Varanasi Airshow 2026 Wings Over Ganges — the Indian Air Force display above the Ganga at Namo Ghat

The display days are Thursday 22, Friday 23 and Sunday 25 October 2026, with 25 October as the main ceremony. Timings and arrangements can change at short notice, so please confirm with the IAF and Uttar Pradesh government announcements before you travel.

At Namo Ghat, the new riverfront between Rajghat and Adi Keshav Ghat, which is the main control centre. The flypasts run along the river from Namo Ghat toward Assi Ghat, over several of Varanasi’s 84 ghats.

The displays run from roughly 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM on each display day, with about 90 minutes of actual flying. A minute-by-minute running order has not been announced, so plan to be in position well before noon.

No ticket sales have been announced, and Kashi Yatra does not sell airshow tickets. Public viewing is expected from the ghats, while spectator galleries, a grandstand and VIP zones are being set up near Namo Ghat for invited guests. If entry rules are announced we will update this page.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected on 25 October, the main day, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and about 5,000 VIP guests from India and abroad. Expect tighter security and more restrictions that day.

Yes — the Surya Kiran aerobatic team is the centrepiece. Named fighters include the Rafale, Su-30MKI, MiG-29, Mirage 2000, Jaguar and LCA Tejas. Transport and surveillance aircraft include the C-17 Globemaster, C-130, C-295, AN-32 and AEW&C, and helicopters include the Chinook, Mi-17, ALH Mk-III, Rudra and the Navy’s Kamov-31. See the full aircraft list.

The flight corridor runs along the ghats between Rajghat and Assi Ghat, so those ghats are the natural free vantage points — expect very large crowds, so arrive early and follow police and public-address instructions. Some ghat-side stays have terraces with a sky view. See where to watch.

Not practically. The Rajghat bridge and river boat services are closed during the rehearsals and displays for safety, so please do not pay for a “show view” boat. Outside the display windows, boat rides are a lovely way to see the ghats — check availability on our Varanasi boat ride page.

Yes, expect them. Police are planning barricading, holding areas, alternative routes and diversions, and neighbouring districts (Chandauli, Ghazipur and Jaunpur) are helping manage the inflow. Allow extra travel time and ask your hotel or cab driver about the latest diversions. See our Varanasi airport cab and cab service pages.

Officials have said pilgrims visiting Kashi Vishwanath and the ghats should not be inconvenienced by the security cordons, and crowd protocols like those used on Shravan Mondays will be followed. Still, expect queues. Go early in the morning or later in the evening, and read our Ganga Aarti guide.

To reduce the risk of bird strikes. Authorities have barred the sale and slaughter of meat, fish and poultry within roughly a 20–30 km radius of Namo Ghat from 19 October. Check with your hotel or restaurant about meals.

A live stream is planned for each display day. Watch the IAF and government channels for the live link, and use it as a backup if you cannot get to the ghats.

Yes. We are a local Varanasi travel team with Shivala Grand, a hotel near the ghats, the Kashi Paradise Stay homestay, airport and local cabs, and tour packages. Book early, because the whole city will be busy.