival. The government funds and runs it now, not the palace alone. Even so, the Wadiyar family still keeps its own rituals inside the palace walls.

What Events Happen During Mysuru Dasara 2026?

The Dasara elephants began their journey with Gaja Payana on August 26, when they were flagged off from Veeranahosahalli in Nagarhole. They entered Amba Vilas Palace on August 28, followed by Gaja Puja at 9:52 AM. 

Jamboo Savari

The Jamboo Savari is the grand finale of Mysuru Dasara and takes place on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The official Palace panchanga schedules the Nandi Dhwaja Puja from 1:36 to 1:56 PM at Amba Vilas Palace. At 4:10 PM, Pushparchane, the floral offering to Goddess Chamundeshwari in the golden howdah, begins and continues until 4:35 PM. The Jamboo Savari then leaves the Palace after 4:35 PM for Bannimantap. 

The procession follows a route of about 5 km, passing through the city before reaching Bannimantap. The golden howdah, known as the Chinnada Ambari, weighs about 750 kg including the idol, and contains approximately 80 kg of gold plating on its teak frame.

Roads around the Palace close from 11 AM on procession day. Visitors watching from the public route do not need a ticket.

Torchlight Parade

The Torchlight Parade, or Panjina Kavayathu, begins at 7 PM at Bannimantap on October 20 and returns for its closing edition at 7 PM on October 21. The programme features marching units, cavalry, bands and other performances, followed by the evening's closing celebrations. 

Palace illumination

About one lakh bulbs illuminate Amba Vilas Palace every evening from 7 PM to 10 PM during Dasara. On Vijayadashami, October 21, the Palace illumination continues until midnight. It costs nothing to walk past and see it. It's also one of the most photographed parts of the whole event.

Drone Show

The Mysuru Dasara drone show returns in 2026 with multiple scheduled displays at the Panjina Kavayathu ground in Bannimantap. The official programme lists shows at 8 PM on October 17, 18, 20 and 21. The October 17 and 18 shows are separately ticketed, while the October 20 and 21 displays are also scheduled as part of the festival programme.

The 2025 edition set a Guinness World Record when 2,983 drones formed an aerial image of a tiger, recognised as the largest aerial image of a mammal formed by multirotor drones. The Guinness World Records records the achievement in Mysuru on September 28, 2025.

For 2026, the official ticket page lists the separately ticketed drone-show evenings as October 17 and 18, with gates opening from 4:30 PM and tickets starting at ₹1,000 per person.

Yuva Dasara

The youth festival runs from September 28 to October 5 at the Open Air Theatre in Manasagangothri. Entry is free, with concerts most evenings.

New this year, Kambala joins the lineup too. The buffalo race is scheduled for October 18 and 19 at the Kambala track near VTU College, with both days beginning at 9 AM. 

How Do You Get Tickets for the Jamboo Savari and Other Events?

Mysore Dasara tickets for 2026 are sold through TicketGenie, linked from the official mysoredasara.gov.in site. The booking opened in September, and the better slots move fast.

One ticket admits one person. Price out your whole group before you book. Roads near the palace close at 11 am on October 21, and the procession gate shuts at 12:30 pm sharp. Watching from the street costs nothing. Long stretches of Raja Marga give you a clear look at the elephants without any ticket at all. For the complete Mysore Dasara programme 2026, including the day-by-day cultural lineup, check mysoredasara.gov.in directly.

What Else Can You Do in Mysuru During Dasara?

The Mysore Dasara exhibition 2026 runs at Doddakere Maidan, right opposite the palace. Expect handicraft stalls, food counters, amusement rides and a recently redone, heritage-style layout. It usually stays open well past the main festival dates, so it's worth the trip even if October 21 doesn't fit your schedule.

For Mysore Dasara sightseeing beyond the exhibition grounds, start at Chamundi Hill. The temple there is where the festival's story technically begins, and the climb up gives you a view over the whole city. Brindavan Gardens is another good stop, about 20 km away near the Krishna Raja Sagara dam. Its musical fountain show runs most evenings and draws a festive crowd this time of year.

If you're short on time, the simplest of the things to do in Mysore during Dasara is also the cheapest. Walk past the palace after dark for the lighting, then catch whichever cultural programme is on that evening. Neither one needs a ticket.