The Derana Colombo International Kite Festival has grown into one of Sri Lanka’s most recognized international cultural and tourism events, bringing together people from around the world through the universal language of kite flying.

The journey began in 2015 as the Lokaya Saha Lokayo Kite Festival, organized by the Derana Kite Team with the vision of introducing a unique family festival that celebrated creativity, friendship, and outdoor recreation.

Inspired by its early success, the festival entered a new chapter in 2017 when it was renamed the Derana International Kite Festival. That year, the event welcomed participants from four countries for the first time, marking Sri Lanka’s entry into the international kite festival community. The response from both local and international audiences was overwhelming, making the festival an instant success.

Building on that momentum, the 2018 festival expanded further by hosting kite flyers from eight countries, attracting even larger crowds and gaining international recognition.

However, shortly afterward, Sri Lanka faced an unprecedented series of challenges. The 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, followed by the COVID19 pandemic, and later the country’s economic crisis, forced the festival to be suspended for seven years.

Although the festival could not be held during that period, the Derana Kite Team never stopped its journey. Every year, the team represented Sri Lanka at approximately eight international kite festivals, gaining valuable experience, building strong friendships with the global kite community, and learning from some of the world’s best festival organizers.

Those experiences inspired a much bigger vision. The organizing team asked an important question: How can a kite festival contribute to rebuilding Sri Lanka and promoting the country to the world?

The answer was to transform the festival into a powerful destination marketing platform.

With that vision, the event was relaunched as the Derana Colombo International Kite Festival, placing Colombo at the heart of its international identity. The objective was not only to organize a world class kite festival but also to promote Colombo and Sri Lanka as attractive tourism destinations.

To achieve this vision, the organizers partnered with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, which recognized the festival’s potential as an international tourism promotion event.

Considering that previous festivals had attracted crowds of nearly 500,000 visitors, the organizers also worked closely with the Sri Lanka Police, who joined as an official partner to provide comprehensive traffic management and public security.

The relaunch in 2025 became a historic milestone.

The festival welcomed 54 international kite flyers from 21 countries, together with more than 1,000 local kite flyers, creating one of the largest kite festivals ever held in South Asia.

The event was an outstanding success. It was featured by 36 international television, radio, online, and media organizations, taking Sri Lanka’s image to audiences around the world.

Among 62 major international kite festivals worldwide, the 2025 Derana Colombo International Kite Festival was ranked 9th, while also recording one of the largest single day public attendances ever seen at a kite festival.

Its global impact extended even further when an official 2026 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup guide used a photograph from the Colombo International Kite Festival to introduce the city of Colombo to international visitors,another proud moment for Sri Lanka.

Following the remarkable success of last year, the 2026 Derana Colombo International Kite Festival promises to be even bigger and more spectacular.

This year, invitations have been extended to 80 international kite flyers from 30 countries, while more than 1,500 Sri Lankan kite flyers are expected to participate.

The festival has also evolved from a one day celebration into a week long cultural and educational programme.

One of the most meaningful additions this year has been a series of kite making and kite  flying workshops for children aged 8 to 15 years. More than 630 children participated in these workshops, conducted by expert kite flyers from Australia, France, and China.

The organizers introduced these workshops in response to today’s increasing dependence on smartphones and digital devices among children. The aim is to encourage creativity, teamwork, practical learning, and outdoor activities while introducing a new generation to the joy of kite flying.

International participants have already begun arriving in Sri Lanka, with the remaining teams arriving over the coming days.

The 2026 festival is proudly organized in partnership with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, the Sri Lanka Police, and the Colombo Municipal Council, demonstrating strong collaboration between public institutions and the private sector.

This year’s special cultural theme is the Kandy Esala Perahera, highlighting one of Sri Lanka’s most treasured cultural traditions. As part of the programme, international participants will visit the Sri Dalada Maligawa, giving them the opportunity to experience Sri Lanka’s rich history, culture, and religious heritage firsthand.

The festival programme continues throughout the week with several exciting events.

On Thursday, the official opening ceremony welcomed delegates from around the world.

On Friday, the official international press conference was held with local and foreign media.

On Saturday morning, Colombo will witness a colourful vehicle parade featuring nearly 200 classic and vintage vehicles, together with international kite flyers representing countries from across the globe.

On Saturday evening, a special kite flying event will take place at Port City Colombo, specially organized for diplomats and members of the international media.

The main festival will take place on 9th August at Galle Face Green from 1.00 p.m. until 6.30 p.m., where thousands of colourful kites from around the world will fill the skies above Colombo.

Immediately afterward, from 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., Sri Lanka will host its first ever Night Kite Festival, where illuminated kites will create a spectacular display against the evening sky.

The celebrations will continue from 7.30 p.m. until midnight with a grand musical concert featuring some of Sri Lanka’s most popular artists, backed by Avatar Band, providing entertainment for visitors of all ages.

Adding another exciting attraction, the Derana Colombo Food Festival will also take place opposite Galle Face Green, in front of the ShangriLa Colombo, offering visitors a wide selection of Sri Lankan and international cuisine throughout the event.

The Derana Colombo International Kite Festival is much more than a kite festival. It is a celebration of friendship, culture, tourism, education, and national pride. It demonstrates how a simple kite can connect people across borders, showcase Sri Lanka to the world, and inspire future generations.

As colourful kites once again rise above Colombo’s skyline, they carry with them a powerful message, that Sri Lanka is ready to welcome the world with open skies, warm hospitality, and unforgettable experiences.