The Department of Tourism, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, Bhutan, in collaboration with the Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag Administration and Bhutan Olympic Committee has announced the 2nd edition of the Sha-Festival and Dragon Fury Race, scheduled to take place from 16th-17th October 2026 at Gadhen Lingka, Bajo Wangdue Phodrang.
Held under the theme ‘The Taste of Sha!’ and the slogan ‘From Valley Fields to Festive Feast’, the two- day festival will bring together communities from across 15 gewogs of Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag, visitors, cycling enthusiasts, and other participants for a celebration that combines the Dzongkhag’s cultural identity with adventure and community experiences.
The festival will provide a platform for the Gewogs to showcase their unique local products, cottage and small-scale industry products, traditional knowledge, and unique cultural expressions. One of the unique cultural expressions includes ‘Molay Drendhur’ which is a local beauty contest. The programme will also feature evening cultural performances and live entertainment by Bhutanese artists, creating opportunities for visitors to engage with the local community and experience the vibrant cultural character of Wangdue Phodrang.
The second edition of the festival builds on the success of its inaugural edition and aims to further establish the Sha-Festival and Dragon Fury Race as an annual event on Bhutan’s festival calendar. Beyond the celebration itself, the festival seeks to strengthen community participation, create greater visibility for local products and traditions, and encourage visitors to explore Wangdue Phodrang as a destination offering diverse cultural, community, nature-based, and adventure experiences.
“The second edition of the Sha-Festival and Dragon Fury Race marks an important step towards establishing the event as a distinctive annual celebration of Wangdue Phodrang. This year’s festival reflects the strong collaboration between the Dzongkhag Administration, partner agencies, local Gewogs, communities, and the Department of Tourism,” said, Damcho Rinzin, Director of the Department of Tourism, Govt of Bhutan.
“We are encouraged by the continued efforts to strengthen the festival and its potential to attract both domestic and international visitors. As we work towards positioning Wangdue Phodrang as a destination in its own right, events such as this play an important role in showcasing the Dzongkhag’s heritage, landscapes, communities, and diverse tourism experiences,” he concluded.
