Konark Dance Festival 2026: Tickets, Timings & How To Reach

As the winter chill walks in across the eastern coast of India in December, the sleepy town of Odisha’s Konark transforms into a vibrant city. This transformation is brought about by the famous Konark Dance Festival, which is held against the majestic backdrop of the 13th-century Konark Sun Temple. It is known as one of the country’s most spellbinding celebrations of classical arts. It is a five-day-long festival which is said to be a masterclass in storytelling, rhythm, and architectural harmony. From official timings to how to reach, here’s a guide to the Konark Dance Festival 2026. 

All About Konark Dance Festival 2026

The Konark Dance Festival is known to bring together acclaimed soloists, legendary gurus, and premier dance troupes from across the country. It runs concurrently with the International Sand Festival at the nearby Chandrabhaga Beach and offers a peek into India’s rich living heritage. This festival was established in 1989 in order to promote Odisha’s tourism and celebrate India’s classical dance heritage. 

It was co-organised by the Odissi Research Centre and the Tourism Department in order to showcase India’s cultural depth through dance forms and also provide a platform for classical dancers in India. The festival is known as a festival of Classical Dances of India and is known to offer interesting insights into the dance heritage that the country is blessed with. 

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The festival is known to create a rare dialogue between the temple architecture, movement, music, and spirituality, allowing people to experience Indian art in one of the most authentic settings. 

Dates: December 1 to December 5, 2026

Timings: 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM or 9:00 PM every day

Venue: Open-Air Auditorium, Konark, Odisha 

Entry Ticket: INR 100 per person (this is for general access)

Konark Dance Festival Schedule December 2026

The festival follows a carefully curated format that is divided into two segments every day. 

December 1, 2026

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM: Odissi

Nrutyayan (Durga Charan Ranbir), Bhubaneswar

7:30 PM to 8:30 PM: Kuchipudi

Nrithyathi Kalakshetram (Ratheesh Babu), Bangalore

December 2, 2026

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM: Mohiniyattam

International Academy of Mohiniyattam (Jayaprabha Menon), New Delhi

7:30 PM to 8:30 PM: Odissi

Sankalp (Kasturi Pattanaik), New Delhi

December 3, 2026

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM: Odissi

South Gurukul Society (Sutapa Talukdar), Kolkata

7:30 PM to 8:30 PM: Sattriya

Pragati Sankritik Prasikchan Bikash Kendra (Dr. Gopal Chandra Bordoloi), Guwahati

December 4, 2026

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM: Kathak

Samved Society (Uma Dogra), Mumbai

7:30 PM to 8:30 PM: Odissi

Nrutyangana (Subash Chandra Swain), Bhubaneswar

December 5, 2026

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM: Odissi

Gandharva Mahavidyalaya (Madhavi Mudgal), New Delhi

7:30 PM to 8:30 PM: Bharatanatyam

Bharatha Natyalaya (Roja Kannan), Chennai

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Konark Festival Tickets

Access to the Konark Dance Festival is very simple, but you might need some early planning as the footfalls increase in December. 

General seating tickets are priced at INR 100 per person. The seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, which makes it crucial to reach the venue by 5:00 PM or 5:30 PM in order to get the best seat. 

Visitors can easily book the passes online through the official Odisha Tourism website. The tickets can also be purchased on the spot with temporary physical counters set up near the venue during the festival week. 

How To Reach Konark 

Konark is well connected via Odisha’s coastal roadways, the temple town of Puri and also the capital city of Bhubaneswar. 

By Air

The nearest airport is the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar. It is the main air gateway and is located roughly 65 km from Konark. 

Bhubaneswar is connected via frequent domestic flights from major hubs like Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. 

You can easily hire app-based cabs, pre-paid taxis, or book private transfers to Konark. This will be approximately a 1.5-hour drive. 

By Train

The nearest railway stations to Konark are Bhubaneswar railway station (BBS) and Puri (Puri). 

Both these stations are major railway junctions on the East Coast Railway network and offer direct superfast trains from various parts of India. 

You can opt for regular state buses, private cabs, or auto-rickshaws that ply between these stations and Konark. 

By Road

You can go from Puri to Konark via the Marine Drive Road, which connects Puri to Konark,k offering one of the most picturesque drives. Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) also runs special conducted bus tours and coaches during the festival week.

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Places To Visit Around Konark Sun Temple

To make the most of your December Konark Dance Festival trip to Odisha, you can visit some iconic attractions that are nearby. 

The Konark Sun Temple

Begin your visit with the magnificent Konark Sun Temple and explore its intricate stone wheels, impressive architecture, and beautifully carved figures. Allow enough time to appreciate the beauty and details of the temple and the complex. Remember that the daytime monument entry is different from the evening dance festival tickets. 

Chandrabhaga Beach

The famous Chandrabhaga Beach is located near Konark and is a lovely place for an early morning walk or to witness the early morning sun shining over the Bay of Bengal. You can also attend the International Sand Art Festival to witness jaw-dropping temporary installations and master sand sculptors from India. 

Raghurajpur Artist Village

Known as India’s first designated heritage crafts village, Raghurajpur Artist Village is surely a spot you cannot miss. It is located just one hour away from Puri and was established about 500 years ago. Here, almost every home functions like a live gallery and workshop where families practice their traditional arts. 

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Summing Up

Only a few cultural festivals get a backdrop that is as iconic as the Konark Sun Temple. The illuminated Sun Temple complex is set to create an unforgettable setting for every single performance, which means that the Konark Dance Festival is surely one of the most unmissable festivals in India.