Royal Highland Festival 2026: Laya Hosts 9th Edition 23–24 Oct
By Best of Bhutan Research Desk · October 21, 2026 · 8 min read
The Royal Highland Festival 2026 takes place on 23 and 24 October at the Langothang festival ground in Laya, Gasa district. It is the ninth edition of the festival, and organisers expect more than 5,000 visitors, according to Kuensel's report of 21 October 2026. Residents of Laya are putting up tents, stalls and kitchens on the ground to handle the crowd.
Two other things happen in Laya this week. A new regional network for yak herders from Bhutan, India and Nepal will be launched at the festival (Kuensel), and the 2026 Snowman Race, a five-day ultramarathon across the high Himalaya, starts from Laya on 24 October (Daily Bhutan).
This post covers the facts, what visitors can expect, how to reach Laya, and what to do if you want to go this year or next.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | What has been reported |
|---|---|
| Event | Royal Highland Festival, 9th edition |
| Dates | 23–24 October 2026 |
| Venue | Langothang festival ground, Laya, Gasa district |
| Altitude | About 4,000 m, according to the Department of Tourism |
| Expected visitors | More than 5,000 (Kuensel) |
| First held | 2016, started by His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (Daily Bhutan) |
| New this year | Launch of a Himalayan yak herders' network for Bhutan, India and Nepal, with Bhutan hosting the secretariat (Kuensel) |
| Linked event | Snowman Race 2026 starts from Laya on 24 October |
| Access | Road to the trailhead, then a hike of roughly 4 hours; limited helicopter seats (Department of Tourism) |
What the Royal Highland Festival Is
The festival was started in 2016 by His Majesty the King to celebrate the culture and livelihoods of Bhutan's highland communities (Daily Bhutan). It is not a religious tshechu with masked dances in a dzong courtyard. It is a two-day gathering of herders from Bhutan's northern valleys, held in a village at about 4,000 m.
The Department of Tourism's festival page describes its aims as promoting and preserving highland life and culture, supporting the highland economy, and showing visitors the landscape of the north. Laya sits inside Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park, and the Layaps, the people of Laya, are known for their conical bamboo hats and distinctive dress.
Our Royal Highland Festival page has a short overview, and the Laya village page covers the village itself.
What Happens Over the Two Days
Based on the Department of Tourism's description of the festival, visitors can expect:
- Animal events. Parades, games and competitions featuring yaks, horses and Bhutanese mastiffs. Some animals are decorated with fabric, coloured hair and bells.
- Layap performances. Songs, dances, poetry recitations and the presentation of gifts, known locally as buelwa.
- Highland market stalls. Local produce, textiles, souvenirs and medicinal herbs, along with highland foods such as dried yak cheese and butter.
- The Laya Run. In past editions, a 25 km run has started at Ponjothang, where the road ends, and followed the Mo Chhu up to the festival ground. The Department of Tourism lists it as part of the festival; we have not seen a confirmed 2026 race schedule.
The full 2026 programme has not been published online as of 21 October. Treat the list above as a guide to the usual format rather than a confirmed schedule.
Yaks on a high pasture in Bhutan. Yak herding is the main livelihood the festival celebrates.
New This Year: A Himalayan Yak Herders' Network
Kuensel reports that a Himalayan Yak Herders' Network covering Bhutan, India and Nepal will be launched at this year's festival, with Bhutan hosting its secretariat (Kuensel, 21 October 2026). Further detail on the network's membership, funding and work programme was not available at the time of writing. We will update this post if more is published.
For visitors, the practical point is that the festival this year has a regional angle. Expect more official delegations and more media than in a typical year.
Snowman Race Starts From Laya on 24 October
The third Snowman Race starts during the festival. According to Daily Bhutan, 17 athletes are taking part, and the race begins in Laya on 24 October. The route follows the line of the Snowman Trek over high passes to a finish in Bumthang.
We covered the race in detail, including its route, runners and what it means for trekkers in late October, in our post on the Snowman Race 2026.
Why It Matters
For Laya. A crowd of 5,000 is a large number for a village with no road to its centre. The festival is one of the few times in the year when visitors, buyers and officials come to Laya in numbers, and residents earn income from stalls, food, pack animals and homestays.
