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Pasola dates: when the next Pasola is and how dates are set
When is the Pasola in Sumba? How the dates are chosen, the 2026 schedule as an example, when 2027 dates are usually announced and how to plan your trip.
The Pasola is Sumba's most famous event: riders on horseback throwing blunt wooden spears at each other in a ritual contest linked to the ancestors and the planting season. Planning a trip around it means understanding how the dates work.
How the dates are set
The Pasola takes place in February and March in West and Southwest Sumba, in areas such as Kodi, Lamboya, Wanokaka and Gaura. The exact day in each place is decided by local priests (ratu) following ritual timing tied to the moon and the appearance of sea worms called nyale on the beaches. That is why dates are announced relatively late, and why they can change.
An example: the 2026 schedule
For 2026, published schedules listed Pasola events on 9, 10 and 11 February and on 9, 10 and 11 March, spread across different villages, including Homba Kalayo, Bondo Kawango and Rara Winyo in February, and Maliti Bondo Ate, Wai Ha and Wainyapu in March. Use it as an idea of the pattern, not as a promise for next year.
2027 dates
The 2027 dates have not been announced at the time of writing. Expect events again in February and March. We will update this page as soon as the regency governments or local organisers publish them. Our sister site The Sumba Times also reports local news.
How to plan
- Book flights to Tambolaka, the closest airport, as soon as the dates are confirmed: places to stay nearby fill up.
- Keep your plans flexible by a day or two.
- Stay in Tambolaka, Waikabubak or near the coast depending on which Pasola you will attend.
- Go with a local guide who knows the ceremonies.
Watching safely and respectfully
- Stay behind the crowd; horses and spears move fast.
- Follow instructions from organisers and locals.
- Ask before photographing people and rituals.
Learn more in our full Pasola guide and see the Pasola field of Wanokaka.
FAQ
When is the Pasola?
Every year in February and March, in West and Southwest Sumba (Kodi, Lamboya, Wanokaka and Gaura). Exact days follow local ritual timing.
Have the 2027 Pasola dates been announced?
Not yet at the time of writing. Dates are usually published a few weeks or months before; we will update this page when they are confirmed.
What were the 2026 dates?
Published schedules for 2026 listed events on 9, 10 and 11 February and 9, 10 and 11 March, in different villages.
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