NELUM BUDDHADASA
COLOMBO The Derana Colombo International Kite Festival 2026 returns to Colombo this August, building on the remarkable success of its 2025 relaunch and positioning Sri Lanka as a vibrant destination for international cultural tourism.
The festival began in 2015 as the Lokaya Saha Lokayo Kite Festival, organized by the Derana Kite Team. Renamed the Derana International Kite Festival in 2017, it soon gained international recognition, welcoming kite flyers from four countries in 2017 and eight countries in 2018. Following a seven-year hiatus due to the Easter Sunday attacks, COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, the festival was relaunched in 2025 as the Derana Colombo International Kite Festival.
The 2025 edition welcomed 54 international kite flyers from 21 countries and more than 1,000 local flyers, making it one of South Asia’s largest kite festivals. It was featured by 36 international media organizations and ranked 9th among 62 major international kite festivals worldwide. A photograph from the festival was also featured in the official 2026 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup guide to introduce Colombo to international visitors.
The 2026 festival is set to be even larger, with 80 international kite flyers from 30 countries and more than 1,500 Sri Lankan kite flyers expected to participate. The festival has expanded into a week-long cultural and educational programme, including kite-making and flying workshops for children aged 8–15. More than 630 children have already participated in workshops conducted by expert kite flyers from Australia, France and China.
Organized in partnership with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Sri Lanka Police and Colombo Municipal Council, this year’s festival also celebrates the Kandy Esala Perahera as its special cultural theme. International participants will visit the Sri Dalada Maligawa as part of their cultural experience.
The week-long programme includes an official opening ceremony on Thursday and an international press conference on Friday. On Saturday morning, Colombo will host a colourful parade featuring nearly 200 classic and vintage vehicles, alongside international kite flyers. A special kite-flying event for diplomats and international media will follow at Port City Colombo.
The main festival will take place on 9 August at Galle Face Green from 1.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m., bringing thousands of colourful kites from around the world to Colombo’s skies. This will be followed by Sri Lanka’s first-ever Night Kite Festival, from 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., featuring illuminated kites.
The celebrations will continue until midnight with a grand musical concert featuring leading Sri Lankan artists, backed by Avatar Band. The Derana Colombo Food Festival, held opposite Galle Face Green in front of Shangri-La Colombo, will offer a selection of Sri Lankan and international cuisine.
More than a kite festival, the event celebrates friendship, culture, tourism, education and national pride, using the universal appeal of kite flying to connect communities, promote Sri Lanka internationally and inspire a new generation.As kites once again fill Colombo’s skies, the festival sends a clear message: Sri Lanka is ready to welcome the world with open skies, warm hospitality and unforgettable experiences.
By NELUM BUDDHADASA
