Kadampa Festivals

A multi-tiered building with traditional Asian architectural design, featuring ornate golden accents and a pagoda-style roof, set against a mountain landscape at sunset.
A man in glasses wearing a yellow and maroon monk's robe smiling at a microphone during a religious ceremony.
A large indoor gathering with many people seated and facing an altar with statues and religious symbols, inside a spacious, circular building with multiple levels and a high, domed ceiling with beams.

International Festivals

Festivals are a spiritual holiday like no other. They give us an opportunity to step away from the busyness of daily life and to make time for our inner spiritual development for a concentrated period of time. In this way we accelerate our meditation practice, deepening our understanding and experience in a relatively short period of time.

There is a beautiful rhythm to International Festivals. First, we hear the teachings and every day we meditate on their meaning. Then, while the teachings are fresh in our mind we engage in retreat.

This design came from the kindness of Venerable Geshe-la as a method to guide us to a deeper experience of Dharma.

Every year there are three International Festivals. The Spring Festival and Summer Festival take place at Manjushri KMC in the Lake District of northern England. The Fall Festival changes location each year. 

Everyone is welcome!

US National Festival - April 24 to 29 

At the 2026 US National Festival Gen-la Kelsang Khyenrab will grant the empowerment of Prajnaparamita and give teachings on the Heart Sutra, a beloved, sacred text taught by Buddha, that includes a special technique for overcoming our own and other's inner and outer obstacles. 

Held at Kadampa Meditation Center New York, and available online. More details at: https://www.uskadampafestival.org/

  • Two women sitting on grass in front of a large ornate building with gold accents and a tiered roof, against a bright blue sky.

    Spring Festival w/ Gen-la Khenrab

    May 22 to 27 at Manjushri KMC (UK)

    Amitayus Empowerment and teachings on the Eight Verses of Training the Mind. Available both in person and online. 

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  • A large gathering of monks and laypeople inside a spacious, circular hall with a high ceiling and skylight, attending a religious or spiritual event.

    Summer Festival w/ Gen-la Jampa & the DSD

    July 24 to August 8 at Manjushri KMC (UK)

    Teachings on the Stages of the Path, Lamrim & Highest Yoga Tantra Empowerments. Available both in person and online (but not the HYT empowerments).

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  • Snow-covered rooftop with decorative golden crowns against a mountain landscape and cloudy sky.

    Fall Festival w/ Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong

    October 9 to 15 at KMC Spain

    Je Tsongkhapa Empowerment &Teachings on Faith in Guru Tsongkhapa and the Blessed Practice of the Migtsema Request Prayer. Available both in person and online.

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