From Kite Festival to Drone show, Hyderabad to hold series of events in January to boost tourism

Hyderabad: From the International Kite & Sweet Festival to the high-technology Drone Show, the Telangana government will organise a series of events to showcase the state's cultural heritage and technological prowess in January 2026.

The events are being held as part of Sankranthi celebrations to increase domestic and global tourist footfall.

The International Kite & Sweet Festival will be held from January 13 to 15, 2026, at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad, coinciding with Makar Sankranthi. The event is aimed at showcasing Telangana’s cultural heritage and traditions.

The kite festival will feature participation from 19 countries, including Indonesia, Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Portugal, Vietnam, Malaysia, Italy, Switzerland, Algeria, Singapore, Russia, Ukraine, and France. In total, 40 international and 55 national kite flyers from 15 Indian states are expected to take part.

Special night-flying kite events are scheduled on all three days of the festival. Visitors will be able to witness a range of kite designs, including large-format and uniquely crafted kites.

Alongside kite flying, cultural programmes reflecting traditional Telangana art forms will be organised. The venue will also host around 100 handloom and handicraft stalls and 60 food courts offering Telangana cuisine and other regional foods.

International sweets festival

As part of the celebrations, the International Sweets Festival will be organised in association with Culture Language Indian Connections (CLIC). The festival will feature more than 1,200 varieties of sweets.

These sweets will be prepared in homes by Hyderabad residents who originally hail from different Indian states and various countries, highlighting the city’s multicultural character and shared culinary traditions.

Hot air balloon festival (January 16–18)

The Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held from January 16 to 18, 2026. The event will feature 15 international-standard hot air balloons arriving from European countries.

Morning sessions will be organised at locations on the outskirts of Hyderabad, while evening sessions will take place at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad. The evening programme will include Night Glow Balloon displays.

Drone show 2026 (January 16–17)

A special Drone Show will be organised on January 16 and 17, 2026, at Gachibowli Stadium. The show will feature high-technology drones equipped with multi-colour LED lighting and coordinated aerial manoeuvres.

According to the Tourism Department, the event will showcase India’s transition from cultural heritage to modern technological innovation in aerial sports. The programme includes an LED-lit racecourse across the stadium field, FPV (First Person View) video feeds displayed on giant screens, drone-based soccer demonstrations, and aerial visuals highlighting key Telangana tourist destinations.

The Department of Tourism expects the series of events to attract domestic and international visitors, while providing a platform to promote Telangana’s culture, crafts, cuisine, and emerging technology-driven entertainment.