Mysore Palace suspends sound and light show until 1 November
Published on 10/21/2026 at 14:56 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSDasara access and visitor changes
- The Mysore Palace Board suspended the Sound and Light Show from 5 October to 1 November 2026.
- Mysuru Dasara 2026 places cultural programmes and the Jumboo Savari at the palace during October.
- The official Mysuru Dasara programme traces the festival tradition to 1610.
Mysore Palace in Mysuru has suspended its Sound and Light Show from 5 October to 1 November 2026 as Dasara-related works and cultural programmes occupy the palace premises. The change affects an evening attraction during the 2026 festival, while the wider programme continues through 21 October.
Mysore Palace suspends its evening show for Dasara
The Mysore Palace Board announced that the Sound and Light Show would not run between 5 October and 1 November 2026. The suspension is linked to Dasara works and cultural programmes at the palace, according to a press release cited by the Mysore Palace Board notice.
The decision is part of a broader visitor schedule around Mysuru Dasara, the state festival of Karnataka. The official programme lists the celebration from 11 to 21 October 2026, with the palace stage hosting cultural performances and the final-day Jumboo Savari procession leaving the palace for Bannimantap. The suspension therefore removes one regular evening attraction while leaving the festival events in place.
The change is temporary rather than a permanent alteration to the visitor offer. A local report citing the palace board says that the show is expected to resume on 2 November 2026, after the announced suspension period. Travellers planning a visit before that date should not treat the usual Sound and Light Show as part of their evening programme.
Dasara connects the palace stage with royal ceremonies
The palace is listed in the official programme as Amba Vilas Palace, one of the principal venues for Mysuru Dasara. Cultural programmes are scheduled at the palace stage during the festival, alongside events at Jaganmohan Palace, Kalamandira, Chikka Gadiyara, Town Hall and Kuppanna Park.
On 20 October, the official programme places Mahanavami and Ayudha Puja at Amba Vilas Palace. On 21 October, Vijayadashami ceremonies include Nandi Dhwaja Puja and a procession that leaves the palace at 4.35pm for Bannimantap. The same evening includes the Panjina Kavayathu, or Torchlight Parade, at Bannimantap Ground. These details are set out in the official 2026 Dasara programme.
The link between the suspended show and the festival is therefore practical as well as ceremonial. Works and performances use the palace premises, while the palace remains a starting point for the best-known procession in the programme. Visitors may still encounter Dasara activity around the venue even when the evening audio-visual presentation is unavailable.
What the 2026 programme means for a palace visit
The official schedule describes Mysuru Dasara as an 11-day programme with more than 100 events at over 15 venues. It includes cultural performances, a flower show, a food festival, sporting events, poetry sessions and the Dasara Exhibition opposite the palace at Doddakere Maidan.
The programme also records palace illumination during the festival, separate from the Sound and Light Show. That distinction matters for visitors: the suspension concerns the audio-visual presentation, not every form of festival activity connected with the building. The official programme lists palace illumination from 11 to 21 October, while the board notice separately identifies the Sound and Light Show as suspended until 1 November.
Mysuru Dasara has been presented by the official programme as a tradition dating from 1610. In 2026, that long festival history is reflected in the combination of royal ceremonies at Amba Vilas Palace, public cultural events across Mysuru and the procession route to Bannimantap.
Visiting Mysore Palace: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Sound and Light Show is suspended at Mysore Palace from 5 October to 1 November 2026 because of Dasara-related works and cultural programmes.
- General visitor access is restricted on 20 October 2026 for Mahanavami and Ayudha Puja, and on 21 October 2026 for Vijayadashami and the Jumboo Savari; the palace board says only holders of valid Dasara passes and tickets are admitted on 21 October.
- Mysore Palace is in Mysuru, Karnataka, and the official Dasara programme places the palace stage and the procession departure at Amba Vilas Palace.
- 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 Mysore Palace
When does the Sound and Light Show return at Mysore Palace?
The show is suspended through 1 November 2026. The palace board notice says it is expected to resume on 2 November 2026.
What changes at Mysore Palace during Mysuru Dasara?
The Sound and Light Show is suspended from 5 October to 1 November 2026, while Dasara ceremonies and cultural programmes take place at the palace.
Where is Mysore Palace and how do you get there?
Mysore Palace is in Mysuru, Karnataka. The official Dasara programme identifies Amba Vilas Palace as the venue for palace events and the starting point of the 21 October 2026 Jumboo Savari.
