Tirumala Srivari Brahmotsavam 2026: Dates & Full Schedule

Quick answer: Tirumala celebrates two Srivari Brahmotsavams
in 2026 because it is an Adhika Masa year. The annual Salakatla Brahmotsavam
is expected from September 15 to 23, 2026 (Garuda Seva on September 19), and
the Navaratri Brahmotsavam from October 12 to 20, 2026 (Garuda Seva on October
16).

These dates are based on the Telugu panchangam and widely reported festival
calendars for 2026. TTD releases the official day-by-day schedule through its
Dharmika Council announcement closer to the festival, usually 6–8 weeks in
advance. Treat the dates on this page as expected until TTD confirms them on
tirumala.org or TTD News. Before you travel, also check the
live Tirumala darshan status for that
day’s crowd and darshan timings.

Why Tirumala Has Two Brahmotsavams in 2026

The Srivari Brahmotsavam is normally a single nine-day festival held in the
Telugu month of Kanya Masa (September–October), timed so that the final
Chakrasnanam falls around Vijayadashami. But 2026 carries an Adhika Masa — an
extra lunar month inserted into the Hindu calendar roughly every three years
to keep lunar months aligned with the solar year.

When an Adhika Masa falls in this window, the temple follows a centuries-old
convention and conducts the festival twice:

• Salakatla Brahmotsavam (September 15–23): The regular
  annual Brahmotsavam, held with full rituals including Dhwajarohanam — the
  hoisting of the Garuda flag that formally invites all deities to the
  festival.
• Navaratri Brahmotsavam (October 12–20): A second
  Brahmotsavam aligned with Sharad Navaratri, conducted without Dhwajarohanam
  and Dhwajavarohanam. All vahana sevas, including Garuda Seva and
  Rathotsavam, are performed as usual.

The last time this double celebration happened was 2023. For devotees it is a
rare bonus: two chances in one year to witness Garuda Seva, the Rathotsavam
and the full vahanam cycle on the Tirumala mada streets.

Salakatla Brahmotsavam 2026: Day-by-Day Vahanam Schedule

Ankurarpanam, the seed-sowing ritual that ceremonially begins the festival, is
expected on the evening of September 14, 2026. The nine festival days then
follow the traditional vahanam sequence. Morning sevas generally run around
8:00 AM–10:00 AM and evening sevas around 7:00 PM–9:00 PM, subject to TTD’s
confirmed timings.

Each vahanam carries its own symbolism: Pedda Sesha Vahanam honours Adisesha,
the Lord’s eternal companion; Hamsa Vahanam presents the Lord as the
embodiment of wisdom; Mohini Avataram recalls the Vishnu avatar that recovered
the amrita from the asuras; and Chakrasnanam, the ritual bath of the
Sudarshana Chakra in the Swami Pushkarini, marks the festival’s spiritual
culmination.

Navaratri Brahmotsavam 2026: Day-by-Day Vahanam Schedule

The October festival follows the same vahanam order, minus the flag-hoisting
rituals. Ankurarpanam is expected on October 11, 2026.

Garuda Seva: The Biggest Days of 2026

Garuda Seva on the fifth night of each Brahmotsavam is the single most
attended event in the Tirumala calendar. Lord Malayappa Swamy, adorned with
legendary jewellery including the Makara Kanti and Lakshmi Haram brought out
specially for this night, is carried on the golden Garuda vahanam around the
four mada streets. In recent years, TTD has estimated crowds of several lakh
devotees on Garuda Seva night alone.

In 2026 there are two Garuda Sevas — expected on
Saturday, September 19 and
Friday, October 16. If you can only attend one event across
both festivals, this is the one most pilgrims choose, but plan for the year’s
heaviest crowds, extensive vehicle restrictions on the ghat roads, and long
walks from parking points to the mada street galleries. TTD arranges free
gallery seating on a first-come basis; devotees start occupying spots from
early afternoon.

