Lok Mela 2026 to begin at Lok Virsa, Shakarparian, Islamabad on 27 November

ISLAMABAD: Lok Mela 2026, the country’s largest annual cultural festival, will be held at Lok Virsa, Shakarparian, from 27 November to 6 December. It aims to highlight Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage, regional traditions and folk arts.

The ten-day festival will reflect the culture, traditional food, music, crafts and regional arts of the country’s different provinces and regions.

Cultural pavilions and activities

The festival will have cultural pavilions of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. They will showcase traditional life, architecture, costumes, crafts and local skills.

Special stalls of regional food will also be set up. There will be special musical evenings, folk music, traditional dances, puppet shows and entertainment activities for children.

Well-known folk singers, musicians, calligraphers, artisans and craftspeople of Pakistan will take part in the festival. They will be honoured with a turban-tying ceremony at the end. Diplomats and foreign delegates will also attend as special guests.