2026 is an unusual year at Tirumala. Because of a rare Adhika Masa, the extra lunar month, devotees get two full Brahmotsavams instead of one: the Salakatla Brahmotsavam in September and the Navaratri Brahmotsavam in October. This month-by-month calendar covers every major TTD event in 2026 so you can plan a trip around the occasions that matter most to you. Every lunar date follows the Panchangam, so confirm exact dates on the official TTD portal before you book travel.
Table of Contents
The big four of 2026
- Salakatla Brahmotsavam: 15 to 23 September 2026, with Garuda Vahanam on 19 September.
- Navaratri Brahmotsavam (Adhika Masa special): 12 to 20 October 2026, with a second Garuda Vahanam on 16 October.
- Vaikunta Ekadasi: in the Margashira month around December to January, the highest-crowd day of the year.
- Ratha Saptami: in February, seven vahana sevas across a single day.
Month by month
January
Vaikunta Ekadasi and Vaikunta Dwadasi bring the year’s largest crowds, with the northern Vaikunta Dwaram gate opened for darshan. Bhogi and Makara Sankranti follow mid-month.
February
Ratha Saptami (Surya Jayanti) is the highlight, with the Lord taken out on seven different vahanas in one day. Maha Shivaratri is observed at the nearby Shaiva temples.
March and April
Ugadi, the Telugu New Year, brings special celebrations and the reading of the new Panchangam. Sri Rama Navami in April marks Lord Rama’s birth with special sevas, and Vasanthotsavam, the spring festival, falls in this season.
May and June
The summer months see steady traffic during school holidays, with the regular weekly and monthly sevas continuing. This is a good window for shorter weekday darshan waits.
July and August
Anivara Asthanam, the fiscal year-end ritual, and various monthly observances take place. Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated with special decorations, and Pavithrotsavam, the annual purification festival, usually falls here.
September: Salakatla Brahmotsavam
The premier nine-day festival, 15 to 23 September 2026. Garuda Vahanam on 19 September draws the largest crowds, and the festival closes with Chakra Snanam and Dhwajavarohanam on the final day.
October: Navaratri Brahmotsavam
The rare second Brahmotsavam, 12 to 20 October 2026, happening only because of the Adhika Masa. It repeats all the major vahana sevas across nine days, including a second Garuda Vahanam on 16 October.
November
Kartika Masam is observed with great devotion. The Karthika Brahmotsavam at the Tiruchanur Padmavathi temple is a major event for Goddess Padmavathi’s devotees, and Kaisika Dwadasi is observed at Tirumala.
December
Adhyayanotsavam, the Veda recitation festival, and the Margashira-month observances build toward Vaikunta Ekadasi at year-end, the most significant darshan day of all.
Planning around the festivals
- For an easier darshan: avoid Garuda Vahanam day and Vaikunta Ekadasi unless you specifically want the festival experience.
- For the spectacle: plan around Brahmotsavam in September or October and book accommodation 90 days ahead.
- Book early: festival-date accommodation and Special Entry Darshan sell out within minutes of release.
If you want the festival spectacle with a little less of the crush, I would pick the October Navaratri Brahmotsavam over the September Salakatla one. It is the rarer of the two this year, and because most pilgrims aim for the first Brahmotsavam, the October repeat tends to run a notch less packed for the same vahana sevas.
One honest caveat: every lunar date above can shift by a day once the Panchangam is finalised, so treat them as planning anchors and confirm on the official portal before committing to non-refundable travel.
Common questions
Why are there two Brahmotsavams in 2026? Because 2026 has an Adhika Masa, the extra lunar month. In such years TTD celebrates both the Salakatla Brahmotsavam in September and a Navaratri Brahmotsavam in October.
Which festival is busiest? Vaikunta Ekadasi in December to January usually sees the highest single-day crowds, followed by Brahmotsavam Garuda Vahanam day.
Do darshan timings change during festivals? Yes, the daily schedule is often modified during Brahmotsavam and major festivals. Check news.tirumala.org for festival-day timings.
When should I book for festival dates? The moment TTD opens the monthly quota, 60 to 90 days ahead. Festival slots sell out fastest.
Are these dates final? They follow the Panchangam and can vary slightly, so always confirm on the official TTD portal before finalising travel.
Related reading
- Garuda Vahanam: Day 5 of Brahmotsavam
- Salakatla Brahmotsavam: dates and full schedule
- Vaikunta Ekadasi at Tirumala
- TTD online booking calendar 2026
For the official 2026 festival calendar and confirmed dates, refer to tirumala.org and news.tirumala.org.
