Mysuru: The city is set to glow brighter during the 2026 Mysuru Dasara celebrations, with ₹13.77 crore earmarked for grand illumination and a larger drone show. Preparations have already begun, with the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) conducting trial illumination at select locations as authorities work towards creating a larger visual spectacle this year.
The total allocation marks a significant increase over last year’s spending. Of the ₹13.77 crore budget, ₹9.5 crore has been earmarked for city illumination, while ₹4.27 crore has been allocated for the drone show. The illumination budget has risen from ₹6 crore last year, while the drone show allocation has increased from ₹3.75 crore in 2025.
The 2026 Mysuru Dasara celebrations are scheduled to begin on October 11, with Vijayadashami falling on October 21. The illumination and drone show are expected to remain among the major attractions during the festival period.
CESC begins trial illumination
CESC has already started preparations for the city’s Dasara illumination.
Trial illumination was conducted along Manasagangothri Open Air Theatre Road and Bogadi Road, marking the beginning of the groundwork for the elaborate lighting arrangements planned for the festival. CESC Managing Director M.S. Archana inspected the trial illumination and provided suggestions to officials regarding the designs and arrangements.
Superintending Engineer Sunil Kumar and other CESC officials and staff accompanied Archana during the inspection.
The corporation is working on a range of decorative elements, including illuminated designs, replicas, arches and other structures that will form part of the city’s festive appearance.
The illumination is one of the most anticipated attractions of Mysuru Dasara, drawing residents and tourists to several parts of the city every year.
Illumination budget rises to ₹9.5 crore
The allocation for illumination has increased substantially this year.
According to the details reported by Star of Mysore, CESC’s illumination budget has risen from ₹6 crore in 2025 to ₹9.5 crore in 2026, representing an increase of ₹3.5 crore.
The higher allocation is expected to support an expansion of the illumination network and introduce more elaborate designs across Mysuru.
The plan largely follows the pattern adopted last year but includes an increase in the number of illuminated zones.
CESC is proposing to increase the number of illuminated zones from 3,000 to 3,500 this year.
The expansion means that more roads and public spaces across the city and its outskirts are expected to be covered by decorative lighting during the Dasara season.
Mysuru Palace gets the biggest allocation
The Mysuru Palace area will receive the largest allocation under the illumination plan.
Around ₹1.62 crore has been earmarked for illumination in and around the Palace area, making it the single biggest allocation among the identified locations.
The Palace is traditionally the centrepiece of Mysuru Dasara celebrations and attracts large crowds during the festival.
Its illuminated facade has become one of the most recognisable visual symbols of Dasara, particularly after sunset when thousands of visitors gather to witness the lighting.
The enhanced allocation is expected to support more elaborate lighting arrangements around the Palace and nearby areas.
Lakshmipuram receives second-highest allocation
Lakshmipuram has received the second-highest allocation, with an estimated ₹1.15 crore planned for illumination.
Other important areas included in the illumination plan are Rama Vilas Road, Bannimantap and Mandi Mohalla.
These locations are expected to feature decorative lighting, arches and other structures that contribute to the overall festive appearance of Mysuru.
The distribution of illumination across multiple parts of the city is intended to ensure that the Dasara atmosphere extends beyond the immediate Palace surroundings.
Illumination to reach outer areas
This year’s plans also extend the festive lighting beyond the central parts of Mysuru.
Areas including Hootagalli, Kadakola, Yelwal, Udayagiri, Roopanagar and Vidyaranyapuram are included in the broader illumination plan.
The expansion will take the Dasara illumination to several peripheral and developing areas.
For residents in these neighbourhoods, the extended lighting could bring the festival atmosphere closer to their localities while also creating additional attractions for visitors travelling around Mysuru during Dasara.
The wider coverage is particularly significant because the city’s Dasara celebrations attract visitors well beyond the central festival venues.
Drone show allocation increases
The drone show will also receive a larger budget this year.
The allocation has increased from ₹3.75 crore in 2025 to ₹4.27 crore in 2026, representing an increase of ₹52 lakh.
The drone show has quickly emerged as one of the modern attractions associated with Mysuru Dasara.
In 2025, a show involving 3,000 drones was staged, creating large formations and visual displays in the night sky. This year’s plan is expected to increase the scale further.
According to CESC, the number of drones will rise to 3,500 for the 2026 show.
The larger fleet is expected to allow organisers to create more complex aerial formations and visual sequences.
3,500 drones planned for 2026
The increase from 3,000 drones to 3,500 drones represents a significant expansion in the scale of the aerial display.
Drone shows have become increasingly popular at major festivals because they can create large animated images, symbols and moving formations in the sky without the environmental and safety concerns associated with traditional fireworks.
The Mysuru Dasara drone show has already attracted considerable attention.
In 2025, the show involved 3,000 drones and reportedly set a Guinness World Record for the largest aerial display of a mammal formed by multirotors or drones, featuring a formation of an Indian tiger.
The 2026 show is expected to build on that growing reputation with an even larger number of drones.
Dasara illumination to combine tradition and technology
The lighting arrangements planned for 2026 are expected to combine traditional Dasara imagery with modern electrical displays.
