Island Tourism Festival
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are best known for clear blue water and white sand. Once a year, they also put on a big cultural party. It is called the Island Tourism Festival, or ITF for short. Local artists and troupes from across India perform music, dance and drama. There are craft stalls, food courts and games for children.
Our older post on this festival said it runs for 15 days in January. That is no longer true. Recent editions have been held over five days at the end of December. We have updated this guide with the latest dates and facts, so you can plan your trip well.
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What Is the Island Tourism Festival?
The Island Tourism Festival is the biggest yearly cultural event of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The island administration runs it. Its Tourism Department leads the work, and the Department of Art and Culture arranges the stage shows.
The aim is simple. The festival brings people together for fun, food and culture. It also shows visitors the mixed culture of the islands. People from many parts of India have settled here over the years. So you will hear Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam spoken here. The native Nicobarese and other tribal groups have their own languages too. The festival gives all of them a stage.
At the opening of the 2025 edition, the Director of Information, Publicity and Tourism called it a “mega annual cultural event”. He said it is meant for more than fun. It is also meant to present the shared culture of the islands. The member of Parliament for the islands, Bishnu Pada Ray, opened that edition on 27 December 2025.
Island Tourism Festival 2026 Dates
The Island Tourism Festival 2026 is planned from 27 to 31 December 2026. The Tourism Department of the island administration will organise it. This was announced in early October 2026.
The Art and Culture Department has asked local cultural groups to apply if they want to perform. The last date to apply is 6 November 2026. Each group must offer four to six programmes. Dance shows must run for at least 30 minutes. Singing shows must run for 45 minutes to one hour.
Each group needs 8 to 15 members, and every artist must be at least 8 years old. A selection panel will watch rehearsals at Andaman Club in mid November. The department wants classical, semi classical, folk and tribal dances. It also welcomes bhajans, qawwalis and folk songs from different states.
Where Is the Festival Held?
The main venue is the ITF Ground on VIP Road in Sri Vijaya Puram. This city was called Port Blair until 13 September 2024, when the Government of India renamed it. It is the capital of the islands.
The festival does not stay in one place. In 2025, shows were held at more than a dozen venues at the same time. This lets people on small and far off islands enjoy the shows too. The venues included:
- South Andaman: the ITF Ground, Marina Esplanade, Wandoor, Wimberlygunj, Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep and Hut Bay.
- North and Middle Andaman: Baratang, Rangat, Mayabunder and Diglipur.
- Nicobar Islands: Car Nicobar and Campbell Bay.
The 2026 notice says programmes will again be held at various venues across the islands. The exact list may change from year to year.
What Can You See at the Festival?
Music and Dance
The stage shows are the heart of the festival. The 2025 opening night began with a Ganesh Vandana, a prayer dance to Lord Ganesha. Then came a Nicobari dance, which shows the native culture of the islands. Artists from Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya in Lucknow performed Kathak. A troupe from Gujarat presented Ras, a folk dance.
Troupes from the mainland also took part. The South Zone Cultural Centre brought Theyyam, Karagam, Thappattam and martial arts shows from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre brought Sambalpuri dance from Odisha and a dance drama on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. There were also folk dances from Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh.
The Nicobarese People
The Nicobarese are the main native people of the Nicobar Islands. They call themselves “Holchu”, which means “friend”. Their dances are a highlight because visitors rarely get to see them anywhere else. Some tribal areas of the islands are closed to outsiders, so a festival stage is a good and respectful way to enjoy this culture.
Poetry, Crafts and Food
Every year, the Department of Official Language holds a Hasya Kavi Sammelan. This is a gathering of comic poets who recite funny Hindi verses. Big crowds come for it.
The festival ground also has many stalls. Government departments set up stalls about their work. Self help groups sell local handicrafts and homemade products. Food courts serve many kinds of dishes. Children can enjoy fun games. In 2025, the festival ran from 5.30 pm to 10 pm each day.
Things to Do in the Islands During Your Visit
Late December is a busy tourist season in the islands. If you come for the festival, plan a few extra days to explore. The territory has 836 islands, but people live on only 31 of them. Here are some popular places near the capital.
Cellular Jail
The Cellular Jail is also known as “Kala Pani”, or Black Water. The British built it between 1896 and 1906. They used it to keep Indian freedom fighters far from home, alone in small cells. Famous prisoners included Batukeshwar Dutt and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Today it is a national memorial.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island
This small island was once called Ross Island. It was the seat of British rule over the islands. It was renamed in December 2018 in honour of Netaji. He had raised the Indian flag at Port Blair on 30 December 1943, during the Second World War. Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep got their new names at the same time. The Indian Navy now manages it. You reach it by boat from Sri Vijaya Puram, and it is closed to tourists on Wednesdays.
Swaraj Dweep and Radhanagar Beach
Swaraj Dweep was earlier called Havelock Island. Its Radhanagar Beach was named the “Best Beach in Asia” by Time magazine in 2004. In 2020 it won the Blue Flag, a world famous label for clean and safe beaches. Read more in our list of beautiful beaches in India.
Water Sports
The islands are popular for water sports. You can try scuba diving, sea walking, parasailing, kayaking and glass bottom boat rides. North Bay Island and Swaraj Dweep are the main spots for these activities. Always use licensed operators and follow their safety rules.
Nature lovers can also visit the island national parks. Read about the tiny South Button Island National Park, one of the smallest parks in India.
How to Reach Sri Vijaya Puram
The islands lie in the Bay of Bengal. Sri Vijaya Puram is about 1,190 km from Chennai and about 1,255 km from Kolkata. Most visitors fly in. The city has the Veer Savarkar International Airport, the only major airport in the islands. It has regular flights to big Indian cities.
Book flights and hotels early for late December, because this is peak season. For a fuller picture of the islands, see our guide to Andaman and Nicobar history, geography and tourism.
Simple Tips for Festival Visitors
- Check the dates. Look for the official programme from the island administration before you travel.
- Go in the evening. Shows start after sunset, when the air is cooler.
- Plan your travel. In 2025, the road from Hayat Singh Junction to RBV Junction was one way from 3 pm to 10 pm. Parking was set up at the airport and nearby spots.
- Respect local culture. Ask before you take photos of performers, and never try to visit closed tribal areas.
- Keep the islands clean. Use dustbins and carry back your plastic.
What We Changed From the Old Post
- The old post said the festival lasts 15 days in January. The 2025 edition ran for five days, from 27 to 31 December, and the 2026 edition is planned for the same dates.
- Port Blair is now officially called Sri Vijaya Puram, after the name change in September 2024.
- We removed the old list of dog shows, magic shows and puppet shows, because we could not confirm them for recent editions.
- Scuba diving and parasailing are general island activities. The old post made them sound like festival events, so we explained this.
- We added the venues, the 2026 dates, the rules for local groups, nearby sights and travel tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Island Tourism Festival 2026?
It is planned from 27 to 31 December 2026, according to the island administration’s announcement in October 2026.
Where is the Island Tourism Festival held?
The main venue is the ITF Ground on VIP Road in Sri Vijaya Puram. Shows are also held at other venues across the islands.
Is there an entry fee?
Recent news reports invite the general public to join, but they do not mention ticket prices. Check the official notice before you go.
Who organises the festival?
The Tourism Department of the Andaman and Nicobar administration organises it. The Department of Art and Culture arranges the cultural programmes.