Sri Lanka is preparing to welcome approximately 80 international kite flyers from 30 countries alongside over 1,500 local participants for the Derana Digital Colombo International Kite Festival 2026, marking a 30 percent increase in international participation compared to previous editions.
The Derana Digital Colombo International Kite Festival 2026 has expanded from a single-day event into a comprehensive week-long programme combining cultural exchange, educational workshops, and tourism promotion. The festival, organized in partnership with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Sri Lanka Police, and the Colombo Municipal Council, will feature kite-building workshops, vintage vehicle parades, night kite displays, and cultural excursions throughout the city.
Prior to the main festival weekend, organizers conducted preparatory workshops engaging over 630 children aged 8 to 15 years, led by expert kite flyers from Australia, France, and China. The full week of activities includes an international delegate welcome ceremony, press conferences, a vintage car parade featuring nearly 200 classic vehicles departing from Galle Face Green, and diplomatic events at Port City Colombo. The centrepiece will be the main festival at Galle Face Green on Sunday, complemented by Sri Lanka's inaugural night kite festival featuring illuminated kites. A grand musical concert by popular Sri Lankan artists will accompany the Derana Colombo Food Festival.
Organizers emphasize the festival's role in promoting Sri Lanka's tourism potential and cultural heritage. Derana Media Network Chief Operating Officer Madhawa Madawala stated the event demonstrates that "Sri Lanka is open, welcoming, ready to welcome visitors from every corner of the globe." This year's edition incorporates a cultural theme centered on the Kandy Esala Perahera, with international participants scheduled to visit the Sri Dalada Maligawa to experience the country's religious heritage.
Security arrangements reflect the event's scale, with Sri Lanka Police deploying 1,000 officers including 300 dedicated to traffic management, 200 plainclothes officers, and 700 personnel for security operations. Special parade routes and designated parking areas have been established across Colombo to accommodate the anticipated crowds.
