Ghats of Varanasi host air show on 25 October

Ghats of Varanasi and its Namo Ghat riverfront will host the Wings Over Ganges air show on 25 October 2026. The Indian Air Force display is part of celebrations for the force’s 94th anniversary, with aircraft flying above the Ganga in Varanasi, India. The programme gives visitors a current access change as well as a view of the riverfront’s historic setting.

The wider event schedule includes displays on 22, 24 and 25 October 2026. The main presentation on 25 October is planned at Namo Ghat under the title Air Force Day Aerial Display-2026.

Wings Over Ganges brings aircraft above Namo Ghat

The programme is being organised by the Indian Air Force, according to the event report published by Amar Ujala. The source names the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team and Sarang Helicopter Display Team as participants, alongside Rafale, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Tejas and the Prachand light combat helicopter.

Other aircraft listed for the aerial display include IL-76, IL-78, C-295 and AN-32 aircraft. The event’s Wings Over Ganges theme places modern aviation above the Ganga and directly over a riverfront used for ritual, pilgrimage and public gatherings.

For travellers, the important distinction is between the display area and other viewing points. Namo Ghat is the named venue, while the aircraft can be seen above the river from other ghats in Varanasi.

The riverfront links 84 ghats along the Ganga

The riverfront is not a single monument but a chain of stepped sites and buildings along the western bank of the Ganga. UNESCO’s tentative-list description records a 6.5km riverfront and identifies 84 ghats, including Assi, Dashashwamedha, Manikarnika, Panchaganga and Adi Keshava.

The same record says that construction of the stone-stepped ghats began from the fourteenth century. It describes platforms, temples, palaces and lanes as part of a linked cultural landscape, rather than treating the steps as isolated river access points.

That structure explains the practical value of the air show’s setting. The aircraft are scheduled above a living riverfront whose individual ghats continue to serve different functions, so a restricted Namo Ghat does not mean that every riverside site has the same access status.

Visiting Ghats of Varanasi: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Wings Over Ganges displays are scheduled for 22, 24 and 25 October 2026, with Namo Ghat named as the venue for the Air Force Day Aerial Display-2026.
• Namo Ghat is closed to ordinary visitors until 26 October 2026 during preparations and security arrangements; other ghats are separate places, and access conditions may differ.
• The riverfront lies in Varanasi on the Ganga, and the historic stretch includes Assi, Dashashwamedha, Manikarnika, Panchaganga and Adi Keshava ghats.
• The terrain consists of stone steps leading towards the river, with platforms, lanes and built structures along the bank; movement near the water requires care.
• India’s official languages include Hindi and English, and its national currency is the Indian rupee.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Ghats of Varanasi

When does Wings Over Ganges take place at Ghats of Varanasi?

The Indian Air Force displays are scheduled for 22, 24 and 25 October 2026, with the main event at Namo Ghat on 25 October.

What are the Ghats of Varanasi?

They are a linked riverfront of stone steps, platforms, buildings and lanes along the Ganga, recorded by UNESCO as 84 ghats across a 6.5km stretch.

Where are the Ghats of Varanasi and how do you get there?

They are on the Ganga in Varanasi, India. Namo Ghat is the named air-show venue, while other ghats form separate points along the riverfront.