The Qaqlasht festival, also written Jashan-e-Qaqlasht, is a spring sports and cultural gathering held on the Qaqlasht meadows above Booni in Upper Chitral. In years it runs, it typically lasts about four days and centres on polo, with football, cricket, volleyball, tug-of-war and cultural performances alongside it. Unlike the Kalash festivals or the Shandur Polo Festival, it does not happen every year on a fixed date, so treat any date you read, including from us, as provisional until you confirm it closer to the time.
This guide covers what the festival involves, its uneven recent history, and how to check whether it is happening before you plan a trip around it.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Qaqlasht meadows, above Booni, Upper Chitral |
| Season | Spring, usually April |
| Typical length | About four days when held |
| Main event | Polo, alongside football, cricket, volleyball and games |
| Reliability | Not held every year; check locally before travelling |
| 2026 | Qaqlasht ground hosted the Broghil Festival and polo instead, in July |
What the festival is
Qaqlasht is the open, grassy plateau above Booni, and the festival takes its name from the ground. Local accounts trace gatherings on the plateau back a long way in Kho culture, and describe the modern festival as a revival, brought back in an organised form in 2003 after decades without one. Even since that revival it has not run continuously: it went unheld for several years between 2019 and 2024 before starting up again.
When it runs, the festival centres on polo matches between district and club teams, played in the freestyle mountain style found across Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan, alongside football, cricket, volleyball, tug-of-war, archery and other games, plus cultural shows and, in some years, paragliding demonstrations. It draws teams and spectators from across Upper and Lower Chitral, and is separate from a winter sports gathering also sometimes held on the same ground in early January, with skiing, winter camping and mountaineering training.
For the origins of mountain polo in the region and a similar, better-established festival, see our guide to the Shandur Polo Festival.
Why the dates are not reliable
Unlike the Kalash spring and winter festivals, which the Kalasha hold every year, Qaqlasht has been cancelled or skipped in some years for funding and organisational reasons, and its exact dates have moved around considerably even when it does run. It was held in mid-April in 2025, for example, with the decision on exact dates made only about a week beforehand once the weather and ground conditions were judged suitable.
In 2026, the festival itself did not go ahead in its usual form; instead, the Broghil Festival and polo matches were held on the Qaqlasht ground in July. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has since decided to move organisation of the Qaqlasht festival to the provincial Sports Department from the following year, as part of an effort to put it on a more stable footing.
The practical result is that you should not book a trip around a specific Qaqlasht date without checking first. A guesthouse in Booni, a Chitral-based tour operator, or local news coverage close to the time are the most reliable ways to confirm whether, and when, it is happening.
Visiting Qaqlasht outside festival dates
The meadows themselves are open year-round and worth a stop even without an event on. It is a short drive above Booni, flat and green in season, with views across Upper Chitral that are rare in a district of steep valleys; our guide to Booni covers the town below it and how to fit it into a wider trip.
If the festival is running while you are in the area, expect the meadow to be busy with teams, spectators and stalls for the days it lasts, and book accommodation in Booni well ahead, since rooms there are limited even outside festival periods.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Qaqlasht festival held?
When it runs, it is usually in April, but the exact dates are set close to the time and the festival itself is not held every year. Check locally before planning a trip around it.
Was the Qaqlasht festival held in 2026?
Not in its usual form. The Qaqlasht ground instead hosted the Broghil Festival and polo matches in July 2026, and organisation of the festival is being handed to the provincial Sports Department going forward.
What happens at the Qaqlasht festival?
Polo is the main event, alongside football, cricket, volleyball, tug-of-war and cultural performances, spread over about four days when the festival is held.
Where exactly is Qaqlasht?
An open meadow on a plateau above Booni, the headquarters town of Upper Chitral, at around 2,500 metres.
Can I visit Qaqlasht if there is no festival on?
Yes. The meadows are open at other times and make a worthwhile stop above Booni for the views and the walk, festival or not.
Is Chitral safe for overseas visitors?
Pakistani tourists visit Chitral throughout the season, but as of September 2026 the UK government advises against all travel on the N45 from Mardan to Chitral city, which is the main road in through Dir and the Lowari Tunnel, and within 10 miles of the Afghan border. If you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's advice before you go, because travelling against it can void your insurance. Everyone should check local news and current police advice before setting out.
