Kandy Cultural Show

Traditional Kandyan dance performances showcase fire walking, sword dancing, and drum ensembles at several venues around the city. These hour-long shows feature elaborate costumes, acrobatic movements, and live percussion music representing centuries-old court traditions. Most venues offer shows twice daily with air-conditioned seating. It sits below the headline sights but earns its place on a longer visit to Kandy, especially paired with nearby Kandy Central Market.

Watch costumed dancers leap through fire hoops accompanied by thundering traditional drums, observe intricate hand movements and facial expressions in classical Kandyan court dances, and witness the final fire-walking ceremony performed on glowing coals.

Experience traditional Sri Lankan performing arts in an authentic cultural setting. It is not the first thing you should see in Kandy, but with two or more days it fills a gap the major sights leave. It pairs naturally with Kandy Central Market and Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue - together they fill a solid half-day.

See where it ranks among the things to do in Kandy. The Kandy guide covers transport, costs and when to go.

We plan trips to Kandy and the rest of Sri Lanka. Tell us your dates and we will put a route together. Our routes are on the tours page.