Plan your trip · Kochi
What's on in Kochi
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Kochi — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Kochi 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 Kochi
Kochi'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 Kochi
Kochi-Muziris Biennale
🗓️ December–April, alternate yearsSouth Asia's largest contemporary art exhibition, spread across Fort Kochi warehouses.
Planning: Runs for months, so no need to rush — check whether this is a Biennale year.
Across Kerala
Onam
🗓️ August–SeptemberTen days of flower carpets, feasting on a banana-leaf sadya, and snake-boat races on the backwaters.
Planning: The state effectively stops for it; book houseboats and trains well ahead.
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.
Kochi's biggest events come in the dry season. The Cochin Carnival fills Fort Kochi in the last weeks of December and ends with the burning of the giant Pappanji effigy on Fort Kochi beach at midnight on New Year's Eve. In Biennale years, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale turns old warehouses and heritage buildings across Fort Kochi and Mattancherry into art venues from December to March or April. Christmas is also special here, with the old churches of Fort Kochi decorated and holding midnight mass.
Later in the year, Onam brings flower carpets, sadya feasts and celebrations across Kerala, usually in August or September. Near the city, the Makam Thozhal festival at Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple usually falls in February or March. Dates change each year, so check the latest schedule and book early if you plan your trip around an event.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Kochi
- Book accommodation in Fort Kochi early for Christmas, New Year and Biennale months.
- Arrive at Fort Kochi beach well before midnight on New Year's Eve, as roads and ferries get very crowded.
- Carry water and wear light clothing, as outdoor events are hot and humid.
- Wear comfortable shoes, as Biennale venues are spread across Fort Kochi and Mattancherry.
- Keep your phone and wallet secure in dense crowds.
- Expect heavy traffic between Ernakulam and Fort Kochi during big events; the ferry or Water Metro can be quicker.
Questions
Kochi — FAQ
What are the main festivals and events in Kochi?
The highlights are the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the Cochin Carnival and New Year's Eve in Fort Kochi, Christmas at the old churches, and Onam. Temple festivals such as Makam Thozhal at Chottanikkara also draw large crowds.
What is the Cochin Carnival?
It is a festival held in Fort Kochi over the last weeks of December, with parades, music and cultural events. It ends at midnight on New Year's Eve with the burning of a huge effigy called Pappanji on Fort Kochi beach.
Is the Kochi-Muziris Biennale held every year?
No. It is held roughly every two years, usually from mid-December to March or April. The most recent edition ran from December 2025 to March 2026, and the next is planned for 2027–28.
Is Onam celebrated in Kochi?
Yes. Onam is Kerala's biggest festival and usually falls in August or September. Expect flower carpets, sadya feasts and busy markets, and book travel early, as many people head home for the holiday.