Vijayanagara District Magistrate Kavita S. Mannikeri has directed officials to begin necessary preparations for organizing the Hampi Utsav in 2026, as held every year.
She was addressing a preliminary meeting on the 2026 Hampi Festival with district-level officials from various departments at the Zilla Panchayat Hall in the city on Tuesday. The District Magistrate said that although the festival dates are yet to be finalized by the government, departments and committees should start preparatory work in advance.
Innovative festival
Referring to previous editions of the Hampi Festival, Mannikeri said shortcomings and issues faced earlier should not be repeated. The upcoming festival should be conducted in an improved manner without causing inconvenience to the public. As Hampi is a World Heritage Site, cultural programmes featuring both local and renowned artists will be organised to further promote its heritage. She added that suggestions would be welcomed, with emphasis on exhibitions, rural arts, and sports activities aimed at creating awareness among farmers, students, and the general public.
Zilla Panchayat CEO Akram Shah, Superintendent of Police S. Jahnavi, Deputy Conservator of Forests Anupama, Additional District Collector Balakrishna, Additional Superintendent of Police Manjunath, and other district-level officials were present at the meeting.