If the Brahmotsavam dates do not suit your travel plans, Tirumala also holds a
Garuda Seva on select full-moon evenings through the year — see our
Pournami Garuda Seva 2026 dates guide
for the complete list.

Darshan, Crowds and Planning for Brahmotsavam Days

Brahmotsavam fortnights are the most crowded period at Tirumala, and TTD
reorganises darshan significantly:

• Arjitha sevas are suspended. Paid sevas such as
  Kalyanotsavam, Unjal Seva and Arjitha Brahmotsavam do not operate during the
  festival. Refunds are issued automatically for affected bookings.
• Sarva darshan waits stretch long. On peak days — especially
  Garuda Seva and Rathotsavam — compartment waits of 18 to 36 hours have been
  common in past years. Check the
  live darshan status before you start
  your climb or drive.
• Book Special Entry Darshan (Rs. 300) early. Festival-window
  quotas sell out within minutes of release. Our
  TTD quota release dates guide
  explains when each month’s darshan and accommodation quotas open on the TTD
  portal.
• Accommodation is the tightest constraint. Tirumala rooms
  for festival dates disappear as soon as the quota opens; staying in Tirupati
  town and travelling up by bus is the practical fallback for most families.
• Expect traffic controls. Two-wheelers are typically barred
  on the ghat roads on Garuda Seva day, and private vehicles face
  restrictions; TTD and APSRTC run extra buses from Tirupati.
• Best lighter-crowd windows: Days 2–4 (Chinna Sesha through
  Sarva Bhoopala) draw noticeably smaller crowds than the Garuda
  Seva–to–Chakrasnanam stretch, while still offering the full festival
  atmosphere.

All bookings — darshan, accommodation and sevas — should be made only through
the official TTD portal (ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in) or TTD counters. No private
website or agent can legitimately sell Brahmotsavam darshan tickets.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Tirumala Brahmotsavam in 2026?

Two Brahmotsavams are expected in 2026: the Salakatla Brahmotsavam from
September 15 to 23 and the Navaratri Brahmotsavam from October 12 to 20. TTD
will confirm the official schedule closer to the festival.

When is Garuda Seva during Brahmotsavam 2026?

Garuda Seva falls on the fifth evening of each festival — expected on
September 19, 2026 for the Salakatla Brahmotsavam and October 16, 2026 for the
Navaratri Brahmotsavam.

Why are there two Brahmotsavams in 2026?

2026 is an Adhika Masa (extra lunar month) year. By temple convention,
Tirumala conducts the regular Salakatla Brahmotsavam in September and a second
Navaratri Brahmotsavam in October, the latter without the Dhwajarohanam
flag-hoisting ritual.

Is darshan open during Brahmotsavam?

Yes, sarva darshan and Special Entry Darshan continue throughout, but waiting
times are much longer than usual and arjitha sevas (Kalyanotsavam, Unjal Seva
and others) are suspended for the festival period.

How do I book darshan tickets for Brahmotsavam 2026?

Only through the official TTD portal (ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in) or authorised
TTD counters. Special Entry Darshan quotas for festival dates are released
with the regular monthly quota and sell out very quickly.

Which Brahmotsavam days have smaller crowds?

Days 2 to 4 of each festival are relatively lighter. Garuda Seva (day 5),
Rathotsavam (day 8) and Chakrasnanam (day 9) draw the largest crowds of the
entire year.

Last updated: July 2026

Sources: Telugu panchangam-based festival calendars for 2026;
TTD News (news.tirumala.org) Brahmotsavam announcements; tirumala.org festival
pages. Dates shown are expected and will be updated once TTD publishes the
official Brahmotsavam schedule.

Disclaimer: tirumalatirupationline.com is an independent
pilgrim-information website and is not affiliated with Tirumala Tirupati
Devasthanams (TTD). For official announcements, bookings and schedules,
always rely on tirumala.org, ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in and TTD’s official
channels.