Cox’s Bazar to host three-month tourism carnival from November 1

A three-month tourism carnival will begin in Cox’s Bazar on November 1, 2026 aiming to rebrand the beach destination as a vibrant, safe and international-standard tourism hub and attract more foreign visitors.

The Cox’s Bazar Tourism Carnival 2026 will continue until January 31, 2027 at the Hotel Shaibal premises, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Chairman Md Samimuzzaman said at a media briefing at Parjatan Bhaban on Wednesday.

The Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation is organising the event, while Spellbound Communications Limited will manage the carnival.

Samimuzzaman said Cox’s Bazar remains the country’s premier tourism destination with domestic tourist arrivals increasing over the years, although foreign tourist numbers have not grown at the same pace.

He said many visitors complain that after enjoying the sea, there are limited entertainment options, particularly after sunset.

The carnival has therefore been designed to offer a wide range of daytime and nighttime activities, he said.

“The carnival is being organised to present the country’s leading tourism destination in a more diverse and attractive way to both domestic and foreign tourists,” Samimuzzaman said.

He said the international-standard event would particularly focus on increasing foreign tourist arrivals.

The carnival will feature food zones offering local and international cuisine, live food stalls, barbecue, ice cream parlours and juice corners.

A market zone and craft village will showcase clothing, jewellery, pottery and handmade products by local artisans.

The wellness zone will offer sunrise exercise and meditation sessions, while the kids’ zone will feature art activities, safe rides and other entertainment.

A camping zone will provide overnight camping facilities, an open-sky library, self-barbecue arrangements, hammocks, campfires and telescope-based stargazing.

Other attractions will include live art and photo galleries, an open-sky movie theatre, virtual reality zone, circus tents, kayaking, live busking and go-karting.

Beach football, handball, volleyball, kabaddi, badminton and sand sculpture activities will also be organised.

Special programmes will be arranged to mark Victory Day, Christmas and the English New Year.

A music programme titled “Wave of Music” will also be held on an open stage facing the beach.

Samimuzzaman said the carnival would allow tourists to enjoy sports, cultural and entertainment activities alongside the sea throughout the day and night.

He expressed hope that the event would create employment opportunities and contribute to the socio-economic development of local communities.

“The objective is to rebrand Cox’s Bazar as a vibrant, diverse, safe, sustainable and international-standard tourism destination,” he said.

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Director Md Gani Ul Azam, who chaired the briefing, said ministers, secretaries, lawmakers from the greater Cox’s Bazar region and other dignitaries would attend different programmes during the carnival.

“We do not want to organise just a carnival. We want to add a new dimension to the tourism experience in Cox’s Bazar,” he said.

Gani said food, music, sports, culture, creativity, adventure and family entertainment would complement the destination’s traditional attractions of sea, sunset and casuarina groves.

Spellbound Communications Limited Chief Executive Officer Sadekul Arefin presented the event outline through a PowerPoint presentation.

Officials of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and representatives of Spellbound Communications Limited were also present.