Goa’s Shigmo Festival 2026 set to commence from March 5 to 18, 2026
Shigmo Festival 2026_Representative Image
This year, an additional enhancement of INR 1 lakh in infrastructure assistance will be provided to further strengthen arrangements at festival centres, informed Director of Tourism, Kedar Naik.
Goa is all set to celebrate Shigmo 2026, cultural festivals, showcasing its folk traditions through music, dance, and artistic expressions. A meeting to discuss the organisation of the Shigmo float parades across various centres in the State was chaired by Minister for Tourism Rohan A. Khaunte, in the presence of Director of Tourism Kedar Naik and Managing Director, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) Kuldeep Arolkar.
The discussions focused on ensuring the smooth and successful execution of the Shigmo celebrations, with detailed planning on logistics, adherence to timelines, promotional strategies aimed at enhancing the festival’s appeal and reach.
The meeting was followed by a press conference, during which Goa tourism delegations officially announced the dates, centres, and other key details of Shigmo 2026.
Addressing the media, Director of Tourism Naik informed that the Shigmo will be held from March 5th, 2026 to March 18th, 2026, with colourful float parades organised across 19 centres in the State. The festivities will commence in Ponda on March 5th, followed by Calangute on March 6th, Panaji on March 7th, Mapusa on March 8th, Mandrem on March 9th, Bicholim on March 10th, Sanquelim on March 11th, Shiroda and Sanguem on March 12th, Dharbandora and Cuncolim on March 13th, Margao on March 14th, Porvorim and Vasco on March 15th, Valpoi and Curchorem on March 16th, Quepem and Canacona on March 17th, and concluding at Pernem on March 18th, 2026.
Naik further informed that the Department provides each committee with the two types of grants for Shigmo celebrations every year i.e. infrastructure support and prize money. This year, an additional enhancement of INR 1 lakh in infrastructure assistance will be provided to further strengthen arrangements at festival centres.
It was also emphasised that parade routes are to be finalised by the respective Shigmotsav Committees with prior permissions, in consultation with the Traffic Cell, to ensure smooth traffic movement and public convenience. A new set of guidelines for Romtamel groups has been framed, including a maximum team size of 150 participants.
Representatives of various Municipal Councils from the festival centres, along with officials from the Police Department, Traffic Cell, Fire and Emergency Services, Assistant Director (Tourism) Jayesh Kankonkar and other concerned departments were present at the meeting, reflecting coordinated planning for the successful conduct of Shigmo Festival 2026.
