Cox's Bazar:A three-month-long tourism carnival featuring international-standard entertainment, cultural performances, adventure activities, and beachfront attractions is set to launch in Cox's Bazar on November 15. The event aims to enhance visitor experiences and attract more foreign tourists to Bangladesh's premier beach destination.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the "Cox's Bazar Tourism Carnival 2026," themed "A New Wave of Experiences," will span approximately 35 acres near Hotel Shaibal, overlooking the Bay of Bengal and a nearby pine grove. The Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) has initiated the event, described by organizers as the country's first and largest beach carnival, with Spellbound Communications Limited implementing the three-month festival, scheduled to continue until January 2027.
Organizers have designed the carnival to transform Cox's Bazar from a conventional beach destination into a vibrant, year-round tourism hub offering diverse recreational, cultural, and adventure experiences. Officials expressed that while domestic tourism has grown steadily, international tourist arrivals have been limited. The carnival aims to address the lack of organized recreational activities, particularly evening entertainment, often cited as a limitation of the popular beach destination.
The carnival will include cultural performances, live music, open-air cinema, international-standard sand sculptures, art exhibitions, traditional handicrafts, sporting competitions, and various adventure activities. Visitors can enjoy a special beachfront musical program titled "Wave of Music," featuring international sand artists Paul and Remy Hoggard. Additional attractions include go-karting, mini-golf, kayaking, virtual reality experiences, camping, circus performances, and beach sports such as football, volleyball, handball, and kabaddi.
A designated camping zone will offer overnight stays, campfires, hammocks, self-barbecue facilities, an open-air library, and opportunities for stargazing. The wellness zone will provide sunrise exercise and meditation sessions, while a children's entertainment area will feature art activities, games, and safe recreational rides. The food zone will present local and international cuisines, live cooking stations, barbecue facilities, ice cream parlors, and juice corners. Meanwhile, a market zone and craft village will allow local entrepreneurs and artisans to display and sell clothing, jewelry, pottery, and traditional handicrafts.
Special programs will celebrate Victory Day, Christmas, and New Year, offering additional attractions during the peak winter tourism season. The carnival is expected to generate employment, strengthen local businesses, and create new income opportunities for small entrepreneurs, artisans, and tourism service providers. Organizers hope the initiative will help reposition Cox's Bazar as a safe, sustainable, diverse, and internationally competitive tourist destination.
As part of the preparations, Spellbound Communications Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tickify Limited, appointing it as the carnival's exclusive online ticketing and experience booking partner. Under the agreement, Tickify will provide digital ticketing, activity reservations, online payment facilities, and technology-based visitor entry management services. Online and offline ticketing and entry services will begin on November 19, four days after the carnival's inauguration. Organizers stated that the technology-enabled ticketing arrangements would facilitate visitor access, streamline bookings, and improve the overall management of the large-scale event.