Pakistan Tourism, Sports and Family Festival 2026: Islamabad’s Three-Day Celebration of Adventure, Culture and Food
Islamabad is in the middle of a three-day party. The Pakistan Tourism, Sports and Family Festival 2026 opened on Friday, 6 November, at the Pakistan Sports Complex, and it runs until Sunday, 8 November, with paragliders over the Margalla Hills, tent pegging at F-9 Park, concerts, fireworks, a food festival and a car show. Organisers expect around 150,000 visitors over the three days — which would make it one of the largest public gatherings in the capital this year. Entry is free for all visitors.
Today, Saturday 7 November, is the festival’s big sports and culture day: a professional cycling competition in the morning, tent pegging at F-9 Park with foreign diplomats in attendance, a car show competition, lantern flying and fireworks in the evening, and a musical concert to close the night.
This article explains what the festival is, what is happening on each day, how to visit, and why the government and the business community see it as much more than a weekend out.
What is the festival?
The Pakistan Tourism, Sports and Family Festival is a three-day celebration of Pakistan’s tourism, culture, sports, adventure, food and family entertainment, held in Islamabad. The official festival website describes it simply: “One City. Three Venues.”
The three venues are:
- Pakistan Sports Complex — the main festival venue, hosting ceremonies, performances, sports, food, shopping, exhibitions and family entertainment.
- F-9 Park — the tent pegging venue, used on Saturday 7 November for the equestrian competition and diplomatic activities.
- Margalla Hills, near Monal — the paragliding launch area, with flights running all three days towards Shalimar Cricket Ground.
This is the festival’s second edition. The first was held on 31 January and 1 February this year, at the Jinnah Sports Complex — the stadium at the heart of the Pakistan Sports Complex — and at F-9 Park. According to the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), it drew thousands of families and diplomatic representatives from several countries, and featured provincial tourism pavilions, food and family arenas, sports competitions, a marathon and cycling events, closing with a grand musical concert and fireworks. Organisers have now scaled that template up to three days and a far bigger crowd.
The dates for this second edition were announced on 25 October by Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Tourism, at a ceremony at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. At the same ceremony, the Chamber and the PTDC signed a memorandum of understanding to organise and promote the festival together.
Day one: the grand opening
Friday 6 November was opening day. The gates opened at 10:00 in the morning, and the day’s programme included a car show from noon until 6:00 in the evening, an opening ceremony at 2:00 in the afternoon with a ribbon cutting, a double-decker bus safari from 3:00 to 7:00 in the evening, lantern flying at 6:00, and a musical concert from 7:00 onwards. Stage performances ran all day, and paragliders flew from Monal to Shalimar Cricket Ground throughout the day.
The Islamabad Post reported on Saturday morning that the three-day festival had kicked off in the capital, confirming the opening went ahead as planned.
Day two: sports, culture and diplomats
Today, Saturday 7 November, is the festival’s sports and culture day, and it has the busiest schedule of the three days.
The day begins early with a professional cycling competition from 8:00 to 10:30 in the morning, on a route from the Pak China Friendship Center to the end of 7th Avenue and back. At 10:00, the tent pegging event kicks off at F-9 Park.
Tent pegging is one of Pakistan’s oldest equestrian sports. Riders gallop at full speed and use a lance to spear small targets from the ground — a test of precision, balance and horsemanship that has been practised in Punjab for centuries. The festival’s own description promises “expert riders and thrilling displays” in “an unforgettable arena experience.”
The afternoon has a diplomatic flavour. Foreign diplomats arrive at F-9 Park at 1:00 in the afternoon and watch the tent pegging from 1:30. They then leave on double-decker buses at 3:00 and arrive at the Sports Complex at 3:30, where they visit the arenas from 4:00 onwards.
Back at the Pakistan Sports Complex, the double-decker bus safari runs from noon until 3:30, and the car show competition takes place from 3:00 to 3:30. As evening falls, there is lantern flying at 6:00, fireworks at 6:30, and a musical concert from 7:00 onwards. Stage performances and paragliding continue all day.
