The cattle calendar
63 cattle fairs, festivals, pasture days, races and shows of the year, with the breeds at the centre of each. Dates are worked out afresh every day; those marked "about" follow the moon or local calendars and can shift by a day.
October 2026
about 18 Oct 2026Fiesta de la TrashumanciaOnce a year, shepherds lead their flocks through central Madrid along the old royal drove road, a reminder of the right of way.
20 Oct 2026St Wendelin's DayThe feast of the herdsman saint of the Rhineland and the Alps, when cattle and horses are blessed in his processions.
about 25 Oct 2026Bataille de Reines final in AostaThe autumn final of the cow fights of the Aosta Valley, held on a Sunday in October at the Croix-Noire arena.November 2026
1 Nov 2026Samhain and the coming down of the herdsThe Gaelic first of November: the end of the grazing year, when cattle came home from the hills for the winter.
about 5 Nov 2026Vasu Baras (Govatsa Dwadashi)The first day of Diwali in Maharashtra, when a cow and her calf are worshipped together in thanks for the milk that feeds the home.
about 6 to 15 Nov 2026Royal Agricultural Winter FairToronto's November farm fair, held since 1922, with Canada's national dairy and beef shows under one roof.
about 8 to 9 Nov 2026Tihar: Gai Puja and Goru PujaIn Nepal's festival of lights, the cow is worshipped on Laxmi Puja morning, and the ox is honoured the day after.
about 9 Nov 2026Govardhan PujaThe day after Diwali, when Krishna's lifting of Govardhan hill is remembered and the cattle of Braj are bathed, painted and fed.
11 Nov 2026MartinmasSt Martin's Day, the old turn of the farming year in northern Europe, when the cattle went into their winter quarters.
about 11 to 13 Nov 2026Canterbury A&P ShowChristchurch's November farm show, the largest A&P show in New Zealand, ending on the city's Show Day holiday.
about 17 Nov 2026GopashtamiThe day Krishna is said to have first taken the cows out to graze: cows and calves are worshipped and gaushalas fill with visitors.
about 17 to 24 Nov 2026Pushkar Camel and Cattle FairA week of trading on the dunes round Pushkar's lake, ending at the full moon of Kartik; camels lead, but cattle are sold too.
about 24 Nov to 23 Dec 2026Sonepur MelaThe month-long fair at the meeting of the Ganges and the Gandak in Bihar, once the largest cattle fair in Asia.
26 Nov 2026National Milk Day (India)India's milk day, on the birthday of Verghese Kurien, the engineer who built the cooperative dairies of Operation Flood.
about 28 Nov 2026The cattle crossing at DiafarabéEach late November, Fulani herders swim thousands of cattle across the Niger at Diafarabé to the dry-season pastures of the delta.
about 5 Nov 2026Vasu Baras (Govatsa Dwadashi)The first day of Diwali in Maharashtra, when a cow and her calf are worshipped together in thanks for the milk that feeds the home.
about 6 to 15 Nov 2026Royal Agricultural Winter FairToronto's November farm fair, held since 1922, with Canada's national dairy and beef shows under one roof.
about 8 to 9 Nov 2026Tihar: Gai Puja and Goru PujaIn Nepal's festival of lights, the cow is worshipped on Laxmi Puja morning, and the ox is honoured the day after.
about 9 Nov 2026Govardhan PujaThe day after Diwali, when Krishna's lifting of Govardhan hill is remembered and the cattle of Braj are bathed, painted and fed.
11 Nov 2026MartinmasSt Martin's Day, the old turn of the farming year in northern Europe, when the cattle went into their winter quarters.
about 11 to 13 Nov 2026Canterbury A&P ShowChristchurch's November farm show, the largest A&P show in New Zealand, ending on the city's Show Day holiday.
about 17 Nov 2026GopashtamiThe day Krishna is said to have first taken the cows out to graze: cows and calves are worshipped and gaushalas fill with visitors.
about 17 to 24 Nov 2026Pushkar Camel and Cattle FairA week of trading on the dunes round Pushkar's lake, ending at the full moon of Kartik; camels lead, but cattle are sold too.
about 24 Nov to 23 Dec 2026Sonepur MelaThe month-long fair at the meeting of the Ganges and the Gandak in Bihar, once the largest cattle fair in Asia.
26 Nov 2026National Milk Day (India)India's milk day, on the birthday of Verghese Kurien, the engineer who built the cooperative dairies of Operation Flood.
about 28 Nov 2026The cattle crossing at DiafarabéEach late November, Fulani herders swim thousands of cattle across the Niger at Diafarabé to the dry-season pastures of the delta.
