Garba 2026 UK: Navratri Garba and Dandiya Events Across Britain, City by City

Quick answer: We found 56 upcoming Garba and Dandiya listings across the UK for Navratri 2026: 42 in Greater London, 5 in Leicester and Leicester Forest East, and 9 more in Birmingham, Manchester, Slough, Reading, Bournemouth, Poole, Blackpool, Leeds and Glasgow. Navratri runs from Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October 2026 (Drik Panchang). The busiest Garba weekends are 10 to 11 October and 16 to 18 October, and several communities add Sharad Poonam or post-Navratri nights on 23 to 25 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 (such as the venue) were not yet published. Listed — confirm with organiser means we saw the event only on a third-party listing, or the event page shows a weekday and date without a year (the weekdays match 2026 and the listing is live), so please verify it directly.

This page is a directory of Garba and Dandiya events. For Navratri dates, Ghatasthapana and puja timings in UK cities, see our UK Navratri city by city: dates and times, and for how different communities keep the festival in Britain, read Navratri in the UK: how Gujaratis and South Indians celebrate.

Navratri 2026 dates for Garba in the UK

• 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.
• Main Garba weekends: Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October, and Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October.
• Multi-night Navratri: many London, Leicester, Birmingham and Manchester organisers dance every night, some starting on Friday 9 or Saturday 10 October.
• After Navratri: Sharad Poonam and post-Navratri nights on 23, 24 and 25 October. See Sharad Purnima 2026.

For the full UK festival picture, including the nine days of the Devi and home puja, see the Navaratri 2026 complete guide for Hindus in the UK.

London

Greater London has by far the most Garba in Britain: we found 42 listings, which we cover area by area, with full tables, in Garba 2026 London. In short:

• North-West London (18 listings): Harrow, Kenton, South Harrow, Stanmore, Kingsbury, Wembley, Neasden, Northolt and Northwood. Organisers include Lohana Community North London, Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community (UK), Gujarati Arya Association London, the Swaminarayan temple in Stanmore and several event companies, with multi-night Navratri from 9 or 10 October and kids' sessions in Kenton and Kingsbury.
• North and East London (14 listings): Edmonton, Islington, Homerton, Ilford, Hainault, Barking, Manor Park, Stratford and Forest Gate, including free-entry nights by the North London Garba Association and two Forest Gate events that also celebrate Bathukamma.
• South London (5 listings): Plumstead (SEGA, including a kids' night), Croydon (including a Lohana Community South London ladies-only Garba on 14 October) and Bromley.
• West London (5 listings): Cranford, Hounslow, Heston and Chiswick, including a two-day Navratri gala with Durga Puja in Hounslow.

Leicester

Leicester, long a home of Britain's Gujarati community, has five upcoming listings: two multi-night Navratri events from Saturday 10 October at The Platinum Suite (4 Seasons) and The Jungle Club, two post-Navratri nights on Ulverscroft Road on Friday 23 October, and a family Garba in Leicester Forest East on Sunday 11 October, which is already sold out. Full table, venues and links: Garba 2026 Leicester.

Birmingham and the Midlands

Birmingham Pragati Mandal (BPM) runs Garba every night of Navratri at its own event centre in Sparkbrook.

BPM lists Garba from 7pm to 10:30pm, with children's activities on 11 and 17 October. A pre-Navratri event in Birmingham on 3 October has already taken place (see below).

Manchester

Tricolour Events' Manchester Navratri Mahotsav is held at the National Cycling Centre and runs 11 nights, plus a separate Sharad Poonam night.

The Sharad Poonam Garba night on Saturday 24 October has its own Eventbrite listing ('Sharad Poonam Garba Night Manchester'), separate from the day tickets, so check which ticket you need.

North of England and Scotland: Blackpool, Leeds, Glasgow

Good to know: the Blackpool page gives 'Sat 10 Oct' without a year, but the weekday matches 2026 and the listing is live; the Fylde Coast Hindu Society states free entry. The Leeds event is a Meetup group event called 'Day 2', which suggests a first day that we could not find, so ask the group. The Glasgow night at the Emirates Arena runs from 3pm to 8pm.

South of England: Slough, Reading, Bournemouth, Poole

Good to know: the Poole page gives 'Sun 11 Oct' without a year, but the weekday matches 2026 and the listing is live. The Reading event was found on AllEvents, which also mentions a second night at the same school on Friday 23 October; we have not verified that night, so check with the organiser. Readers in Berkshire are also within reach of the West London events in Hounslow and Cranford.

