Garba 2026 Leicester: Navratri Garba and Dandiya Events in Leicester

Quick answer: We found five upcoming Garba and Dandiya listings in Leicester and Leicester Forest East for Navratri 2026: two multi-night Navratri events starting on Saturday 10 October, a family Garba on Sunday 11 October (sold out), and two post-Navratri nights on Friday 23 October. Navratri runs from Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October 2026 (Drik Panchang), with Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October. Always confirm with the organiser before you travel.

Last updated: 7 October 2026.

Event status key: Confirmed means the date and venue appear on the organiser's own page or its official ticket page. Announced means the organiser has announced the event but full details were not yet published. Listed — confirm with organiser means we saw the event only on a third-party listing or the page omitted the year, so please verify it directly. All upcoming Leicester listings below are Confirmed.

Leicester and Garba

Leicester is one of the best-known homes of the Gujarati community in Britain. Many Gujarati families settled in the city from East Africa and India from the 1960s and 1970s onwards, and they brought Navratri, Garba and Dandiya with them. Belgrave Road and the surrounding streets, often called the Golden Mile, became known for Indian shops, sweet shops, sari and jewellery stores and restaurants, and the area is the heart of the city's festival season, including its well-known Diwali lights.

For Navratri, Leicester's Garba is spread across community halls, banqueting suites and temple halls. Some nights are run by event companies, others by caste and community associations or temples for their members. This page lists the public events we could verify; for wider UK Navratri dates and puja timings, see our UK Navratri city by city: dates and times.

Navratri 2026 dates for Garba in Leicester

• Navratri: Sunday 11 October to Monday 19 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, India). Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami both fall on Monday 19 October.
• Dussehra (Vijayadashami): Tuesday 20 October 2026.
• Leicester's Garba window: the multi-night events listed run from Saturday 10 October to Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October, so there are Garba options on most evenings of the season.
• After Navratri: two post-Navratri nights are on Friday 23 October, around the time of Sharad Purnima 2026 (Sharad Poonam), which many Gujarati communities mark with Garba.

Garba 2026 events in Leicester

Sorted by start date.

Good to know: The Jungle Club runs both a multi-night Navratri at its Checketts Road venue and a separate post-Navratri Disco Dandiya Night at Prajapati Hall. Two different post-Navratri events fall on the same evening, Friday 23 October, both on Ulverscroft Road, so check which venue your ticket is for. The Leicester Forest East family Garba runs in the afternoon, from 2pm to 5pm, and was shown as sold out when we checked; it is listed so families know about it for future years.

Already held this season

Garba near you in Leicester if it is not listed

Our table covers only public listings we could verify. Many Leicester Garba nights are organised by temples and community associations mainly for their members and families, and are announced close to Navratri. To find one near you:

• Temples: Leicester's Hindu temples often hold Navratri puja and Garba or raas in their halls; check the temple's website or notice board for timings.
• Community associations: Gujarati caste and community associations, including Lohana and other samaj groups, usually announce Navratri on their websites and social pages.
• Ask locally: local WhatsApp and Facebook groups are often the fastest way to hear about a smaller Garba evening.

If you can travel, Garba is also listed in Birmingham, Manchester and many parts of London. See Garba 2026 UK for events across Britain and Garba 2026 London for London area by area.

Why Garba is devotional

Garba is a circular dance offered to the Goddess, Ma Amba or Durga, during Navratri. Dancers move around a garbo, a clay pot with a lamp inside, or around an image of Mataji. As traditionally understood, the lamp represents the Divine light within every life, and the circle reflects the cycle of time around the unchanging Goddess. That is why a Garba night usually begins with an aarti. Read more in Garba meaning and spiritual significance, the history of Garba from Gujarat to the world and Navratri mantras and prayers before Garba. For the stick dance that often follows, see Garba vs Dandiya Raas.

First-timer tips for Garba in Leicester

• Dress: chaniya choli, kediyu or a bright kurta all work. See our Garba dress guide. Many dancers follow the Navratri 2026 colours.
• Etiquette: bow to Mataji when you arrive, stand quietly for the aarti, never cross the centre of the circle, and keep the evening alcohol-free.
• Beginners: start in the outer, slower circle and copy the dancers in front. Our Garba for beginners guide explains the basic steps.
• Kids: agree a meeting point, keep young children in the outer circle and take water breaks.
• Travel and parking: Navratri evenings are busy in Leicester. Check the venue's page for parking and public transport, and allow extra time.
• Tickets: buy only through the organiser's own page or the official ticket link.

Details change — always confirm date, venue and tickets on the organiser's official page before you travel. Listings are for information; HinduTone is not affiliated with organisers.

Also read: Garba 2026 worldwide: all countries.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find Garba near me in Leicester in 2026?

We found five upcoming public Garba and Dandiya listings in the Leicester area for Navratri 2026: multi-night Navratri at The Platinum Suite (Cobden Street) and The Jungle Club (Checketts Road), two post-Navratri nights on Ulverscroft Road on 23 October, and a family Garba in Leicester Forest East on 11 October, which is already sold out. Temples and community associations in Leicester often hold their own Garba too.

When is Garba in Leicester in 2026?

Navratri 2026 runs from Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October (Drik Panchang, India), with Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October. Leicester's two multi-night events start on Saturday 10 October and run to 23 and 24 October, and two post-Navratri nights are on Friday 23 October.

Is Garba free in Leicester?

The Leicester listings we found are ticketed, and the Leicester Forest East family Garba is already sold out. Temple Garba evenings and some community nights can be free or donation-based, so check with your local temple or association.

What should I wear to Garba in Leicester?

Chaniya choli, kediyu or a bright kurta are all common, and any modest, comfortable outfit is welcome. October evenings in Leicester are cool, so bring a coat for the journey and check the venue's footwear rules.

Can non-Gujaratis join Garba in Leicester?

Yes. Garba circles are generally open to everyone, and newcomers are welcome. Stand quietly for the aarti, start in the outer circle, follow the venue's rules and keep the evening alcohol-free.

Is there Garba for families and children in Leicester?

Family Garba LFE in Leicester Forest East holds an afternoon session from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday 11 October, but it is already sold out. Many of the evening Navratri events welcome families; check each organiser's page for age guidance.

Editor's note (7 October 2026)

We compiled these Leicester listings on 7 October 2026 from the organisers' official ticket pages. We did not include ticket prices or performers. Navratri dates follow Drik Panchang for India. Event details are set by the organisers and can change; we will update this page as more Leicester Garba nights are announced, including temple and community events. Organisers who want to correct or add an event can contact HinduTone.

Related guides

• Garba 2026 UK: events across Britain
• Garba 2026 London, area by area
• UK Navratri city by city: dates and times
• Navratri in the UK: how Gujaratis and South Indians celebrate
• Navaratri 2026 complete guide for Hindus in the UK
• Navratri 2026 NRI guide
• Garba for beginners: steps, etiquette and kids