Pilgrimage calendar

Fri, Jun 5, 2026

Atsuta Shrine· Japan · Shinto

The largest annual festival of Atsuta Jingu and the unofficial start of Nagoya's summer, combining Shinto rites with martial-arts demonstrations, towering kento-makiwara lantern pillars, and evening fireworks. Held on the fixed date of June 5.

Jul 9 – Fri, Jul 10, 2026

Sensō-ji (浅草寺)· Japan · Buddhism

A summer market at Senso-ji where around 120 stalls sell potted hozuki (Japanese lantern plants), coinciding with Shiman-rokusen-nichi, when a single visit on July 10 is believed to grant the merit of 46,000 days of worship. Held on the fixed dates July 9-10.

Sun, Jul 19, 2026

Fushimi Inari-taisha· Japan · Shinto

A midsummer lantern festival when thousands of lanterns across Mt. Inari are lit to illuminate the shrine paths at night. Held in mid-to-late July; the date varies slightly each year.

Mon, Jul 20, 2026

Miyajima Island· Japan · Shinto

Summer music-and-boat festival at Itsukushima Shrine; gilded boats carry court music (gagaku) across the bay at high tide. Date follows the lunar calendar.

Jul 24 – Fri, Aug 7, 2026

Kataragama Temple, Sri Lanka· Sri Lanka · Buddhism

A multi-faith festival honoring the deity Skanda/Murugan, drawing Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and Vedda pilgrims, with nightly peraheras culminating in fire-walking and a dawn water-cutting ceremony. Set by the Esala full moon; dates shift annually.

Aug 5 – Thu, Aug 6, 2026

Basilica of the Virgin of Copacabana, Copacabana· Bolivia · Christianity

The principal festival honoring the Virgin of Copacabana, Patroness of Bolivia, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, with Aymara dancers, processions, and the blessing of vehicles blending Catholic and Andean traditions.

Aug 18 – Fri, Aug 28, 2026

Sri Dalada Maligawa, Temple of the Tooth· Sri Lanka · Buddhism

One of the world's grandest Buddhist processions, honoring the Sacred Tooth Relic with nightly processions of caparisoned elephants, Kandyan dancers, and drummers, culminating in a water-cutting ceremony. Set by the Esala full moon; dates shift annually.

Sep 15 – Wed, Sep 23, 2026

Venkateswara temple, Tirumala, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh· India · Hinduism

The grandest annual festival at Tirumala: a nine-day celebration of Lord Venkateswara with daily processions of the deity on different vahanas, the famous Garuda Seva, and the Rathotsavam chariot festival. The date shifts annually with the Hindu lunisolar calendar (2026 falls in an extra lunar month, so it is observed twice).

Tue, Sep 22, 2026

Badrinath· India · Hinduism

A fair honoring Mata Murti, mother of Lord Badrinath, commemorating the descent of the Ganga. Celebrated on Bhadrapada Dwadashi in September; the date shifts annually with the Hindu calendar.

Oct 15 – Sat, Oct 17, 2026

Ise· Japan · Shinto

One of the three great festivals of Ise Jingu, offering the season's first newly harvested rice to the goddess Amaterasu in thanksgiving, with core rites at the Geku and Naiku on Oct 15-17.

Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18, 2026

Ise· Japan · Shinto

One of the three great festivals of Ise Jingu, offering the season's first newly harvested rice to the goddess Amaterasu in thanksgiving, with core rites at the Geku and Naiku on Oct 15-17.

Oct 17 – Mon, Oct 19, 2026

Ise· Japan · Shinto

One of the three great festivals of Ise Jingu, offering the season's first newly harvested rice to the goddess Amaterasu in thanksgiving, with core rites at the Geku and Naiku on Oct 15-17.

Sun, Nov 15, 2026

Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh· India · Hinduism

The "Diwali of the gods" on the ghats of Varanasi; the riverfront steps are lit with lakhs of oil lamps on Kartik Purnima. Date is lunar.

Tue, Nov 24, 2026

Somnath Jyotir Linga Shiva Temple, Somnath, Gujarat· India · Hinduism

A fair on the full-moon day of Kartik with cultural programs, special Archana and a midnight Mahaarati; tradition holds the moon god takes his seat on the temple spire. The date shifts annually with the Hindu lunisolar calendar.

