SHIMLA: The International Shimla Summer Festival 2026 is set to bring a unique blend of adventure and cultural celebration to the hill station. This year’s edition will offer tourists and local residents an exclusive opportunity to enjoy helicopter joy rides over Shimla’s iconic seven hills.
The joy rides will commence from the Chalonthi helipad. Participants will get an aerial view of the seven hills before the ride concludes at the same location. The district administration has made special arrangements for tourists and locals to travel from the Ridge ground to the Chalonthi helipad. Applications for the joy rides can be submitted both online and offline. While the exact rate for the joy ride is yet to be finalised, discussions between the tourism department and district administration are underway to determine the charges soon.
District Deputy Commissioner Shimla Anupam Kashyap shared these details during a press conference held in Shimla. He informed that the festival will be organised from June 8 to June 12. The event aims to provide a mix of recreational, competitive, and cultural activities for visitors and residents alike.
A major highlight for school children will be the speech competition to be held in both Hindi and English. Entries have already been received from 50 schools. Winners will receive attractive prizes, with the first position getting a trophy and Rs 51,000, second position Rs 31,000, and third position Rs 21,000.
For the youth, an inter-district volleyball competition will be organised at the Sanjauli ground. The tournament has been themed ‘Anti-Chitta First Inter District Summer Festival’. Teams from various districts are expected to participate. The winning team will receive Rs 1 lakh along with a trophy, while the runners-up will get Rs 50,000 and the third-place team Rs 30,000. Teams reaching the quarter-finals will also be honoured with Rs 20,000 each.
The festival will also celebrate local cuisine through the Shimla Swad Mahotsav to be held at Rani Jhansi Park. Visitors will get to savour traditional Shimla dishes. Twelve food stalls will be set up, including six by women’s self-help groups and six by other participants. Quality checks for the food will be conducted at the Hotel Management Institute in Kufri before final allotment of stalls. Among the 12 stalls, the best one will receive Rs 51,000, second place Rs 31,000, and third place Rs 21,000.
The Flower Show, which was a popular attraction in previous editions, will make a comeback this year. Additionally, a fashion show will be organised along with the return of the Dog Show. Winners of the Dog Show will receive Rs 25,000 for first place, Rs 15,000 for second, and Rs 10,000 for third.
A Healthy Baby Show will also be part of the festival. The parents of the healthiest baby will receive a Rs 25,000 fixed deposit, while second and third positions will get Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 fixed deposits respectively.
In line with the anti-drug theme, people can submit short films on the Anti-Chitta campaign. The best film will win Rs 1 lakh, second place Rs 50,000, and third place Rs 30,000.
Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap stated that names of artists for the cultural evenings will be finalised shortly, possibly within this week. The festival will showcase diverse cultural performances including Tibetan Cham dance, Uttarakhand’s Chholiya dance, Haryana’s Ghoomar dance, Rajasthan’s Bhawai dance, and Jammu and Kashmir’s Gojri dance. A grand theatrical performance (Mahanati) will also be organised at the Ridge ground.
The upcoming Shimla Summer Festival is expected to attract significant footfall from both domestic and international tourists, offering them a memorable experience combining adventure, culture, and community participation.
