Manali Winter Carnival 2027: Dates, Events, Winter Queen and How to Plan

Short answer: The Manali Winter Carnival is a five-day festival of folk dance, a tableau parade, the Winter Queen contest and evening shows, held on Mall Road and at the Manu Rangshala amphitheatre. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet (as of 10 November 2026). The last two editions ran 20–24 January, so plan for late January and keep your bookings flexible.

When is the Manali Winter Carnival 2027?

As of 10 November 2026, the Kullu district administration has not announced the 2027 dates. Every edition from 2019 to 2024 ran from 2 to 6 January. For 2025 the administration moved the carnival to 20–24 January, about 18 days later than usual (discoverkullumanali.in; The Tribune reported “Manali Winter Carnival to begin from Jan 20”). The 2026 edition kept the new slot: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated it on Tuesday 20 January 2026 (IANS, 20 January 2026; Keekli, 20 January 2026), and it closed on 24 January.

Two years in a row is a pattern, not a rule. A late-January slot avoids the Christmas–New Year rush and has better odds of snow at Solang. But the old 2–6 January slot could come back. The organising committee usually meets in early December. We will update this page when the dates are notified. If you have to book now, choose refundable hotels for the week of 18–25 January 2027.

Carnival dates in recent years

Sources: discoverkullumanali.in edition notes; PTI via Business Standard (24 Dec 2018); IANS and Keekli (20 Jan 2026); Free Press Journal (21 Jan 2026). 2021 and 2022 were also scheduled for 2–6 January, but the pandemic disrupted those years.

What is the Manali Winter Carnival?

The carnival dates back to 1977. It began as a way to bring visitors to Manali in the empty winter months, with skiing at Solang and local culture in town. Dr Y.S. Parmar, Himachal’s first chief minister, inaugurated the first one. The state made it a State Level Function in 1999, and it was given national-level status in 2011. Its official name is now the National Winter Carnival (discoverkullumanali.in).

For visitors, it is the one week of the winter when Manali feels like a hill town rather than a hotel strip. The women of the Kullu valley run much of the show. In Himachal, a mahila mandal is a village women’s group, and each one rehearses its own nati (the slow, circular Kullu folk dance) for weeks before the carnival.

What happens each day?

The programme changes a little every year, but the 2026 edition followed the usual shape:

• Day 1: opening parade. Prayers at the Hadimba Devi temple in Dhungri, then the procession through town to Mall Road and Manu Rangshala. In 2026 nearly 300 tableaux were flagged off (IANS, 20 Jan 2026). Expect bands, decorated floats and groups in Kullu shawls and topis (the round Kullu caps).
• Days 2–4: nati and contests. Mahila mandals dance nati on Mall Road. The Winter Queen pageant and the Voice of Carnival singing contest ran from 21 to 23 January in 2026 (Free Press Journal, 21 Jan 2026), with heats at Manu Rangshala.
• Every evening: star nights. Singers and cultural troupes perform on the main stage, including visiting groups from other states. The open-air shows are cold: past Winter Queen finals have been held at about −5°C.
• Last day: finals and prizes. The Winter Queen is crowned and the best tableau and best food stall get their awards.

Winter sports depend on the snow. In 2019 the national ski championships at Solang were pushed to February. In 2023 there was no snow, so no winter games were held. Don’t plan around a carnival ski race. If you want to ski or play in the snow, see our snow activities in Manali page for what usually runs at Solang and Sissu.

Where are the events held?

Almost everything happens within a 15-minute walk in Manali town:

• Mall Road: parade, nati performances, extra stages and stalls. The stretch from Ram Bagh Chowk to Ibex Chowk has been the main venue since 2010.
• Manu Rangshala: an open-air amphitheatre for contests and evening shows.
• Hadimba Devi temple (Dhungri): the opening prayers. It’s about 2 km uphill from Mall Road through deodar forest.
• Food court: stalls run by mahila mandals and self-help groups. Try siddu (steamed wheat bread stuffed with poppy seed or walnut), Kullu trout and the local salted tea.

Stay in the Mall Road, Model Town or Log Huts area so you can walk back after the night shows. Taxis are scarce after 10 pm in the cold, and parking near Mall Road fills up during the carnival.

What is the weather like during the carnival?

January is Manali’s coldest month. IMD normals give an average high of 10.5°C and a low of −1.1°C, with about 90 mm of rain or snow over roughly six days (see our Manali in January guide for the full table). Snow in town is likely at some point in the month but never certain. In the 2025–26 season, Manali town got its first proper snowfall only on 23 January 2026, the day after the carnival’s midpoint and the start of the Republic Day weekend.

Solang (about 2,560 m) and Sissu beyond the Atal Tunnel (about 3,100 m) are colder and much more likely to have snow on the ground in late January. After fresh snow, police stop ordinary cars at Palchan or Solang, and only 4×4s with chains are allowed further up. Check our live Manali snowfall guide the week before you travel.

How do you plan a carnival trip?

