Heritage First Festival 2026: 47 Walks and Workshops Across Goa

The Heritage First Festival is back for its third edition, with 47 guided walks and workshops across Goa from 14 November to 6 December 2026.

Run by Heritage First Goa Learning and Education, a not-for-profit foundation, the festival is led by “Pilots”. They're local researchers, artists, naturalists, writers and craftspeople, named after Goa's motorcycle taxi pilots. Each one takes small groups through a corner of Goa they know deeply.

What's on

Walks and workshops run in and around Panaji, Assolna, Benaulim, Old Goa, Mapusa and Margao, and take in river islands, khazans, beaches, caves and hill trails. The programme covers four strands: built heritage, nature and biodiversity, arts and crafts, and hands-on workshops. Highlights include:

• A petroglyphs workshop with Onkar Kshirsagar

• A Full Moon Walk through Panaji with co-founders Jack Ajit Sukhija and Heta Pandit

• A Kaavi art workshop with Darpana Athale

• A wild edibles workshop with Assavri Kulkarni

• A typography walk through Mapusa with Avani Tanya

• A Kunbi saree weaving workshop with Mahalaxmi Bhobe

• A community dog workshop with Vikram Hoshing

• A Konkani poetry workshop in Porvorim with Umesh Manohar Sardessai, son of the poet Manoharrai Sardesai

The festival has grown from 32 walks in its first edition. Several walks this year are “adopted” by Goa-based businesses and individuals who support the programme.

How to book

Tickets are ₹750 per event, all inclusive, at heritagefirstgoa.com. Groups are kept small so you can talk to your Pilot, so book early. Businesses and individuals who'd like to adopt a walk can contact the organisers on +91 90216 62237.

Heading out over the next few weeks? See what else is on in our November & December events calendar.