Plan your trip · Goa
What's on in Goa
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Goa — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Goa right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.
The year in Goa
Goa's calendar works around the monsoon — the big outdoor events sit either side of it, and the wettest weeks are the quietest ones for anything held in the open. Broadly, Oct – Mar is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.
Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.
Signature to Goa
The beach season
🗓️ November–FebruaryThe dry season brings back the beach shacks, night markets and the big music festivals.
Planning: Christmas and New Year are the most expensive fortnight of the Goan year by a distance.
Nationwide
Diwali
🗓️ October–NovemberThe biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.
Holi
🗓️ MarchColoured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.
Navratri and Dussehra
🗓️ September–OctoberNine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.
Eid al-Fitr
🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each yearThe end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.
Makar Sankranti and Pongal
🗓️ mid-JanuaryThe harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Goa's calendar follows its two cultures. Carnival, usually held over a few days in February or early March before Lent, brings float parades, music and costumes to Panaji, Margao, Mapusa and Vasco. Shigmo, the Konkani spring festival, follows in March, with evening float parades and folk dances in towns across the state. In winter, Christmas lights up churches and villages, and on 3 December thousands gather in Old Goa for the Feast of St Francis Xavier.
Most festival dates change every year, as many follow the Hindu or Church calendar. Check the dates for your year before you book, and book rooms early for Christmas, New Year and Carnival.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Goa
- Book hotels and transport early for Christmas, New Year and Carnival.
- Arrive early for parades, as the best viewing spots fill up.
- Expect road closures and diversions in Panaji and other towns on parade days.
- Dress modestly for church feasts and temple festivals.
- Carry water and a hat, as parades can be hot and long.
- Keep your belongings safe in crowds.
Questions
Goa — FAQ
When is Goa Carnival?
Goa Carnival is usually held for a few days in February or early March, just before Lent. The dates change every year, so check the schedule before you travel.
What is Shigmo?
Shigmo is Goa's Hindu spring festival, usually in March. Towns take turns to hold evening parades with floats, drums and folk dances such as ghode modni.
What is the Feast of St Francis Xavier?
It is held on 3 December at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, in honour of the saint whose relics lie there. Thousands of pilgrims attend, so expect crowds and traffic in Old Goa.
Is Goa good for Christmas and New Year?
Yes. Churches and villages are decorated, and there are midnight masses and celebrations across the state. It is also the most crowded and expensive time of year, so book early.