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Panaji’s event calendar runs on two tracks: Catholic festivals inherited from 450 years of Portuguese rule, and Hindu celebrations that follow the lunar calendar. The biggest tourist draws are the Goa Carnival in February, the International Film Festival of India in November, and Sunburn in December. Here are the dates and details for the year’s main events. For the season with the best weather for outdoor festivals, see the best time to visit Panaji guide, or start with the Panaji travel guide.
Panaji Events and Festivals: November and December
International Film Festival of India (IFFI)
The International Film Festival of India runs for about 10 days in late November at venues across Panaji, including the Kala Academy and the INOX multiplex. It is one of Asia’s oldest film festivals, screening hundreds of films from more than 70 countries. Registration and delegate passes are required, and prices vary by category. Book accommodation early, as Panaji fills during the festival; see the where to stay in Panaji guide for hotels.
Feast of St. Francis Xavier
Every December 3, pilgrims gather at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa for the feast of St. Francis Xavier, whose body is kept there. It draws thousands of devotees and is one of Goa’s biggest Catholic celebrations. Every 10 years, in years ending in 4, the body is brought out for a public exposition; the next is 2034.
Sunburn Festival
Sunburn, Asia’s largest electronic dance music festival, takes place over three days in late December, usually at Vagator in North Goa, about 20km from Panaji. Headliners are major international DJs. General admission passes start around ₹3,000 and VIP passes run much higher; book online well ahead, as the event sells out. See the Panaji neighborhoods guide for where to stay near Vagator.
Christmas and New Year
Christmas is a big season in Panaji, with midnight mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception and illuminated streets. December 31 brings fireworks and beach parties across North Goa, and hotel rates for this week are the highest of the year. December is also the driest month with clear skies; check the Panaji weather by month guide for exact conditions. Book rooms by October if you plan to be here over New Year.
Panaji Events and Festivals: February to April
Goa Carnival
The Goa Carnival runs for three to four days in February, in the week before Lent begins, with the main float parade along the Mandovi riverfront in Panaji. King Momo opens the festivities, and the parade features floats, music, and masked dancers. It is free to watch from the streets, and the exact dates shift each year with the Easter calendar.
Shigmo
Shigmo is Goa’s spring festival, a Hindu celebration held in March that marks the end of winter, with processions of floats, folk dancers, and drummers in Panaji and across the state. It runs over a fortnight and is free to watch. It is a good alternative to Carnival if you miss February.
Monte Music Festival
Held in February at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount in Old Goa, the Monte Music Festival blends Indian classical and Western classical music over a weekend, with the chapel and its hilltop views as a backdrop. Entry is usually free.
Panaji Events and Festivals: June to September (Monsoon)
Sao Joao
Sao Joao, on June 24, celebrates St. John the Baptist, and in Goa it is marked by young men jumping into wells and streams to retrieve bottles of feni, the local cashew liquor. It falls mid-monsoon, so expect rain; celebrations centre on villages around Panaji, and it is one of the few reasons to visit Goa in June. For more monsoon-season activities, see the things to do in Panaji guide.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi, in August or September depending on the lunar calendar, is Goa’s most important Hindu festival, with households installing clay idols of Ganesha for 1 to 11 days. Panaji holds processions, and on the final day idols are immersed in the sea and rivers. It is a local, family-centred festival rather than a tourist event.
Bonderam
Bonderam, on Divar Island in the Mandovi River, is a flag festival held on the fourth Saturday of August. Villagers parade with colourful flags and there is a mock battle recalling old land disputes. Catch the ferry from Old Goa to Divar; for ferry and transport details, see the Panaji travel tips guide.
