Archive · 30 Jul 2026
Maharashtra Plans World-Class Koyna Backwater Festival 2026
The state of Maharashtra wants to make a big festival at the Koyna backwaters in 2026.
The festival will have a carnival, a floating market, horse rides, helicopter rides, kite flying, and yoga.
It will also show the natural beauty of the backwaters and local culture.
The government will add new shows like laser and drone displays.
They plan to hold it between Christmas and New Year and want tourists from all over India and other countries to come.
Maharashtra government plans to make the 2026 Koyna Backwater Festival an international tourism event.
Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai will add attractions such as a carnival, floating market, horse riding, helicopter rides, kite festival, heritage tours, and yoga sessions.
The festival is scheduled between Christmas and New Year, featuring tent accommodation, water sports, houseboats, cultural programmes, food festivals, laser and drone shows.
Officials will install digital screens for MTDC branding and improve visitor experience, traffic management, police deployment, and tourist safety.
The initiative follows Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s vision to make the event grander and more attractive.
- Who
- Maharashtra government, Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde
- What
- Planning the 2026 Koyna Backwater Festival as an international tourism event with new attractions
- When
- Scheduled between Christmas and New Year 2026
- Where
- Koyna backwaters, Maharashtra, India
- Why
- To boost domestic and international tourism and give Maharashtra’s tourism sector a fresh identity
- Event
- Koyna Backwater Festival 2026
- Location
- Koyna backwaters, Maharashtra, India
- Date
- Between Christmas and New Year 2026
- Minister
- Shambhuraj Desai
- Visionary
- Eknath Shinde