For highland herding. Yak herding communities in Bhutan, India and Nepal share the same high-altitude landscape. A regional network with its secretariat in Bhutan gives herders a formal way to work together. What the network will do in practice has not yet been published.
For festival travel in Bhutan. Most festival trips to Bhutan centre on the big dzong tshechus in Paro, Thimphu and Punakha. The Royal Highland Festival is different: it requires a trek, it is small, and it shows a way of life most visitors never see. That makes it one of the more distinctive dates in the Bhutan festival calendar.
What It Means for Travellers
If you want to go this week. It is very late. Getting to Laya takes most of a day from Thimphu, accommodation in Laya is limited to tents and homestays, and all international visitors need a licensed Bhutanese tour operator and guide. If you are already in Bhutan with flexible days, ask your operator whether they can still arrange it. Otherwise, plan for next year.
Getting there. The Department of Tourism gives two broad options:
- Drive and hike. About 6 hours by road from Thimphu to the trailhead area, then roughly 4 hours on foot along the glacial river to Laya. Its sample itineraries go via Gasa town (about 132 km from Thimphu), then on to the road end before the hike.
- Helicopter. Available, but seats are limited and need to be booked well in advance.
Most festival itineraries run four or five days, arriving in Laya the day before the festival and leaving the day after.
Altitude. Laya is close to 4,000 m. Spend at least one night at a lower altitude, such as Punakha or Gasa, on the way up. Walk slowly on the hike in, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol on the first night. If you have not been at high altitude before, read the acclimatisation section of our Bhutan trekking guide.
Weather. Late October in the highlands usually brings clear skies and cold nights. Pack for temperatures below freezing after dark, plus sun protection for the day.
Cost. The Sustainable Development Fee applies for every night you spend in Bhutan, including nights in Laya. See our SDF guide for current rates and exemptions.
Combine it with a trek. Laya is on the Laya Trek route, and the festival dates fit well with a late-season trek. Late October is one of the best times of year for high routes in Bhutan, but it is also busy, so book campsites and pack animals early.
Planning for 2027
The Department of Tourism lists the festival as taking place on 23–24 October each year. Official 2027 dates have not been announced; confirm them with your operator before booking flights. Because Laya has limited space and the trip involves a trek, it is worth starting plans at least four to six months ahead.
If you want help building a festival trip around Laya, Gasa's hot springs and Punakha, contact us.
Related Planning Links
- Royal Highland Festival overview
- Laya village
- Laya Trek route
- Snowman Race 2026: Laya to Bumthang
- Top festivals in Bhutan
- Understanding the SDF
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Royal Highland Festival 2026?
It takes place on 23 and 24 October 2026 at the Langothang festival ground in Laya, Gasa district. This is the ninth edition of the festival.
Where is the Royal Highland Festival held?
In Laya, a highland village in Gasa district in northern Bhutan, at about 4,000 m. Laya is inside Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park and is reached by a hike of several hours from the end of the road, or by helicopter.
How do you get to Laya for the festival?
Drive about 6 hours from Thimphu to the trailhead, then hike roughly 4 hours to Laya, according to the Department of Tourism. Limited helicopter seats are also available. International visitors must travel with a licensed Bhutanese tour operator.
Who started the Royal Highland Festival?
His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck started the festival in 2016 to celebrate the culture and livelihoods of Bhutan's highland communities.
What happens at the Royal Highland Festival?
Parades and competitions with yaks, horses and mastiffs, Layap songs and dances, and stalls selling highland produce, textiles and medicinal herbs. Past editions have included a 25 km run up the Mo Chhu valley to Laya.
Sources
- Kuensel: "Laya readies to host over 5,000 visitors for Royal Highland Festival," 21 October 2026. Edition number, dates, venue and expected visitors.
- Kuensel: "Himalayan Yak Network to launch at Royal Highland Festival," 21 October 2026. The yak herders' network and its secretariat.
- Daily Bhutan: "Seventeen Athletes Prepare for Bhutan's 2026 Snowman Race," 19 October 2026. Festival origin in 2016 and the Snowman Race start.
- Department of Tourism, Bhutan: "The Royal Highland Festival." Festival activities, altitude, the Laya Run and access options.
- Daily Bhutan: "Bhutan Festival Calendar 2026," April 2026. Listing of the 23–24 October dates.
Corrections are welcome. If you are attending or organising the festival and have updated programme details, please get in touch.