Echoes in the Valley 2026 to be held in Khokana on Jan 23 and 24

KATHMANDU: The two-day cultural and music festival Echoes in the Valley (EITV) 2026 is set to take place on January 23 and 24 in Khokana, Lalitpur, featuring performances, workshops and community-based experiences.

Ahead of the main festival, a pre-festival activity titled AmplifiHER, a 10-day music production workshop, is being held from January 19 to 29 at Echoes in the Valley, Nanntu Chhen, Kopundole. The workshop is facilitated by Caitlin Laing-McEvoy and focuses on music creation and production.

The festival will officially begin on Friday, January 23, with a traditional opening parade by Dimey Khala at 2 pm from Gancha to Gaabu Lachhi. Performances on the first day include Lyahmi Bhajan Khala, The Arc, Allta-Neok from South Korea, and Carolina Katún from Switzerland and Nepal.

Several experience-based activities are also scheduled for Day 1, including student tours and children’s games at Rudrayanee School, and a film screening of Jaya Shree Harati Maa in the evening at Gaabu Lachhi.

Day 2, Saturday, January 24, will again begin with a traditional opening parade, followed by performances by Hot Club of Patan, Project Baja Nepal, Anugraha, Lalit & Friends from Janakpur, Suresh Raj Bajracharya, the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center from India, and Arko Mukherjee & Friends featuring Gaboo.

The second day will also feature a wide range of interactive experiences, including women-focused workshops, heritage walks, art and coloring sessions, calligraphy demonstrations, cycling culture discussions, eco-themed interactive plays, storytelling sessions and community musicking programs across various locations in Khokana.

To facilitate public access, organizers have arranged a free shuttle service between Jawalakhel and Khokana on both days. Buses marked with “Shuttle Service” signage will depart from the Jawalakhel bus stop near the Nepal Telecom building at designated times.

The festival aims to bring together music, heritage and community engagement, highlighting Khokana’s cultural landscape through performances and participatory experiences.