Tue, Nov 24, 2026

Sri Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple), Amritsar, Punjab· India · Sikhism

Gurpurab celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak, observed on Kartik Purnima, with continuous recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib and a 48-hour Akhand Path at the Golden Temple. Lunar; the date shifts each year.

Nov 29 – Sun, Dec 6, 2026

Izumo Taisha (Izumo Grand Shrine)· Japan · Shinto

During the tenth lunar month the deities of Japan are believed to gather at Izumo Taisha to deliberate human destinies and relationships; a week of solemn rites begins with the Kamimukae-sai welcoming ceremony. Lunar; the dates shift each year.

Thu, Jan 7, 2027

Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela· Ethiopia · Christianity

Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas (Jan 7), after 43 days of Advent fasting. Tens of thousands of pilgrims fill the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela for an all-night procession through this 'New Jerusalem.'

Tue, Jan 19, 2027

Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela· Ethiopia · Christianity

Ethiopia's celebration of Epiphany (Jan 19), commemorating the baptism of Christ, with processions of the tabots draped in embroidered cloth carried around the town amid chanting.

Tue, Feb 2, 2027

Basilica of the Virgin of Copacabana, Copacabana· Bolivia · Christianity

Copacabana's February feast of Our Lady of Candelaria (Feb 2), with music, traditional Andean dances, processions, and the blessing of newly purchased vehicles by the lakeshore.

Wed, Apr 14, 2027

Sri Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple), Amritsar, Punjab· India · Sikhism

Vaisakhi commemorates the founding of the Khalsa in 1699 and the spring harvest. At the Golden Temple it culminates a 48-hour Akhand Path with Nagar Kirtan processions and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. Near-fixed in the solar Nanakshahi calendar (Apr 13-14).

Tue, Apr 20, 2027

Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu· India · Hinduism

Madurai's grand temple festival celebrating the celestial wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar, with vast processions through the city. Date is lunar (month of Chithirai).

May 15 – Sun, May 16, 2027

Sensō-ji (浅草寺)· Japan · Shinto

One of Tokyo's great Shintō festivals, centred on Asakusa Shrine beside Sensō-ji; mikoshi (portable shrine) processions over the third weekend of May.

Sat, Jun 5, 2027

Atsuta Shrine· Japan · Shinto

The largest annual festival of Atsuta Jingu and the unofficial start of Nagoya's summer, combining Shinto rites with martial-arts demonstrations, towering kento-makiwara lantern pillars, and evening fireworks. Held on the fixed date of June 5.

Jul 9 – Sat, Jul 10, 2027

Sensō-ji (浅草寺)· Japan · Buddhism

A summer market at Senso-ji where around 120 stalls sell potted hozuki (Japanese lantern plants), coinciding with Shiman-rokusen-nichi, when a single visit on July 10 is believed to grant the merit of 46,000 days of worship. Held on the fixed dates July 9-10.

Tue, Jul 20, 2027

Miyajima Island· Japan · Shinto

Summer music-and-boat festival at Itsukushima Shrine; gilded boats carry court music (gagaku) across the bay at high tide. Date follows the lunar calendar.

Aug 5 – Fri, Aug 6, 2027

Basilica of the Virgin of Copacabana, Copacabana· Bolivia · Christianity

The principal festival honoring the Virgin of Copacabana, Patroness of Bolivia, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, with Aymara dancers, processions, and the blessing of vehicles blending Catholic and Andean traditions.

Oct 15 – Sun, Oct 17, 2027

Ise· Japan · Shinto

One of the three great festivals of Ise Jingu, offering the season's first newly harvested rice to the goddess Amaterasu in thanksgiving, with core rites at the Geku and Naiku on Oct 15-17.

Oct 16 – Mon, Oct 18, 2027

Ise· Japan · Shinto

One of the three great festivals of Ise Jingu, offering the season's first newly harvested rice to the goddess Amaterasu in thanksgiving, with core rites at the Geku and Naiku on Oct 15-17.

Oct 17 – Tue, Oct 19, 2027

Ise· Japan · Shinto

One of the three great festivals of Ise Jingu, offering the season's first newly harvested rice to the goddess Amaterasu in thanksgiving, with core rites at the Geku and Naiku on Oct 15-17.

Mon, Nov 15, 2027

Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh· India · Hinduism

The "Diwali of the gods" on the ghats of Varanasi; the riverfront steps are lit with lakhs of oil lamps on Kartik Purnima. Date is lunar.