✍️ By Rahul Goyal · Chandigarh Life
Quick answer: The main pre-Diwali event in Chandigarh this year is the 29th CII Chandigarh Fair at Parade Ground, Sector 17 (30 October – 2 November, 10 AM to 8 PM daily). The Mohali Diwali Mela hasn’t announced 2026 dates yet, and Chandigarh Tourism lists the Chandigarh Carnival for the last weekend of November. Diwali is on Sunday, 8 November 2026.
Date last checked on 13 October 2026 against the Chandigarh Administration’s 2026 holiday list.
Every 2026 festival date, with its weekday and whether it is a holiday in Chandigarh, is in our Chandigarh festival calendar.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| 29th CII Chandigarh Fair | 30 October to 2 November 2026, Parade Ground, Sector 17 |
| Organiser | Confederation of Indian Industry |
| Chandigarh Carnival | Leisure Valley, Sector 10; last weekend of November |
| Diwali | Sunday, 8 November 2026 |
The run-up to Diwali in Chandigarh isn’t just about the festival itself — it’s also when the city’s exhibition and mela calendar gets busiest. Hotels host fashion and lifestyle pop-ups, CII runs its flagship consumer fair, and Mohali’s ground-level mela draws families every evening for weeks. This list only includes events with real, checkable dates as of this update — we’ve left out anything still unannounced rather than guess.
29th CII Chandigarh Fair — Parade Ground, Sector 17
Dates: 30 October – 2 November 2026
Venue: Parade Ground, Sector 17, Chandigarh
Organiser: Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Northern Region
The city’s biggest pre-Diwali shopping event, now in its 29th year. Expect hundreds of stalls across fashion, home décor, consumer durables, food and wellness, timed deliberately for the festive shopping window between Dussehra and Diwali. The fair’s website lists timings of 10 AM to 8 PM on all four days. Source: the CII Chandigarh Fair website.
Mohali Diwali Mela — Dussehra Ground, Sector 79
Dates: not yet announced for 2026
Venue: Dussehra Ground, Sector 79, Mohali (opposite Amity International School)
The tricity’s biggest ground-level Diwali mela — carnival rides, live Punjabi performances, a shopping bazaar and food stalls, running most evenings for several weeks before Diwali. We’ve covered it in full detail separately: Mohali Diwali Mela — check that page closer to the date for confirmed 2026 dates and timings.
Chandigarh Carnival — Leisure Valley, Sector 10
Dates: Chandigarh Tourism lists it for the last weekend of November
Venue: Leisure Valley, Sector 10, Chandigarh
Not strictly a Diwali event, but it extends the festive season with art parades, live music and food stalls. Organised by the Chandigarh Tourism Department — check their official listings closer to November for confirmed dates.
Diwali parties in the tricity, 2026
As of 13 October 2026, one ticketed Diwali party is listed: DDLJ Diwali, an ethnic-wear Diwali dance night at Wild Sage, Daun (Mohali), on Thursday 5 November, 9 PM to 4 AM. Tickets start at ₹2,000 and entry is 18+ (District listing). We recheck the ticket listings every week and add each party here once it is on sale.
More festival guides
- Diwali in Chandigarh: Sunday, 8 November.
- Mohali Diwali Mela: the mela at Sector 79.
- Dhanteras in Chandigarh: Friday, 6 November, and the shopping.
- Karwa Chauth in Chandigarh: Thursday, 29 October, with moonrise and puja times.
- Dussehra in Chandigarh: Tuesday, 20 October, with the Ramleela grounds by sector.
- Chandigarh festival calendar 2026: every date, verified.
Citywide Melas & Lighting
Beyond the fair above, Chandigarh’s own neighbourhood-level Diwali events run every year without needing individual dates announced in advance:
- Sector 17 Plaza — the city’s central shopping plaza, usually busy with festive shoppers before Diwali.
- Terrace Garden Mela, Sector 33 — smaller, crafts-focused, known for cultural performances.
- Elante Mall — indoor festive décor, shopping offers and an evening lighting display.
For the full date, muhurat and shopping guide for the festival itself, see our main Diwali in Chandigarh guide.
What is the biggest pre-Diwali event in Chandigarh in 2026?
The 29th CII Chandigarh Fair, running 30 October to 2 November 2026 at Parade Ground, Sector 17 — the city’s largest festive shopping event.
When is the Mohali Diwali Mela in 2026?
Dates hadn’t been announced as of this update. Check the dedicated Mohali Diwali Mela page for the confirmed 2026 dates once announced.
Are there fashion and lifestyle exhibitions before Diwali in Chandigarh?
Hotels and halls in the tricity often host short festive pop-ups, but we could not confirm any 2026 listing from an organiser or venue. The 29th CII Chandigarh Fair (30 October to 2 November, 10 AM to 8 PM) is the main confirmed festive shopping event.
Is the Chandigarh Carnival a Diwali event?
Not directly. It is a separate Chandigarh Tourism event that the department lists for the last weekend of November, after Diwali on 8 November.
When is the CII Chandigarh Fair in 2026?
CII lists the 29th CII Chandigarh Fair for 30 October to 2 November 2026 at Parade Ground, Sector 17.
Who organises the CII Chandigarh Fair?
The Confederation of Indian Industry organises it. Its Northern Region office is at Block No. 3, Dakshin Marg, Sector 31.
When is the Chandigarh Carnival?
Chandigarh Tourism lists it for the last weekend of November at Leisure Valley, Sector 10.
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, with the Lakshmi Puja muhurat for Chandigarh from 5:52 PM to 7:46 PM.
We’ll keep this page updated as the Mohali Diwali Mela and Chandigarh Carnival confirm their 2026 dates — bookmark it rather than relying on a screenshot, since exhibition dates especially can shift by a few days.
Explore More in Events
- Diwali in Chandigarh 2026: Dates, Events, Shopping & Celebrations
- Mohali Diwali Mela
- Dussehra in Panchkula: Ravana Effigy & Celebrations
- Karwa Chauth in Chandigarh: Moonrise Time, Pooja Muhurat & Celebration Places
Sources
- Drik Panchang: Lakshmi Puja timings for Chandigarh, 2026
- CII: 29th CII Chandigarh Fair event page
- Chandigarh Tourism: Chandigarh Carnival
The facts added to this page on 20 September 2026 were checked against the sources above.
