Jaisalmer Desert Festival 2027: Dates and How to Fly In

Updated October 2026 · HappyFares

For three nights every February, Jaisalmer’s fort ramparts and the dunes outside the city turn into a stage for Rajasthan’s folk culture. Here is what to know before you book your trip.

When exactly is the 2027 festival?

The Jaisalmer Desert Festival 2027 is scheduled for 18 to 20 February, a Thursday through Saturday, culminating on the night of Magh Purnima, the full moon of the Magh lunar month, which falls on Saturday 20 February 2027. The festival is organised by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and is held three days before and including this full moon, following the lunar calendar each year rather than a fixed date on the regular calendar. As with any lunar-calendar event, confirm the exact dates on Rajasthan Tourism’s official listings closer to your travel window, since minor shifts are sometimes announced.

What actually happens at the festival?

The festival runs across two settings. Events inside Jaisalmer Fort and the city include folk music and dance performances, a turban-tying competition and the well-known moustache competition. The festival then moves out to the Sam sand dunes for its final evening, where camel-related events, firelight performances and folk music carry on against the backdrop of the open desert under the near-full moon. Camel decoration and camel-based displays are a recurring feature of the festival’s identity.

Can you fly directly into Jaisalmer?

Jaisalmer Airport (JSA) is a seasonal civil airport that generally operates from around October through March, which comfortably covers the February festival dates. Flights here are limited compared with a major city airport, mainly operated by IndiGo and Air India, with Delhi as the best-connected route and some further connections to cities like Mumbai, Jaipur and Ahmedabad depending on the season. Because this is a seasonal airport with a smaller schedule, check live availability for your exact travel dates well ahead of the festival, since flights fill up around major events and schedules are lighter than at a year-round airport.

What if you cannot get a direct flight to Jaisalmer?

Jodhpur Airport (JDH) is the standard backup, with a much larger and more reliable year-round flight schedule from major Indian cities. From Jodhpur, Jaisalmer is a road journey of roughly four to five hours depending on traffic and where you stop along the way, commonly taken by car, taxi or bus along the Jodhpur-Jaisalmer highway. If direct Jaisalmer flights are sold out or inconveniently timed around the festival, flying into Jodhpur and driving the rest of the way is a dependable plan B.

What else should you plan for around the festival?

The Sam sand dunes, the festival’s dramatic closing venue, are also a popular standalone desert excursion for camel rides and sunset views outside festival days. Within the city, Gadisar Lake is a calmer, scenic spot worth an evening visit, especially pleasant once the desert heat of the day has passed, and the fort itself, Jaisalmer’s defining landmark, rewards a half day of its own.

Because the festival draws visitors from across Rajasthan and beyond, hotel and guesthouse rooms in Jaisalmer, and desert camps near the Sam dunes, tend to fill up faster and cost more around these dates than during a quiet week in the same season. If you want a specific property or camp, book well ahead rather than waiting until a week or two before. It is also worth building in at least one extra day either side of the main three days, since many travellers combine the festival with the fort, the old city’s havelis, and a calmer daytime desert excursion away from the festival’s crowded evening programme.

Common Questions

Is the Desert Festival the same every year?

The format and venues stay broadly the same, but the exact dates shift slightly each year because the festival follows the lunar calendar and is timed around Magh Purnima rather than a fixed calendar date.

Is it cold in Jaisalmer in February?

Yes, desert nights in February can get genuinely cold even though the days are usually pleasant and sunny, so pack warm layers for the evening programme at the Sam dunes in particular.

Do I need to book festival tickets in advance?

Specific ticketing arrangements for the various festival events are set by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation closer to the date, so check their official channels for current booking details rather than relying on past years’ arrangements.

Is Jaisalmer airport open all year?

No. It typically operates on a seasonal schedule through the cooler months, roughly October to March, and commercial flights are generally suspended during the hotter months, so this is not an option if you are visiting outside that window.

How far in advance should I book flights for festival dates?

Given Jaisalmer’s limited, seasonal flight schedule and the pull of a well-known annual festival, book as early as you reasonably can once your dates are fixed, and keep an eye on Jodhpur as a backup if direct Jaisalmer fares or seats look tight.

Festival dates, airport schedules and road travel times can change. Verify current details with Rajasthan Tourism and your airline before you travel.