The 24th edition of the Kanchenjunga Tourism Festival 2026 has concluded after a vibrant three-day celebration across the Eastern Himalayas. Organised by the Association for Conservation & Tourism in association with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, the event ran from September 25 to 27, coinciding with World Tourism Day.
The festival travelled across Siliguri, Darjeeling, Sonada, Rongtong, and Sukna, bringing together participants from North Bengal, Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Malaysia.
The opening event at City Centre Siliguri featured 32 stalls showcasing 2,906 rural products from the region alongside cultural performances including 150 dancers presenting classical dance forms.
The event introduced The Queen’s Trail, which is a carbon-neutral heritage walk through Darjeeling's colonial-era architecture. Another initiative named Pedal with DHR involved 73 cyclists travelling from Siliguri Junction to Rongtong along the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway route alongside 20 elderly women from Siliguri.
An exhibition football match titled Play for Nepal took place at Sukna between East Bengal Legends and GTA XI. Led by former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, the match raised funds for disaster-affected communities in Nepal and was attended by the Consul General of Nepal in Kolkata.
The festival concluded with the KTF Food Awards and Aadhya Travel Awards to recognise women entrepreneurs and regional culinary diversity.