January 2027
about 9 to 24 Jan 2027National Western Stock ShowSixteen January days of cattle judging, sales and rodeo in Denver, held since 1906 and one of the oldest stock shows in the West.
about 15 Jan 2027Sankranti and the crossing of fire in KarnatakaOn Makara Sankranti in rural Karnataka, decorated cattle are led across a low bed of burning straw: kichchu haayisuvudu.
about 15 Jan to 6 Feb 2027Fort Worth Stock Show and RodeoThree weeks of cattle shows and rodeo in the old stockyards city of Fort Worth, Texas, held since 1896.
about 16 Jan 2027Mattu PongalThe third day of Pongal in Tamil Nadu, given to the cattle: bathed, horns painted, garlanded and fed the first of the new rice.
about 16 Jan 2027KanumaThe day after Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, when cattle are washed, decorated and fed in thanks for the harvest.
about 17 Jan 2027Jallikattu at AlanganallurThe best-known jallikattu of Tamil Nadu, held near Madurai in the Pongal week, when young men try to hold on to a running bull's hump.
17 Jan 2027St Anthony's Day and the blessing of animalsThe feast of St Anthony the Abbot, patron of farm animals, when priests in Spain and Italy bless the livestock of the parish.February 2027
1 Feb 2027Imbolc and St Brigid's DayThe first day of spring in the Irish year, the feast of Brigid, patron of dairy work, cattle and the milking of cows.
about 4 Feb 2027Lichun and the spring oxThe start of spring in the Chinese solar calendar, when a clay or paper ox was once whipped to wake the farming year.
about 7 to 9 Feb 2027Losar and the yak danceThe Tibetan New Year, when yak dancers in shaggy costumes perform in villages and monasteries from Tibet to Ladakh and Sikkim.
about 12 to 15 Feb 2027Nagaur Cattle FairRajasthan's great winter livestock fair at Nagaur, where the trotting Nagori bullock is the main business of the day.
about 27 Feb to 7 Mar 2027Salon International de l'AgricultureParis's great farm show at Porte de Versailles, where a cow chosen as the year's égérie meets the President and the country.March 2027
about 2 to 21 Mar 2027Houston Livestock Show and RodeoThe largest livestock show and rodeo in the world, three weeks each March in Houston, with youth cattle shows at its heart.
about 19 to 30 Mar 2027Sydney Royal Easter ShowThe Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales's great show, around Easter at Sydney Olympic Park, with its grand parade of cattle.
about 22 to 28 Mar 2027Semana CriollaIn Uruguay's Holy Week, the Prado in Montevideo fills with gauchos, horses, rodeo and the culture of the cattle country.
about 29 Mar 2027Savika at EastertideIn the Betsileo highlands of Madagascar, young men wrestle zebu bulls in contests often held around Easter and Pentecost.
May 2027
1 May 2027Beltane and the cattle firesThe Gaelic first of May, when herds were driven between two fires before going up to the summer pastures.
1 May 2027Fête des GardiansOn the first of May the mounted cattle herders of the Camargue ride through Arles, with a Mass, games and courses camarguaises.
about 2 to 8 May 2027Beef AustraliaA week-long gathering of the Australian beef industry at Rockhampton, Queensland, held every three years.
about 7 to 16 May 2027Eid al-Adha cattle marketsIn the first days of Dhu al-Hijjah, temporary cattle markets fill the cities of Bangladesh and Pakistan before Eid al-Adha.
about 8 to 9 May 2027Combat de Reines, the national finalIn May, the best fighting cows of the Valais meet at Aproz to decide the queen of queens, the reine des reines.
about 19 to 22 May 2027Balmoral ShowNorthern Ireland's main agricultural show, four days each May at Balmoral Park near Lisburn, with large cattle classes.
about 20 May 2027Royal Ploughing CeremonyAn old royal rite in Bangkok and Phnom Penh opening the rice season, when a pair of sacred oxen choose the foods that foretell the year.
about 23 May 2027Fête de la transhumance on the AubracOn the Sunday nearest 25 May, decorated Aubrac cows walk up to the summer pastures of the plateau, with villages lining the way.June 2027
about 1 to 30 Jun 2027Alpaufzug, the climb to the summer pasturesIn June, herders in the Alps lead their cattle up to the high summer pastures, often with bells, flowers and music.
1 Jun 2027World Milk DayThe international milk day set up by the Food and Agriculture Organization, kept by dairy farmers, schools and cooperatives.
about 16 to 19 Jun 2027FieldaysNew Zealand's great farm show at Mystery Creek near Hamilton, four days each June in the heart of dairy country.
about 17 to 20 Jun 2027Royal Highland ShowScotland's national farming show, four days each June at Ingliston near Edinburgh, with the Highland, Angus and Galloway breeds.
about 18 to 20 Jun 2027Kafkasör bull wrestlingThe summer pasture festival above Artvin in northeastern Turkey, where village bulls wrestle head to head on the meadow.July 2027
6 to 14 Jul 2027San Fermín and the encierroPamplona's July feast, when bulls run each morning through the old town's streets to the bullring, with runners ahead of them.
about 9 to 18 Jul 2027Calgary StampedeTen days of rodeo, chuckwagon races and cattle shows in Calgary each July, with the city dressed in cowboy hats.
