Krishna Janmashtami 2026: Date, Meaning & Where to See It
Krishna's birthday, celebrated through the night at the stone Krishna Mandir in Patan Durbar Square.
- Next
- Usually in August–September
- Earlier years
- 4 September 2026 · 16 August 2025 · 26 August 2024 · 6 September 2023 · 19 August 2022
Devotees queue to enter Patan's 17th-century Krishna Mandir, and hymns and oil lamps fill the square all night. Temples across the Terai hold all-night bhajans.
Arrive in the evening for the atmosphere; the square is packed by midnight.
Where to see it
Heritage & palace
Patan Durbar Square
Lalitpur, Bagmati ProvinceThe finest collection of Newar architecture in the valley: palace courtyards, stone temples and the superb Patan Museum.
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Temple & shrine
Janaki Mandir, Janakpur
Dhanusha, Madhesh ProvinceA white marble palace-temple of 1910 dedicated to Sita, built where her image is said to have been found.
Read more →Quick answers
- When is Krishna Janmashtami in 2026?
- Usually in August–September. The exact date for the next one is not published yet.
- What is Krishna Janmashtami?
- Krishna's birthday, celebrated through the night at the stone Krishna Mandir in Patan Durbar Square.
- Where is the best place to see Krishna Janmashtami?
- Patan Durbar Square, Janaki Mandir, Janakpur.
Other festivals
DashainTihar (Deepawali)ChhathHoliMaha ShivaratriLosar (Tibetan, Sherpa, Tamang and Gurung New Year)Nepali New Year and Bisket JatraBuddha JayantiTeejJanai PurnimaGai JatraIndra JatraMaghe SankrantiUbhauli and UdhauliMani RimduTiji FestivalVivaha Panchami
Calculate the cost for your group →Dates from the public Holidays in Nepal calendar (Google Calendar), checked daily. Local festivals not in that calendar show their usual month; lunar dates can shift by a day locally.