Nepal Art Council (NAC) organised the inaugural programme of the Nepal Art and Culture Festival (NAC FEST) on Friday at its premises in Babar Mahal. President Ramchandra Paudel inaugurated the festival, which will showcase a diverse range of cultural and artistic events to promote Nepal’s heritage on the global stage.

The opening ceremony was followed by a heritage walk through Kathmandu Durbar Square in the evening, culminating with a cultural dinner at Hanuman Dhoka.

As part of the festival, NAC will showcase a special exhibition titled ‘Roots and Reflection’ from September 5 to 27 at its gallery, highlighting diverse works of Nepali artists.

According to NAC, the idea of NAC FEST was inspired by the Indra Jatra celebrations of 2024 and modelled on globally recognised festivals such as Japan’s Cherry Blossom Festival and Germany’s Oktoberfest. The council hopes the annual event will attract not just local audiences but also international visitors.

The festival is being jointly implemented with the Nepal Tourism Board, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the three valley municipalities, and stakeholders from the hospitality sector. Hotel Association of Nepal President Binayak Shah is heading the implementing committee.

“This inaugural edition is only the beginning. We are confident the festival will grow in the years to come, with greater participation from visitors both inside and outside Nepal,” NAC said in a statement.