Mysore Palace Illumination Timings 2026: Lights, Best Viewing Spots & Drone Show
The Palace lights switch on at 7 pm during Dasara. For families and Bangalore visitors, Mysore Palace illumination timings 2026 help frame a practical evening: choose a viewing area, allow for walking and decide whether Bannimantap fits the night.
Confirmed Palace lighting schedule
The official festival runs from 11–21 October 2026. For Mysore Palace illumination timings 2026, organisers list 7–10 pm daily, extending to midnight on Sundays and Vijayadashami: 11, 18 and 21 October. Times are in IST, subject to event instructions.
City lighting is inaugurated at 6:30 pm on 11 October near K.R. Hospital Circle, Sayyaji Rao Road; Palace lighting starts at 7 pm. Check the official illumination programme for Mysore Dasara illumination timings before travelling.
| Experience | Published 2026 arrangement | What it means for visitors |
| Palace exterior | 11–21 October, 7–10 pm; midnight on three nights | View from permitted forecourt or street space. |
| City lighting | Decorated roads nearby | Not a Palace façade view. |
| Drone show | Four dates, 8 pm, Bannimantap | Separate venue and entry rules. |
Regular evenings are a different schedule
Searches for Mysore Palace lighting timings 2026 may show the regular Sunday or public-holiday hour. During Dasara, follow the festival announcement for your date. Daytime interior admission has separate hours and tickets; exterior lighting does not grant entry inside.
When to arrive and where to stand
Aim to arrive near the Palace around 6 pm and settle by 6:30 pm. This editorial suggestion follows the official advice to reach the forecourt by 6:30 pm; free entry is listed from 6 pm. Allow more time on procession day, 21 October. For the route and crowd plan, see the Mysore Dasara procession guide. Mysore Palace illumination timings 2026 establish the switch-on, but crowd movement varies.
There is no universal best place to see Mysore Palace lights. Choose by walking tolerance and photo angle. Organisers name these public areas, subject to crowd control:
- Palace forecourt: Broad, close exterior view; expect crowds at switch-on. Families should set a meeting point and keep children nearby. A wide frame includes people in front. Walking from the entry is unavoidable. Free access is listed from 6 pm, but space and procession-day controls may change.
- Outside Balarama Gate, Sayyaji Rao Road: Framed street view with a potentially busy foreground. Families should stay in permitted pedestrian space, clear of the entrance. Photograph through the gate if the angle works. Expect a walk from your drop-off; barricades may block access, especially on 21 October.
Official material also names Ashoka Road and Albert Victor Road for street decorations, not full Palace views. For Mysore Palace lights Dasara 2026, check the permitted angle on arrival rather than trusting an older photograph.
If the approach feels packed, pause away from the gate and let your group choose a calmer permitted position together.
Entry, crowds and accessible planning
When checking Mysore Palace illumination timings 2026, note that free forecourt access is listed from 6 pm. Interior admission, procession seats and drone enclosures are separate. Staff may redirect queues; never step into traffic for a photograph.
For limited mobility, confirm the gate and assistance via the Dasara control room, 1077; do not assume a step-free route. The official planner lists parking hubs and shuttles but gives inconsistent shuttle-charge information. Recheck before departure and allow for a slow exit.
Photography and the separate sound-and-light show
For exterior photographs, steady your phone and lower exposure if bulbs wash out. Mysore Palace illumination timings 2026 give you several hours, so wait for a clear moment without blocking walkways. Ask staff about tripods. Keep flash off and avoid setting up equipment where families need to pass. The district administration prohibits tourist photography inside; festival information allows exterior photographs and bars personal drones without police permission.
Illumination means the exterior bulbs; the Palace light-and-sound show is a separate narrated programme. Do not apply a regular weekday show timetable during Dasara. Official 2026 details are awaiting confirmation. Check the Palace notice or information desk before allocating time or buying admission.
Drone show: dates, venue and tickets
The Mysore Dasara drone show 2026 is listed at 8 pm on 17, 18, 20 and 21 October at Panjina Kavayathu Maidana, Bannimantap. It is away from the Palace; a 7 pm Palace stop may leave too little time for enclosure entry.
The official ticket page lists separate drone tickets for 17 and 18 October, with gates from 4:30 pm. Standalone admission for 20 and 21 October is unclear despite the programme listing displays. Official 2026 details are awaiting confirmation. Check your ticket date, gate and current notice; distant street views are uncertain.
Getting in, getting out and an evening plan
The festival planner lists twelve parking hubs, shuttles and private-vehicle restrictions from 11 am on 21 October near the procession route. Check the latest Mysuru City Police advisory and official venue map for diversions. From Bangalore, consider train or bus; leave slack for queues and the return walk. For Bangalore departure options, browse The United Trips.
For a Palace evening, arrive around 6 pm, settle in a permitted area and watch the 7 pm switch-on before a measured exit. On drone-show dates, prioritise Bannimantap if your ticket has a gate deadline. Mysore Palace illumination timings 2026 leave room for a later Palace look on some nights, but families should choose which event takes priority.
See the Mysore Dasara 2026 for the wider programme and the Jamboo Savari guide for procession-day movement. A Mysore Dasara package lists transport and an evening itinerary; verify its departure and inclusions separately from government tickets.
Conclusion
The published Mysore Palace illumination timings 2026 give visitors a workable starting point: the lights are scheduled from 7 to 10 pm on festival evenings between 11 and 21 October, with a midnight extension on Sundays and Vijayadashami. Arriving before switch-on leaves time to find an authorised viewing area and adjust if a gate becomes crowded. The forecourt gives a closer exterior perspective; the public space outside Balarama Gate frames the building differently, subject to controls. Bring a simple photography plan, keep the walking needs of your group in mind, and separate a daytime Palace visit from the evening exterior display. A drone show at Bannimantap requires its own transport and admission check. Before leaving Bangalore or your Mysuru accommodation, revisit the official festival programme, ticket page and police updates. Choose a permitted view that keeps your group together and your return journey manageable.
Frequently asked questions
What time do the Palace lights come on during Dasara?
The announced daily switch-on is 7 pm from 11 to 21 October. For Mysore Palace illumination timings 2026, the published end is 10 pm on ordinary festival evenings and midnight on Sundays and Vijayadashami. Recheck the official programme shortly before setting out.
Where can a family watch without reserved seats?
The festival website names the Palace forecourt, with free entry from 6 pm, and the public area outside Balarama Gate. Choose the one your group can reach comfortably. Staff may adjust access, and neither spot promises seating or a clear foreground.
Is a ticket needed for the lights or the drone show?
The official illumination page describes free forecourt entry for the exterior lights. Drone-show enclosure tickets are separately listed for 17 and 18 October. Admission arrangements for the other two scheduled displays need a fresh official check; a Palace visit ticket is not drone admission.
May visitors photograph the illuminated Palace?
Festival information allows photographs of the exterior, while the district’s Palace page prohibits tourist photography inside. Keep equipment out of walkways and follow instructions at the gate. Personal drones are prohibited during the festival without a police permit, according to the official help information.
Can the Palace lights and drone show fit into one night?
They are at different venues: the Palace lights begin at 7 pm, while the Bannimantap drone display is listed for 8 pm on four dates. If holding an enclosure ticket, prioritise its gate instructions; travel and crowd delays may prevent watching both comfortably.