Folk Cultural Festival kicks off

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 21: The 13th International Folk Cultural Festival- 2026 began on Friday in Kathmandu.

Aimed at preserving and promoting Nepali folk culture, the festival has been organised by the Everest Nepal Cultural Group.

According to the organisers, the event was originally scheduled to take place from February 27 to March 8 but had to be postponed due to a clash with the election schedule.

The festival, which began on Friday, will continue until 28 March. Artists from various countries, including Botswana, Estonia, Germany, India, Israel, Poland and Turkey, are participating in the event. Throughout the festival, they will showcase their national identities through traditional costumes, folk dances, songs and cultural performances, informed the organiser.

In addition, international artists will visit different schools across the Kathmandu Valley to present cultural programmes and interact with students.

This year, the festival has expanded beyond Kathmandu to include Pokhara, Lalitpur, Panchkhal (Kavre) and Budhanilkantha.

Special programmes will also be held at historic and UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Patan Durbar Square and Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square.

According to the organisers, more than 260 artists from various countries are taking part in the festival. However, participation from some countries may decline due to international flight and travel-related issues.

The organisation has been promoting Nepali cultural diversity globally for the past two decades. So far, 12 editions of the festival have been completed, featuring over 9,000 artists from more than 86 countries.