13 to 16 Jul 2027Great Yorkshire ShowFour days of farming each July at Harrogate, where Yorkshire shows the Shorthorn and its other breeds.
about 15 to 25 Jul 2027Exposición Rural de PalermoThe Argentine Rural Society's July show in Buenos Aires, held since 1875, where the champions of the pampas are judged.
about 19 to 22 Jul 2027Royal Welsh ShowFour days each July at Llanelwedd near Builth Wells, the gathering of Welsh farming and the show ring of the Welsh Black.August 2027
about 7 to 15 Aug 2027EkkaThe Royal Queensland Show in Brisbane each August, where the tropical cattle of the north come to the city.
about 12 to 22 Aug 2027Iowa State FairThe great Midwestern farm fair in Des Moines, famous for its life-sized cow sculpted in butter and its crowded cattle barn.
about 18 Aug 2027Gai JatraThe cow procession of the Kathmandu valley, when families who lost someone in the year walk with a cow, or a boy dressed as one.
about 19 to 21 Aug 2027Hortobágy Bridge FairA summer fair at the Nine-holed Bridge on the Hungarian puszta, home of the grey long-horned cattle of the plain.
about 28 Aug to 5 Sept 2027ExpointerNine days of livestock judging and sales at Esteio near Porto Alegre, the leading farm show of southern Brazil.
about 31 Aug 2027Bail PolaThe bullocks' festival of Maharashtra and the Vidarbha country: a day of rest, a bath, painted horns and a village procession.September 2027
11 Sept 2027Viehscheid in Bad HindelangOn 11 September, about a thousand cattle come down from five alps to Bad Hindelang in the Allgäu and are handed back to their owners.
about 15 Sept to 14 Oct 2027AlmabtriebFrom mid-September, herds in Tyrol, Salzburg and Bavaria come down from the alm in decorated processions.
about 17 to 19 Sept 2027Cure Salée at In-GallAt the end of the rains, Tuareg and Wodaabe herders bring their cattle to the salt pools near In-Gall, in northern Niger.
about 25 Sept 2027DésalpeAt the end of September, cows of the Swiss Romande come down from the alpage wearing flowers and great bells, to village festivals.
about 28 Sept to 1 Oct 2027World Dairy ExpoThe dairy world's great autumn show in Madison, Wisconsin, where the best cows of seven breeds compete on the coloured shavings.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Jallikattu Alanganallur: Mahendrabalan, CC BY 3.0, source
- Sankranti Kichchu Haayisuvudu: Saloni Desai, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Bail Pola: abhiriksh, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Vasu Baras: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Tihar Gai Puja: Sreekumar K. S., CC BY 2.0, source
- Pushkar Fair: sheetal saini, CC BY 2.0, source
- Sonepur Mela: Abhifrm.masaurhi at English Wikipedia, CC0, source
- Nagaur Cattle Fair: Rituraj.bharti, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Gai Jatra: Krish Dulal, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Eid Al Adha Cattle Markets: Chongkian, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Karapan Sapi Final: Ivuvisual, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Royal Ploughing Ceremony: Xiengyod, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lichun Spring Ox: Suzuki Harunobu, CC0, source
- Kafkasor Bull Wrestling: hursitakinci, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Cure Salee: NigerTZai, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dewgal Diafarabe: Jacques Taberlet, CC BY 3.0, source
- Savika Easter: Obiniaina RANDRIANADRASANA, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- National Western Stock Show: Pdubs.94, CC BY 4.0, source
- Fort Worth Stock Show: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Houston Livestock Show: No machine-readable author provided. W0lfie assumed (based on copyrigh, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Iowa State Fair: Iowahwyman of English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Royal Agricultural Winter Fair: Matt MacGillivray, CC BY 2.0, source
- Expozebu: Pedroepaulo, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Exposicion Rural Palermo: Unknown, CC BY 2.5 ar, source
- St Anthony Blessing Of Animals: Michael Damaskinos, Public domain, source
- Imbolc St Brigid: Culnacreann, CC BY 3.0, source
- Beltane Cattle Fires: Stefan Schäfer, Lich, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Fete Des Gardians Arles: afroboof, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Wendelin: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 2.5, source
- Martinmas Cattle: Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Public domain, source
- St Modestos: Spiritia, CC0, source
- Combat De Reines Final: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Aubrac Transhumance: Lecybersurfeur at French Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Alpaufzug: CamDib, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Viehscheid Bad Hindelang: -- Xocolatl 22:29, 10 September 2006 (UTC), Public domain, source
- Desalpe: Caumasee, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Almabtrieb: Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author and if, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bataille De Reines Aosta: Elena Tartaglione, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- San Fermin Encierro: SanchoPanzaXXI, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Fiesta Trashumancia Madrid: Diotime, Public domain, source
- Hortobagy Bridge Fair: Andreas Poeschek , fotografikus.hu, CC BY 2.0 at, source
- Royal Highland Show: Victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Royal Welsh Show: Eirian Evans, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Salon International Agriculture Paris: Ji-Elle, Public domain, source
- Sydney Royal Easter Show: Clyde works in Granville, NSW, Public domain, source
- Fieldays Mystery Creek: Tom Webb, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ekka Brisbane: Cozzie1996, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Canterbury Ap Show: not stated, Public domain, source