Ahmedabad The festival of Uttarayan i.e. Makar Sankranti has special significance in Gujarat. On this occasion, kite lovers across the state decorate the sky with colorful kites. Presenting this tradition on the global stage, a grand event of ‘International Kite Festival-2026’ is being organized this year.
The festival will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the morning of 12 January 2026 at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad. Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz will also have an inspiring presence at the inauguration ceremony. Under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi, preparations for this international event are going on in full swing. In this festival to be held in Ahmedabad from 12 to 14 January 2026, international and national kite flyers will fly huge and unique kites. Special night kite flying on January 13 will also be the center of attraction.
Heritage Havelis, ancient poles, colorful handicraft markets, Kite Museum on the Heritage Walk-way, and eye-catching iconic photo wall installations depicting the heritage of Ahmedabad will enthrall the visitors during the Mahotsav. Special cultural programs will be organized every day from 7:00 pm, in which famous folk singer Kinjal Ben Dave will perform.
This year, 135 international kite flyers from 50 countries, 65 kite flyers from 13 states of India, and 871 kite flyers from 16 districts of Gujarat will participate in the festival. Thus, a total of 1,071 kite lovers will be a part of this event. Also, 25 handicraft stalls and 15 food stalls will promote local arts, handicrafts and traditional cuisine.
International Kite Festival-2026 will not be limited to Ahmedabad only. It will also be held in Rajkot, Surat and Dholavira of Kutch on January 10, Vadnagar, Shivrajpur and Statue of Unity on January 11, and Vadodara on January 13.
It is noteworthy that in the year 2025, this festival had attracted more than 3.83 lakh tourists from all over Gujarat. According to Gujarat Tourism, an estimated more than five lakh tourists will visit Gujarat this year during the International Kite Festival-2026, giving the state a new identity on the international and national tourism map.