The fairs and festival of Ladakh has a uniqueness of its own and there are many festivals including the Ladakh festival held in September and the famous Hemis festival held for 2 days at the Hemis monastery itself. The Hemis festival commemorates the birth of Guru Padmasambhava (founder of Tibetan Buddhism). The giant thangka, which is the Buddhist religious mural depicting Guru Padmasambhava is unfurled once in 12 years duration. This mural is elaborately embroidered with pearls and semi- precious stones. This festival is supplemented with the chhams performance also know as the masked dance. The lamas who in their colourful attire dance in celebration to the foot tappering music of the cymbals, trumpets and flutes perform this dance form. The theme of chhams is from ancient fables and legends marking the victory of good over the evil.

The Ladakh festival in September is organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism where a product of cultural extravaganza is displayed. This Ladakh cultural festival includes some traditional sport like polo and archery competition are held, besides this folk dance and handicraft display are other attraction of this festival.

Scapegoat is another popular festival of Ladakh, celebrated in the month of February. This festival is considered to carry away the evil spirits of the old year and the town is thus cleansed and decorated to welcome the New Year. Losar festival is a spectacular event for 2 weeks, this festival hold the practice of ancient ritual wherein the dance of the Ibex deer, stage fight, chanting with fire torch while you pass through the crowd marks the celebration of Ladakhi/Tibetan New Year.