CESC is preparing replicas, arches and decorative structures alongside illuminated roads and public spaces. The aim is to make the city’s illumination visually distinctive while maintaining the traditional character associated with Mysuru Dasara.
The combination of large-scale illumination and drone technology reflects the way the festival has evolved over the years.
While traditional events such as the Jamboo Savari remain the centre of Dasara, newer attractions have increasingly become part of the festival experience for residents and tourists.
The illumination and drone show provide visitors with additional opportunities to experience the festival after sunset.
Dasara celebrations begin on October 11
The 2026 Mysuru Dasara celebrations are scheduled to commence on October 11, while the grand finale and Vijayadashami will be held on October 21.
The festival’s major attractions traditionally include the Jamboo Savari and Torchlight Parade on the final day.
The city illumination will add another major attraction throughout the festival period.
With preparations beginning in August, CESC has several weeks to complete the extensive lighting work before the main celebrations begin.
The early trial illumination indicates that the authorities are beginning preparations well ahead of the festival.
Tenders worth nearly ₹7.9 crore invited
CESC tender documents indicate that illumination tenders worth ₹7,89,91,917, or nearly ₹7.9 crore, have been invited as part of the State Government’s plans for the Dasara celebrations.
The tender process forms part of the larger expenditure planned for the illumination programme.
The overall ₹9.5 crore illumination allocation includes the wider arrangements required to light thousands of locations and create decorative installations across the city.
The tendering process will determine the agencies and contractors responsible for executing various components of the illumination work.
More illuminated zones planned
The increase from 3,000 to 3,500 illuminated zones is one of the key changes in this year’s plan.
This expansion will increase the overall coverage of the decorative lighting and allow more roads and public spaces to participate in the Dasara celebrations.
The move also reflects the increasing popularity of Dasara illumination among tourists.
Many visitors travel to Mysuru specifically to see the Palace illumination and explore the decorated streets during the festival.
By extending the illumination to more areas, authorities could help distribute visitors across the city rather than concentrating them entirely around the Palace.
Tourism expected to benefit
Mysuru Dasara is one of Karnataka’s most prominent cultural festivals and attracts visitors from across India and abroad.
The illuminated city has become an important part of the tourist experience during the festival.
Hotels, restaurants, transport operators, shops and other businesses generally see increased activity during the Dasara season as visitor numbers rise.
The expanded illumination could encourage tourists to spend more time exploring different parts of Mysuru after sunset.
The larger drone show could also become a major draw for visitors, particularly families and younger tourists looking for new attractions during the festival.
Mysuru prepares for a grander Dasara
The increased allocation for illumination and the drone show indicates the government’s intention to stage a visually larger Dasara this year.
The combined ₹13.77 crore allocation is ₹4.02 crore higher than the comparable ₹9.75 crore spent on illumination and the drone show last year.
The additional spending will support both the expansion of traditional city illumination and the larger drone display.
The increased number of illuminated zones and drones suggests that authorities want the 2026 celebrations to stand out from previous editions.
Focus on innovation and creativity
CESC Managing Director M.S. Archana said the city-wide illumination will feature greater creativity and innovation this year, while both illumination and the drone show are expected to be major highlights of Dasara.
This focus on innovation could lead to new designs and visual themes across the city’s illuminated areas.
The use of drones also allows organisers to create moving images and coordinated aerial displays that cannot be achieved through conventional lighting alone.
Together, the two attractions are expected to provide different forms of visual entertainment for visitors.
Preparations begin well ahead of festival
The early trial illumination is significant because of the scale of the work involved.
Covering 3,500 zones requires extensive installation, testing and maintenance. Decorative arches and replicas also need to be designed, fabricated and installed before the festival begins.
CESC will have to coordinate work across multiple roads and neighbourhoods while ensuring that normal traffic and public movement are not unnecessarily disrupted.
The trial runs allow officials to assess the designs and make changes before the final illumination is installed.
A bigger visual spectacle for visitors
For tourists arriving in Mysuru during Dasara, the combination of illuminated roads, the brightly lit Palace and the drone show is likely to form a major part of the festival experience.
The larger drone display will add a modern element to a festival steeped in centuries-old traditions.
Meanwhile, the expanded illumination will ensure that the festive atmosphere extends to more parts of the city.
The result is expected to be a Dasara that combines heritage, technology and large-scale public celebration.
Conclusion
Mysuru: The 2026 Dasara celebrations are set to receive a major visual upgrade, with ₹13.77 crore earmarked for city illumination and the drone show. Of this, ₹9.5 crore will be spent on illumination and ₹4.27 crore on the drone display, both higher than last year’s allocations.
CESC has already begun trial illumination at Manasagangothri Open Air Theatre Road and Bogadi Road, while the number of illuminated zones is planned to increase from 3,000 to 3,500. The Mysuru Palace area will receive the highest allocation of ₹1.62 crore, followed by Lakshmipuram at ₹1.15 crore.
The drone show will also become larger, with 3,500 drones planned compared with 3,000 last year. With Mysuru Dasara scheduled from October 11 to October 21, preparations are already underway to make this year’s festival brighter, larger and more visually spectacular.