Pokhara Gears Up For Twenty-Seventh Street Festival, Blending Nepal’s Culture, Cuisine And Celebration

Published on December 15, 2025

Pokhara, the most famous lakeside town of Nepal and the access point to the Annapurna range, is going to celebrate the New Year in a very colourful, tasty, and cultural way as the twenty-seventh Pokhara Street Festival will be held from December 28 to January 1. The festival, which is located on the lively Lakeside stretch of Phewa Lake, offers a five-day program of deep celebration, which the organisers believe will strengthen Pokhara’s image as one of the most charming tourist places in South Asia further.

The event, organised by the Restaurant and Bar Association Nepal (REBAN) Pokhara, will unfold across a 3.5-kilometre lakeside corridor, transforming the city’s most popular promenade into an open-air stage for food, music and cultural exchange. The announcement was made during a press conference in Itahari, underlining the festival’s national importance as a tourism driver beyond Pokhara itself.

Festival at a Glance: Dates, Venue and Vision

According to REBAN Pokhara coordinator Basanta Gautam, the festival will run under the long-standing slogan Let’s eat on the street, let’s dance on the street, let’s celebrate on the street. He noted that the event has consistently played a meaningful role in promoting Nepali food, music and living traditions while supporting local businesses and hospitality workers.

This year’s edition aligns with Visit Pokhara Year 2025, an initiative announced by Pokhara Metropolitan City to attract both domestic and international visitors. The collaboration reflects a broader tourism strategy echoed by the Nepal Tourism Board, which highlights festivals as key tools for dispersing visitors, extending stays and showcasing Nepal beyond trekking routes.

Cultural Performances and Lakeside Experiences

The Pokhara Street Festival is expected to showcase cultural floats and dances from diverse ethnic communities of Nepal, offering travellers a rare opportunity to experience the country’s plural identity in one place. Traditional music, folk duet performances and contemporary art shows will animate the streets, creating a seamless blend of heritage and modern expression.

On Phewa Lake, signature events such as boat races and waiter races are set to return, adding playful competition and spectator appeal. Tug-of-war contests, tourism-focused talks, documentary screenings and photo exhibitions will further enrich the programme, making the festival as informative as it is entertaining.

A Culinary Journey Through Nepal and Beyond

Food remains at the heart of the Pokhara Street Festival. Stalls featuring national and international cuisines will line the lakeside, turning the area into a global food corridor. From authentic Nepali flavours to international street food, the festival caters to the increasingly diverse palate of modern travellers.

Nepal Tourism Board materials frequently emphasise gastronomy as an emerging tourism asset, and Pokhara’s street festival reflects this shift. By placing food culture front and centre, the event encourages visitors to engage with local produce, recipes and hospitality traditions in an informal, welcoming setting.

Boosting Nepal Tourism Through Events

Tourism stakeholders believe the festival will significantly contribute to Nepal’s winter tourism season, traditionally a strong period for leisure travel. With improved air connectivity to Pokhara and growing interest in short-haul cultural trips, the timing positions the city as an ideal New Year escape.

REBAN Pokhara representatives indicated that such events help lengthen visitor stays and increase spending across hotels, restaurants, transport services and tour operations. This aligns with the Nepal Tourism Board’s official outlook, which recognises festivals as catalysts for sustainable tourism growth and community-level economic benefits.

Partners Supporting the Celebration

The organisers confirmed that Gorkha Brewery Pvt. Ltd. is the main sponsor of the festival. Co-sponsors include Bottlers Nepal (Terai) Limited, The Nepal Distillery Pvt. Ltd., Yeti Distillery Pvt. Ltd., and Nepal Telecom, while Siddhartha Bank serves as the official banking partner. Their involvement reflects growing private-sector confidence in Nepal’s tourism-led events economy.

Why Pokhara Matters to Nepal’s Travel Story

Often described on official tourism platforms as Nepal’s most picturesque city, Pokhara combines natural beauty with accessibility, making it a cornerstone of the country’s tourism offering. Events like the Street Festival reinforce Pokhara’s image as not just a stopover, but a destination in its own right, one where travellers can relax, celebrate and connect with local life.

Looking Ahead: A Festive Welcome to 2026

The Pokhara Street Festival is a wrap-up of the year that not only brings fun and thrill but also a feeling of unity. It is a great opportunity for the visitors to celebrate the New Year at the Lake side with the music, the fresh mountain air and the famous Nepali hospitality. For the country’s tourism industry it is an optimistic, resilient and a very confident move into the new year with Pokhara at the forefront, thus celebrating one street at a time.