Already held this season

A kids' session by Sansaar in Kenton, London, was also held on 4 October; its 11 October session is listed on the London page.

No 2026 listing found yet: Coventry, Bolton, Preston and other towns

When we checked on 7 October 2026 we found no public 2026 Garba listing for Coventry, Bolton or Preston, even though these towns have Gujarati communities. That does not mean there is no Garba: many community and temple nights are announced only to members or on social media. Here is how to find Garba near you anywhere in the UK:

• Hindu temples: temples often hold Navratri puja followed by Garba or raas in their own hall, sometimes free or donation-based. Check the temple's website or notice board.
• Gujarati and Lohana community associations: Gujarati Samaj, Lohana, Patel, Prajapati and other community associations usually announce Navratri on their websites and social pages a few weeks ahead.
• Student societies: Hindu and Indian student societies at universities often hold a Garba or Dandiya night for students and friends.
• Ask locally: local WhatsApp and Facebook groups are often the fastest way to hear about a smaller Garba evening.
• Travel to a nearby city: Leicester and Birmingham are within reach of Coventry, and Manchester and Blackpool of Bolton and Preston.

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, whether in a temple hall or an arena, 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. Many UK events add Dandiya Raas with sticks; see Garba vs Dandiya Raas for the difference.

First-timer tips for Garba in the UK

• Dress: chaniya choli, kediyu or a bright kurta all work. See our Garba dress guide. Many dancers follow the Navratri 2026 colours.
• Weather: wear a coat over your outfit for the journey and check the venue's footwear rules.
• 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: look for family or kids' sessions, agree a meeting point and take water breaks.
• Travel and parking: check the venue's page for parking and public transport, and plan for a late return.
• Tickets: popular nights sell out. 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 the UK in 2026?

We found 56 upcoming Garba and Dandiya listings for Navratri 2026: 42 in Greater London, 5 in Leicester and Leicester Forest East, and others in Birmingham, Manchester, Slough, Reading, Bournemouth, Poole, Blackpool, Leeds and Glasgow. If your town is not listed, check your local Hindu temple and Gujarati or Lohana community association, which usually announce Navratri on their own websites and social pages.

When is Garba in the UK in 2026?

Navratri 2026 runs from Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October (Drik Panchang, India), with Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October. UK Garba nights mostly fall on the weekends of 10 to 11 and 16 to 18 October, many community groups dance every night of Navratri, and several hold Sharad Poonam or post-Navratri nights on 23 to 25 October.

Is Garba free in the UK?

Most UK Garba nights are ticketed because organisers hire halls and arenas. A few organisers state free entry, including the Fylde Coast Hindu Society night in Blackpool and, in London, the North London Garba Association nights in Edmonton, SLP Samaj UK in Northwood and the Chiswick dandiya night. Temple Garba can be free or donation-based.

What should I wear to Garba in the UK?

Chaniya choli, kediyu or a bright kurta are all common, and any modest, comfortable outfit is welcome. Some events set a dress theme, so read the event page. October evenings in Britain are cold and often wet, so bring a coat for the journey.

Can non-Gujaratis join Garba in the UK?

Yes. Garba circles are generally open to everyone, and many UK events mix Garba with Dandiya and Bollywood music. Stand quietly for the aarti, start in the outer circle, follow the venue's rules and keep the evening alcohol-free.

Is there Garba in Coventry, Bolton or Preston in 2026?

We did not find a public 2026 Garba listing for Coventry, Bolton or Preston when we checked on 7 October 2026. These towns have Gujarati communities, so Garba is likely to be organised by local temples and community associations; check their websites and social pages, or travel to nearby Leicester, Birmingham, Manchester or Blackpool.

Editor's note (7 October 2026)

We compiled these UK listings on 7 October 2026 from organiser websites, temple pages and official ticket pages, plus one third-party listing that is marked as such. Where an event page gave a date without a year, we have said so. 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 UK Garba nights are announced. Organisers who want to correct or add an event can contact HinduTone.

Related guides

• Garba 2026 London, area by area
• Garba 2026 Leicester
• 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 2026 Europe
• Bathukamma 2026 in the UK, region by region