Festivals of Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 2026 Guide
A guide to the festivals of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 2026, from the January Island Tourism Festival and Subhash Mela to the beach festival.
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Most people go to the Andamans for the beaches and the diving. The festivals are an afterthought, if they think of them at all. That's a bit of a miss. Time your trip right and you land in the middle of a ten-day island-wide party, or a quiet tribal ritual you'll never see anywhere else on earth. The islands are home to mainland settlers and ancient indigenous communities both, so the calendar is an odd, wonderful mix. Here are the festivals worth planning around in 2026, and the ones you honestly can't attend.
Island Tourism Festival, the big one
If you catch only one, make it this. The Island Tourism Festival is the archipelago's flagship celebration, run by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, and in 2026 it runs from 5 to 15 January. Ten days, sometimes stretched to fifteen. The whole thing is a showcase of island life. Dance troupes, tribal songs, music, drama, food stalls, craft exhibitions, plus aqua sports and parasailing for anyone who wants a go. The crowd favourite is the Nicobari Hodi race, a traditional boat race you won't find anywhere else. And it isn't just a Port Blair affair. Events spill out to Havelock, Neil, Rangat, Diglipur and beyond, so you don't have to be in the capital to catch some of it. One catch: January is peak season, so book early.
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Subhash Mela
Held on 23 January, Subhash Mela marks the birthday of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, a figure with deep ties to these islands. He raised the Indian flag here in 1943, and the Andamans hold a special place in that history. The fair brings cultural programmes, exhibitions and sporting events, and it falls neatly right after the Tourism Festival, so a well-timed January trip can catch both.
The Beach Festival
This one lands in November or December, right as the season is warming up. It's exactly what the name promises. Cultural performances, food, and adventure sports staged on the islands' beaches. It's smaller and more relaxed than the January festival, and honestly that's part of the charm. If you're visiting early in the season, ask locally where it's being held that year, because the venue moves around.
Monsoon Festival
Here's a reason to visit in the off-season. The Monsoon Festival, a music-led affair in Port Blair, usually runs in June or July, right in the thick of the rains. It leans into local musicians and island culture, with food and dance alongside. Fewer tourists, greener islands, cheaper stays. The trade-off is the weather and rougher seas, which can mess with ferry schedules between islands, so keep your plans flexible.
The festivals you can't actually attend
This part matters, and a lot of blogs skip it. The islands' indigenous tribes have their own deeply important rituals. The Nicobarese hold the Ossuary Feast, sometimes called the Pig Festival, a post-harvest ceremony honouring ancestors with feasting, dance and traditional music. There are Great Andamanese celebrations too. Here's the thing: these are not tourist events. The tribal areas, especially in Nicobar, are protected reserves, and outsiders are not permitted. Read about them, respect them, and don't go looking for a way in. It doesn't exist, and trying is both illegal and deeply disrespectful.
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Mainland festivals, island-style
Because the Andamans were settled by people from all over India, the big national festivals are all celebrated here, often with a local twist. Diwali, Durga Puja, Christmas, Eid, Pongal, you'll find them all depending on the community and the season. Christmas and New Year are especially lively. The islands have a sizeable Christian population, and it overlaps with peak tourist time. None of this will be the reason you book a trip. But it adds colour if your dates line up.
How to plan around a festival
The short version: aim for January if you want the biggest spectacle, accept the crowds and higher prices that come with peak season, and book well ahead. Getting there means a flight to Port Blair or the passenger ship from the mainland. If you're weighing the sea route, our guides to the Chennai to Andaman ship and the Vizag to Andaman ship lay out the fares and sailing times. Once you're on the islands, festival dates and venues can shift year to year, so confirm the current schedule with the local tourism office rather than trusting an old blog.
Frequently asked questions
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