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[title]The point of Shambhala In Your Heart – Chiang Mai’s 10-day culture and arts festival – has never been spectacle. It’s about slowing down enough to hear music properly, to meet strangers who quickly become friends and to remember how easy life can be when the day follows the shape of the mountains. The backdrop of majestic Doi Luang, Chiang Dao, sets the pace from the moment you arrive – unhurried, grounded and a little wild.
Running since 2010, the gathering was founded by self-described Japanese hippies who fell in love with the nearby hot springs and crisp mountain air.
Just as all good festivals emerge, what began as a circle of friends has grown steadily, yet Shambhala has kept almost exactly the same shape – handmade by volunteers, analogue and gently resistant to the modern festival machine. They even write attendees names in a book like it’s 1995.
The first weekend – remember, it’s a 10-day festival running from February 6-15 – welcomed around 2,500 visitors – many camping straight through the week.
Once past the makeshift gates, the site looks like a postcard from another decade. Teepees rise from the grass, strings of fabric flags crisscross the trees and the smell of wood smoke drifts through food stalls serving simple, hearty plates.
A row of hilltribe vendors sells woven bags, jewellery and tie-dye. Nothing is polished and that’s the point. People arrive with tents, hammocks, children and dogs, planning to stay for days instead of hours.
Saturday’s mood was buoyant from early afternoon with a vibrant drum circle welcoming us through the gates. The Hepopa Kitchen Stage moved from acoustic sets into livelier bands, while the Main Stage built momentum toward evening with much-loved Chiang Mai acts starting at 6pm such as Sudsanun, NETANOYOI and KALIO.
The sound quality was strong and the crowd knew how to listen as well as dance. As the sun slipped behind the ridge, the ‘flow people’ appeared with their props, glowing hoops, staffs and poi swirling through the dusk (and dust) in time with the music, turning the field into a moving constellation. After dark, the captivating fire performances took over and the whole space felt like a loose, friendly tribe finding its rhythm together.
You hear and see Hepopa everywhere. The word is the festival’s unique, heartwarming and universal greeting, carrying many meanings at once – hello, thank you, sorry, I love you or goodbye.
It’s used less as a slogan, more like a shared language that connects festivalgoers inside the temporary village. Strangers say it as they pass on dusty paths, musicians call it from the stage encouraging the audience to chime in.
Music shares space with workshops and informal gatherings. The opening drum circle invited anyone with a drum, a homemade shaker or simply a voice. Families drifted between picnic mats, craft tables and soaks at the nearby hot springs before returning for sunset sets. The whole place felt nothing like a commercial event and more like a shared experiment in how to live together for a week.
Although 10-days long, Tuesday is the official red day – letting performers and visitors relax, run errands, explore Chiang Dao or nap in hammocks before energy rises again.
By Thursday and Friday the programme swells toward weekend two with names like CHIKARA, Ben Murakami, Ribbindasky, Helicopter Second Hand Band with their distinct psychedelic style and Big Joe & His Psychedelic Band, leading into a final surge with SEIKATSU CIRCUS, Mr. Cat & Friends and NAMI SAN BAND. The rhythm is deliberate – exhale, then build again.
What stands out is how faithfully the festival holds its original spirit. There’s no VIP zone, no hard sell and no rush from one highlight to another.
Growth has not replaced gentleness. For anyone craving a break from the city and a reminder of Chiang Dao’s free-spirited side, next weekend promises the same warm, slightly wild magic. Bring a tent or rent one at the door – and maybe a drum too.
Day pass B300 or 10-day pass B2,000. Tickets sold at entrance gate, cash only and no pre-sale.
Foreign visitors must present a passport or copy at entry. Includes free camping (bring your own gear), drinking water fountain and access to all music, workshops and activities. Free entry for children 15 and under. Dogs are welcome if well behaved and supervised.
Shambhala In Your Heart, Chiang Dao Farm Stay. February 6-15 2026