Day three: the grand finale
Sunday 8 November is the closing day. The programme is lighter and more family-focused: a family and kids run and ride at 2:00 in the afternoon, prize distribution at 3:00, and a closing ceremony at 4:30. The double-decker bus safari runs from 3:00 to 7:00 in the evening, cultural performances run on stage all day, and paragliding continues from Monal to Shalimar Cricket Ground.
Something for everyone: what visitors can do
The festival is designed so that every age group finds something to do, from morning until evening. The attractions on offer across the three days include:
Adventure and sports: paragliding and powered paragliding (paramotors) over the Margalla Hills, rock climbing, archery, a paintball arena, hot-air balloons and motorised gliders.
Family entertainment: a pet show and pet zone, a carnival by Fun City with games and rides, magic shows, circus and acrobatics, fire performances, jumping castles and family games.
Food, culture and shopping: a Pakistani food festival and food stalls serving traditional dishes and street food from across the country, plus a handicrafts and shopping bazaar.
Exhibitions and networking: a tourism pavilion and destination exhibitions, a diplomatic arena, and a business startup exhibition.
The car and bike show is another draw. The festival promises classic, vintage and modern cars on display, along with premium heavy motorcycles — “a spectacular festival display” of automotive design and performance, according to the organisers.
For many families, though, the simplest attraction may be the setting itself. The Pakistan Sports Complex sits in the shadow of the Margalla Hills, and the paragliders launching from near Monal and landing at Shalimar Cricket Ground give visitors a view of the city that few Islamabad residents ever see from the air.
Free entry — and how to get in
Entry to the festival is free for all visitors, according to the official website. The organisers note that selected concerts, rides and premium activities may require separate tickets or charges, but the festival attractions, cultural performances and family entertainment are open to everyone.
For visitors heading to the Pakistan Sports Complex, the official festival map marks a recommended approach route and a parking area. Gate 5 is the designated entrance for the general public.
Why the festival matters
For Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Tourism, the festival is about more than a good weekend. At the announcement ceremony on 25 October, he said reviving tourism was a collective responsibility and a powerful way of “replacing disappointment with happiness, hope and economic opportunities”, urging every stakeholder to take ownership of the effort. He said greater international visibility was essential to attract foreign visitors and to show that Pakistan can host vibrant cultural, musical, sporting and tourism events.
He also proposed engaging Pakistan’s diplomatic missions abroad to invite international content creators to the festival, so they can showcase the country’s tourism attractions and cultural richness to global audiences in their own languages and styles.
The business community sees the same opportunity. Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia said Pakistan possessed exceptional tourism potential extending far beyond Islamabad, particularly in the northern areas — Swat, Chitral, Gilgit and Skardu. He stressed the need to improve air connectivity, tourism infrastructure and international outreach to attract more foreign tourists, particularly from Arab countries, and said turning potential into income required better facilities, professional management, sustainable tourism practices and stronger public-private partnerships.
Zia described exhibitions, conferences and festivals as engines of business, bringing investors, entrepreneurs, tourists and business communities together, and called “Trade through Travel” an effective way to strengthen commercial relations and expand economic cooperation.
Other Chamber leaders echoed the point. Senior Vice President Mohammad Ashfaq Hussain Chatha said tourism was a dynamic economic sector capable of generating employment, attracting investment and promoting entrepreneurship. Vice President Mohammad Waqas Khan Swati said the Chamber would help its members take part and provide coordination support, with the PTDC partnership supporting local enterprise development and youth employment. Former ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood said such events could project a positive image of the country.
The audience the organisers expect reflects that ambition. Around 150,000 visitors over three days — more than 50,000 a day — would make the festival one of the largest public gatherings in the capital this year. For hotels, restaurants, transport operators and craft sellers, a weekend on this scale is a direct boost. The announcement ceremony itself drew Chamber executive committee members, business leaders from various sectors and representatives of the hospitality and hotel industry — the very sectors that stand to gain when a city fills with guests.
