Kathmandu: The 27th edition of the Pokhara Street Festival–2082 is set to take place from JDec 28 to Jan 1 (Poush 13–17) in Lakeside, one of Pokhara’s tourist hubs.
Organized by the Restaurant and Bar Association Nepal (REBAN) Pokhara to coincide with the English New Year, the festival will be held along a nearly 3.5-kilometer stretch of Lakeside on the banks of Fewa Lake. The event is expected to attract both domestic and international visitors celebrating New Year 2026.
To promote the festival, the organizers also held a press conference in Kathmandu, informing media from the capital and across the country about the festival’s objectives, programs, and its role in tourism promotion.
REBAN Pokhara Coordinator Basanta Gautam said the festival, organized continuously under the slogan “Eat on the street, dance on the street, and enjoy on the street,” has made a significant contribution to the promotion of Nepali cuisine, culture, and music, while also supporting the overall development of tourism in Pokhara.
He noted that while Nepali tourists once traveled to destinations like Goa and Thailand to celebrate the English New Year, the Pokhara Street Festival has successfully established Pokhara as a major New Year celebration destination.
Despite challenging times such as the devastating 2015 earthquake, the COVID-19 pandemic, and various movements in recent years, Gautam said the festival has continued uninterrupted. He emphasized that the event has played an effective role in reviving the tourism sector after crises and in conveying the message that “Pokhara is safe and open” to both national and international communities.
Pokhara Visit Year 2025 Coordinator Gopi Bhattarai expressed confidence that the festival would help energize the tourism business, which typically slows down during the winter season. He added that the festival also supports the promotion and marketing of local agricultural products, handicrafts, and household goods. With Christmas and New Year celebrations, the event is expected to attract foreign tourists to Nepal and contribute to earning foreign currency.
