Many of Kerala's best-known events come back every year, but their dates do not stay still. Temple festivals and harvest celebrations follow the Malayalam or lunar calendar, while others are scheduled by organisers or government departments. This guide lists some well-known recurring events by the time of year they usually fall, so you know roughly when to start looking.
It is a planning aid, not a listing. We have not checked these events for any particular year. Dates change every year, and an event appearing in this guide does not mean it is listed on Events Around Me. Always confirm with the organiser.
December to February
- International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). Held in Thiruvananthapuram, usually in December.
- Cochin Carnival. A New Year festival in Fort Kochi, in the last days of December.
- Kochi-Muziris Biennale. An art exhibition held every two years around Kochi. Recent editions have run from December into March.
- Kerala Literature Festival. Held in Kozhikode, usually in January or early February.
- Attukal Pongala. A large women's festival at the Attukal temple in Thiruvananthapuram, usually in February or March.
March to May
- Temple festival season. Many temples hold their annual festivals in these months. Local temple committees usually announce the dates.
- Vishu. The Malayalam new year, in mid April.
- Thrissur Pooram. One of the state's best-known temple festivals, held in Thrissur in April or May.
June to September
- Monsoon months. This is a quieter stretch for outdoor events, which are more likely to be postponed because of the weather. Indoor workshops, talks and cultural programs carry more of the calendar.
- Nehru Trophy Boat Race. A boat race on Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha, traditionally held in August. The date has been moved in some years, so check close to the time.
- Onam. Kerala's harvest festival falls in August or September, with celebrations and cultural programs across the state in the run-up.
October and November
This is the period between the Onam celebrations and the December peak. Colleges and local organisers run festivals and workshops, and announcements for the December season start to appear.
How to use this calendar
- Pick the months you will be in Kerala and note the events above that fall in them.
- Search for the event on the site. Use Find Events with the event name, or browse the district page, for example Thiruvananthapuram or Thrissur.
- Check again nearer the date. Organisers often confirm dates only a few weeks ahead, and listings are added as they are submitted and reviewed.
- Plan for the weather. If you are travelling during the monsoon, keep your plans flexible.
If you know of a recurring event that is missing, or you organise one, you can submit it. If something here is wrong or out of date, please contact us.