A year of momentum for Pakistani tourism
The festival is the latest in a string of big home showcases for Pakistan this year. In April, the Pakistan Travel Mart 2026 brought more than 250 exhibitors from 20 countries to Karachi. In October, Lahore hosted Pakistan’s first global PUBG Mobile event. The tourism festival extends that run into November, and for Islamabad it is one more rehearsal for hosting bigger international events in the future.
That matters because Pakistan’s tourism story has often been told in the wrong way. The country has some of the world’s highest mountains, ancient cities, deserts, beaches and a food culture that visitors remember for years — but it has struggled to turn that into steady income. Events like this one are an attempt to change the picture from the inside out: first get Pakistanis themselves out enjoying their own country, then show the world what it looks like when they do.
What to see if you go
If you are planning a visit, here is a simple guide to the three days:
- Saturday is the day for sport. The cycling competition starts at 8:00 in the morning, tent pegging at F-9 Park from 10:00, and the fireworks at 6:30 in the evening are the day’s finale.
- Sunday is the day for families. The family and kids run and ride starts at 2:00 in the afternoon, with prize distribution at 3:00 and the closing ceremony at 4:30.
- All three days offer paragliding from Monal to Shalimar Cricket Ground, along with the food festival, the handicrafts bazaar, the car and bike show, the carnival, rock climbing, archery and the tourism pavilion.
- Arrive early and use Gate 5 at the Pakistan Sports Complex for general public entry. Entry is free, though some concerts, rides and premium activities may charge separately.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Pakistan Tourism, Sports and Family Festival 2026?
The festival runs from Friday 6 November to Sunday 8 November 2026 in Islamabad. It opened on 6 November and closes with a ceremony on the afternoon of 8 November.
Where is the festival held?
The main venue is the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad. Tent pegging takes place at F-9 Park, and paragliding launches from the Margalla Hills near Monal, landing at Shalimar Cricket Ground.
Is entry free?
Yes. Entry is free for all visitors. The organisers say selected concerts, rides and premium activities may require separate tickets or charges.
How many people are expected?
Organisers expect around 150,000 visitors over the three days — more than 50,000 a day. That would make it one of the largest public gatherings in Islamabad this year.
What is tent pegging?
Tent pegging is a traditional equestrian sport in which riders gallop at full speed and use a lance to pick up small targets from the ground. It is one of Pakistan’s oldest horse sports. At this festival, the tent pegging competition takes place at F-9 Park on Saturday 7 November from 10:00 in the morning, with foreign diplomats watching from 1:30 in the afternoon.
Who is organising the festival?
The festival is organised by the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) together with the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, under a memorandum of understanding signed by the two bodies. The dates were announced by Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Tourism.
Was there a festival last year?
The first edition was held on 31 January and 1 February 2026 at the Jinnah Sports Complex and F-9 Park. It drew thousands of families and diplomats, and featured provincial tourism pavilions, a marathon, cycling events and a closing concert with fireworks.
Conclusion
The Pakistan Tourism, Sports and Family Festival is a small story with a big idea behind it: that Pakistan’s mountains, food, music and sports are worth celebrating at home before they are sold abroad. With paragliders over the Margalla Hills, tent pegging at F-9 Park, a food festival, a car show, concerts and fireworks, the three days in Islamabad pack in almost everything the country has to offer — and entry is free.
Whether 150,000 people actually turn up will be the real test. But the festival has already done one thing: it has given Islamabad a weekend in which the city’s biggest story is not politics or prices, but families out together, riders at full gallop, and music under the hills. For a capital that rarely gets to celebrate itself, that is worth something.
Sources
- Official festival website, Pakistan Tourism, Sports and Family Festival 2026: https://www.paktourismfest.com/
- Good News Pakistan, “Pakistan Tourism Sports and Family Festival 2026: Islamabad Dates, Activities and 150,000 Visitors”, 28 October 2026 (updated 6 November 2026): https://goodnews.com.pk/pakistan-tourism-sports-and-family-festival-islamabad-november-2026/
- Islamabad Post, “Three-day Pakistan Tourism, Sports and Family Festival kicks off in Islamabad”, 7 November 2026: https://islamabadpost.com.pk/category/pakistan/
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
