Kandy Esala Perahera 2026: Dates, Schedule and Planning Next Year
The 2026 Esala Perahera ran from 18 to 28 August. Here is the temple's own schedule, and how to plan for next year.
Friday.lk
3 min read · Corrected 23 October 2026
- The 2026 Esala Perahera in Kandy ran from 18 to 28 August. It has finished for this year.
- The five Kumbal Peraheras were 18 to 22 August. The five Randoli Peraheras were 23 to 27 August.
- The dates change every year. The temple publishes the schedule each year at sridaladamaligawa.lk.
A correction
An earlier version of this guide (30 May 2026) said the Perahera would run from 28 July to 6 August, and called 6 August "Nikini Poya". That was wrong. The temple's schedule says 18 to 28 August, and Nikini Poya was on 27 August. We are sorry to anyone who planned around the old dates. We also removed the ticket and hotel price tables, because we could not check them.
The 2026 schedule
These dates and start times are from the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth) in Kandy. Times can change, so check with the temple.
| Date (2026) | Procession | Start time |
|---|---|---|
| 18 August | 1st Kumbal Perahera | 6:52 PM |
| 19 August | 2nd Kumbal Perahera | 6:41 PM |
| 20 August | 3rd Kumbal Perahera | 6:53 PM |
| 21 August | 4th Kumbal Perahera | 6:40 PM |
| 22 August | 5th Kumbal Perahera | 6:28 PM |
| 23 August | 1st Randoli Perahera | 6:44 PM |
| 24 August | 2nd Randoli Perahera | 7:00 PM |
| 25 August | 3rd Randoli Perahera | 6:53 PM |
| 26 August | 4th Randoli Perahera | 6:44 PM |
| 27 August | Grand Randoli Perahera (final night) | 6:43 PM |
| 28 August | Diya Kapeema (water-cutting ceremony) | 1:28 AM |
| 28 August | Dahawal Perahera (day procession) | 2:18 PM |
2026 Kandy Esala Perahera, as listed by the Sri Dalada Maligawa (checked 23 October 2026).
27 August 2026 was also Nikini Poya, so no alcohol was sold that day.
Planning for next year
- The Perahera follows the moon, so its dates move each year. Do not copy dates from an old year.
- Look at the temple's page for the new schedule before you book a room or a seat: sridaladamaligawa.lk/kandy-esala-perahera.
- Ask what is included before you pay for a viewing seat or a hotel balcony. We do not have checked prices, so we do not list any.
- Dress modestly for the temple, with shoulders and knees covered.
More about Kandy
See our Kandy travel guide for sights, food and hotels rated on Google Maps, and Friday.lk events for what is on. Planning a drink after the procession? Read the alcohol rules and dry days.
Where the numbers come from
The dates and times come from the temple itself. The dry-day fact is from the Excise Department's list.
- Sri Dalada Maligawa: Kandy Esala Perahera 2026
- Daily Mirror, 16 February 2026: Excise Department announces 19 dry days for 2026
Common questions
When was the Kandy Esala Perahera in 2026?
It ran from 18 to 28 August 2026, according to the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth). The first Kumbal Perahera was on 18 August and the last night procession, the Grand Randoli Perahera, was on 27 August.
When is the Esala Perahera next year?
The dates follow the moon, so they change every year. The temple publishes the schedule on its website each year. Check sridaladamaligawa.lk before you book anything.
What are the Kumbal and Randoli Peraheras?
They are the two stages of the night processions. In 2026 there were five Kumbal Peraheras (18 to 22 August) and five Randoli Peraheras (23 to 27 August). The Randoli processions come last and the final one is the Grand Randoli Perahera.
Can I buy alcohol during the Perahera?
No alcohol is sold on Poya days. 27 August 2026, the night of the Grand Randoli Perahera, was Nikini Poya, a dry day. Check the dry-day list for the year you travel.