Paro Tshechu 2027: Dates, the Thongdrel and How to Attend

Updated 23 October 2026 Paro Tshechu is one of the largest spring festivals in Bhutan. For five days, monks and lay dancers perform sacred masked dances in the courtyard of Rinpung Dzong, and on the final morning a giant sacred painting is unveiled. This page explains the dates for 2027, what you will see, and how to plan around it.

When is Paro Tshechu in 2027?

Paro Tshechu is expected to run from 18 to 22 March 2027, at Rinpung Dzong in Paro. These dates are tentative until the Department of Tourism confirms them, so please check with us before you book flights. Tshechu dates follow the Bhutanese lunar calendar, which is why they move from year to year, usually falling in March or April.

What you will see

Each day brings a new sequence of masked dances, performed in the dzong courtyard. Among them are the Dance of the Black Hats and the Dance of the Lords of the Cremation Grounds. The atsara, the red masked jesters, move through the crowd between dances. These are religious dances, and the Bhutanese families who attend come for the blessing as much as the spectacle.

The thongdrel

On the final morning, a very large sacred painting of Guru Rinpoche, called the thongdrel, is unveiled in the courtyard with the first ray of the sunrise.  It is shown early in the morning  and then rolled up again, and many Bhutanese believe that simply seeing it brings a blessing. To see it, plan to be at the festival ground in the dark. Your guide will confirm the exact timing nearer the date.

How long to stay

Most guests spend one full day at the festival and return for the final morning to see the thongdrel. You do not need all five days. We will design the itinerary and will tell you which day suits the dances you most want to see, once the programme is confirmed.

What to wear and how to behave

Dress as you would for a dzong visit: long trousers or a long skirt, and covered shoulders or in Bhutanese national dress which can be provided by us. March mornings in Paro are cold, so bring layers. Watch from the spectator areas and keep off the dance ground. Ask before you photograph someone up close, and follow your guide’s lead.

Where to stay

Paro has a vast number of choices of hotels ranging from farmstays to luxury. The festival week is the busiest time of the year, so book early. You can see our favourite places on our Paro guide

Plan Paro Tshechu with us.

We build private journeys around Paro Tshechu, with the days before and after chosen to match. See the festival page for the journeys we suggest, or tell us your dates and we will plan from there. Festival travellers pay the Sustainable Development Fee like every other visitor, and you can read how it works in our fee guide.

Staying five nights costs USD 500 per adult in SDF, so try our free Bhutan SDF calculator.