Nepal Pride Festival 2026 — Kathmandu

Kathmandu's big queer day rides on one of Nepal's most beloved festivals. Every year at Gai Jatra — the Newar "festival of cows," which in 2026 falls on 29 August — the Blue Diamond Society leads a colourful LGBTQ+ march through the old city, from around Thamel down toward the Durbar Square area. Because it overlays a mainstream Hindu festival with deep roots, it enjoys a level of public acceptance rare in the region: this is a celebration, not a protest.

Blue Diamond Society, Nepal's pioneering LGBTQ+ organisation, has led the march for over two decades, and 2026 gives it extra weight — Nepal legally recognised same-sex marriage in 2026, a milestone for South Asia, and the day doubles as a celebration of it. Expect drag, third-gender performers, music and colour winding through central Kathmandu, free and open to all. (Nepal's other big queer event, the activist Nepal Pride Parade, is a separate march held in June.)

Practical notes: Kathmandu's old city is walkable but crowded and uneven; late August is monsoon season, so expect warmth and rain. Follow Blue Diamond Society's channels for the day's start time and route, which are set close to the date.