Four nights in Manali is enough: two evenings at the carnival, one snow day and one spare day in case a road closes. A sample plan, assuming the 20–24 January pattern holds:

• Day 0 (night): overnight Volvo or private car from Delhi (about 12–14 hours), or drive from Chandigarh.
• Day 1: arrive, rest, Hadimba temple and Old Manali in the afternoon, then the opening parade or the first evening show.
• Day 2: snow day at Solang or Sissu, depending on the road advisory. Back by 4 pm for nati on Mall Road.
• Day 3: Vashisht hot springs and Naggar Castle, then the Winter Queen heats at Manu Rangshala.
• Day 4: spare day for snow or shopping. Leave by Sunday 24 January to beat the Republic Day traffic coming up the valley.

Our packages already cover these days. Prices below are from each package page as of 10 November 2026 (Deluxe, per person, twin sharing, off-season rate). We confirm the exact rate for carnival dates when you send an enquiry.

• Shimla Manali tour package from Chandigarh (6 days / 5 nights): from ₹12,499.
• Kullu Manali honeymoon package (5 days / 4 nights): from ₹12,999.
• Shimla Manali tour package from Delhi: from ₹14,499.

Coming by road on your own? Our Delhi to Manali taxi page lists current fares, and the drivers carry snow chains.

Is it worth timing your trip around the carnival?

If you like local culture and a lively town, yes. Watching a hundred Kullu women dance nati in the cold on Mall Road is something you won’t see in December. Late January also usually has more snow on the ground at Solang and Sissu than Christmas week, and from 6 January hotel prices drop below the peak-season rate.

If you only want quiet snow, go in the first half of February instead: the same snow odds, fewer crowds and no Republic Day traffic. And if the dates come out as 2–6 January again, remember that week is still peak season, with New Year prices and traffic on the Kiratpur–Manali highway.

What should you pack for the carnival?

• Thermal inners, a down or heavy fleece jacket, a woollen cap and gloves. The evening shows are outdoors and below freezing.
• Waterproof boots with grip. Mall Road gets icy in the mornings after snow. Snow suits and boots can be hired at Solang (see snow suit and boots on rent).
• Cash for food stalls and local taxis, because UPI signal can drop in crowds. Also a power bank, as phone batteries drain fast in the cold.
• Any medicines you need. Manali has pharmacies and hospitals; the larger referral hospitals are down the valley in Kullu.

What this means for your trip

• Until the dates are announced, plan for Wednesday 20 to Sunday 24 January 2027, but only make refundable bookings.
• Arrive on 19 or 20 January and leave by 24 January to avoid the Republic Day traffic on 25–26 January. In January 2026 the Kothi–Manali stretch backed up for about 8 km on the long weekend.
• Keep one spare day for snow closures on the Solang–Atal Tunnel road.
• Book a hotel you can walk to Mall Road from. Book by mid-December if the dates are confirmed.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Manali Winter Carnival 2027?

The dates had not been announced as of 10 November 2026. The 2025 and 2026 editions both ran 20–24 January. Before that, it was held 2–6 January every year from 2019 to 2024. The Kullu district administration usually confirms the dates in December, so book refundable hotels for the week of 18–25 January until then.

Is there an entry fee for the Manali Winter Carnival?

No. The parade, the nati on Mall Road and most stage events are free to watch from the street. Seating at Manu Rangshala for the evening shows and contests is first come, first served. Arrive early for the Winter Queen final. Food stalls, rides and any ticketed events are paid separately.

How many days does the Manali Winter Carnival last?

Five days. The 2019–2024 editions ran 2–6 January, and the 2025 and 2026 editions ran 20–24 January. The opening parade is on day one, the Winter Queen and Voice of Carnival contests run over the middle days (21–23 January in 2026), and the prize-giving is on the last day.

Will there be snow during the Manali Winter Carnival?

There’s no guarantee in town. January is Manali’s snowiest month, but in 2026 the first real snow came only on 23 January, and the 2023 edition had none at all. Solang and Sissu are higher up and far more reliable. Plan one flexible snow day and check the HP Police and IMD Shimla advisories each morning.

Where should I stay for the carnival?

Stay near Mall Road, Model Town or the Log Huts area so you can walk to Manu Rangshala and back after the night shows. Old Manali and Vashisht are quieter but need a taxi at night, and taxis are scarce after 10 pm. Book early once the dates are out, because rooms near Mall Road fill first.

Can I combine the carnival with Solang Valley and the Atal Tunnel?

Yes. Solang is about 14 km and the Atal Tunnel’s south portal about 25 km from town, so either is a half-day trip. After fresh snow, police may stop ordinary cars at Palchan or Solang, and only 4×4s with chains are allowed further up. Keep the snow day flexible and back the night shows up with an early start.

Is the Manali Winter Carnival good for families?

Yes, during the day. The parade, nati and food stalls suit all ages, and past programmes have included baby shows, magic shows and local games. The evening shows go on late and are below freezing, so take small children for an hour and then head back. Wrap them in layers and keep them out of the crush at the front of the stage.