Gilgit-Baltistan Event Calendar 2025 promises a year full of culture, adventure, and celebration, offering travelers unforgettable experiences across all seasons. The year kicks off with the Seven Days Winter Feast, featuring ice hockey, skating, curling, and traditional games like Basra and Pinduk, promoting winter tourism across the frozen landscapes. In spring, the people of Baltistan joyfully celebrate Nauroz and Beganic, age-old traditions that mark the arrival of the new season with local customs, symbolic rituals, and community gatherings. May and June bring the thrilling Tour de Khunjerab (TDK) Cycle Race, attracting international cyclists and media attention, further promoting Pakistan’s adventure tourism potential. In July, the legendary Shandur Polo Festival (7th–9th July) takes center stage at the world’s highest polo ground, featuring Gilgit vs. Chitral matches, cultural shows, musical nights, and local bazaars. Around the same time, the Sarfaranga Cold Desert Rally electrifies Shigar with jeep and bike races, food stalls, cultural performances, and the warmth of juniper fires. In November, the Jashn-e-Azadi Polo Tournament takes place in Gilgit, where district teams compete and players are shortlisted for the next Shandur event. Throughout the year, these vibrant events not only entertain but also strengthen community ties, preserve centuries-old traditions, and showcase the unmatched beauty and hospitality of Gilgit-Baltistan to the world

1. Jashn-e-Nauroz- March 2025

Nauroz is a centuries-old cultural and traditional festival, celebrated with great enthusiasm by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. Rich in heritage, this vibrant event symbolizes renewal, hope, and community spirit. Observed with zeal across the region, Nauroz plays a vital role in preserving the age-old customs and cultural values that define the identity of Baltistan. From traditional music and local cuisine to colorful gatherings and rituals, Nauroz continues to keep the spirit of Baltistani heritage alive through generations.

2. Jashn-e-TukhamRaizi(Seed Sowing Season) – April 2025

This event locally called Beganic. It is the symbol of the ending of harsh winter and beginning of spring. In this event traditionally people of the area clean their houses and decorate them with wheat flour and sow some wheat seeds in the field. The activities of life began with this festivity, farmers start to clean water channels and irrigate the field. On this day people specially prepare traditional foods and arrange traditional musical events.

3. Jashne-Ghanche

Ghanche is the land of Tourism and the nestle of free style polo. Jashn – e -Ghanche is part of Tourism and Culture Calendar of event which is celebrated every year. These kinds of activities provide opportunities to the tourist visitors and general public to be witness and entertain. It play pivotal role to preserve and revival of culture and tradition of the region.

4. Shandur Polo Tournament

The Shandur Polo Festival is a flagship annual event organized by the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan, held from July 7th to 9th at the world’s highest polo ground on the scenic Shandur Pass, bordering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This three-day mega event features high-energy, traditional freestyle polo matches between teams from Gilgit and Chitral, drawing large crowds and intense excitement. Alongside the matches, the festival offers a rich cultural experience through folk music, dance performances, handicraft exhibitions, food stalls, and musical nights, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Attracting both national and international tourists, the Shandur Polo Festival not only celebrates the region’s love for polo but also serves as a powerful platform to showcase the diverse culture, traditions, and hospitality of Gilgit-Baltistan.

5. World Tourism Day- 27th September

Every year UNWTO announces a theme on World Mountain Day and GB Tourism & Culture Department celebrates this event following the theme set by UNWTO. The festival aims to bring young talent in the field of digital film making & enhances the creative skills besides showcasing, preserving and revitalization of natural beauty and culture of the region.

6. World Mountain Day (Baam – e – Dunya Film Festival)

The iconic Passu Cones are a series of sharp, jagged peaks that dominate the landscape near Passu Village. The view of these peaks against the backdrop of the Hunza River is truly mesmerizing. It’s a great spot for trekking and photography.

Why Visit in 2025?
Passu is gaining popularity, so visit now to experience its untouched beauty.

7. Sevendays Winter Feast

Gilgit-Baltistan holds immense potential for winter tourism and sports, thanks to its snow-covered landscapes, frozen lakes, and vibrant mountain culture. Among the region’s standout initiatives is the Seven Days Winter Feast, a dynamic event aimed at promoting winter tourism in collaboration with local communities and key stakeholders. This exciting festival showcases a variety of thrilling activities such as ice hockey, ice skating, curling, and traditional winter games like Basra, Pinduk, and Balbat. Beyond sports, it serves as a celebration of local heritage and resilience, inviting visitors to experience the unique charm of winter in Gilgit-Baltistan.

8. Sarfaranga Desert Rally

The Sarfaranga Desert Rally, held every July in the breathtaking Sarfaranga Cold Desert of Shigar, is one of Gilgit-Baltistan’s most thrilling and unique tourism events. Set against a surreal landscape where snow-capped mountains, icy winds, and golden sands meet, the event features adrenaline-pumping jeep and motorbike races, along with cultural shows, traditional food stalls, and the warmth of juniper fires. More than just a sporting event, it’s a celebration of local heritage, offering a vibrant platform to promote regional culture, showcase local products, and unveil the hidden gems of Gilgit-Baltistan to the world. The rally not only entertains but also plays a vital role in boosting tourism and community engagement across the region.

9. Ginani Festival (Harvesting Season)

The Ginani Festival, celebrated in June at Baltit Fort, Karimabad Ground (Hunza) and Mir’s Palace (Nagar), marks the joyful beginning of the harvest season in these majestic mountain valleys. This vibrant cultural celebration is a unique opportunity for tourists to witness the rich heritage of Hunza and Nagar firsthand. The festival features traditional harvesting ceremonies, folk dances, cultural shows, and local cuisine, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Karakoram mountains. Ginani is more than a celebration — it’s a heartfelt tribute to nature’s blessings, expressing gratitude for the golden crops and the hope for continued prosperity and harmony in the community.

10. Jashan e-Azadi Polo Tournament

The Jashn-e-Azadi Polo Tournament is one of the most significant traditional sports events organized annually by the Gilgit-Baltistan Sports Board. Held every November at the Shahi Polo Ground and Wahab Shaheed Polo Ground in Gilgit and Skardu, the tournament features district-level competitions where two teams from each district participate. Civil and departmental teams are divided into pools, showcasing their skills in highly competitive matches. This event not only celebrates the spirit of independence but also serves as a crucial platform for the selection of top-performing polo players for the prestigious Shandur Polo Festival. With enthusiastic participation from across the region, the tournament plays a vital role in preserving and promoting the rich polo heritage of Gilgit-Baltistan.

11. Tour De Khunjerab

The Tour de Khunjerab (TDK) Cycle Race has emerged as a major highlight in Gilgit-Baltistan’s adventure tourism calendar, gaining widespread recognition through national and international media coverage. With participation from both Pakistani and international cyclists, the event showcases the region’s stunning landscapes while promoting a vibrant image of Pakistan to the world. The success of previous editions has played a significant role in enhancing Pakistan’s global reputation, encouraging greater domestic and foreign tourist inflow, and reinforcing the perception of peace, hospitality, and natural beauty in Gilgit-Baltistan. As law and order continue to improve, TDK stands as a symbol of harmony, progress, and the growing appeal of high-altitude adventure sports in the region.