Khelo India Winter Games 2026 to Boost Tourism and Economy in Gulmarg

February 19, 2026

Gulmarg: The upcoming Khelo India Winter Games, scheduled to be held in Gulmarg from February 23 to 26, is poised to become a practical example of the government’s ambitious Khelo India policy. The event is seeing a visible increase in tourism, local economic activity, and national participation.

Launched by the Union Sports Ministry in July last year, the Khelo India policy aims to strengthen India’s sports ecosystem and drive economic growth through major events. The policy also encourages sectors such as tourism, manufacturing, and sports technology, while promoting infrastructure development, talent identification, and international competition.

Tourism boom and increasing bookings

Excitement is at its peak in Gulmarg, a major winter tourist destination in Kashmir, regarding the Winter Games. The participation of the country’s top skiers and Winter Olympians is generating significant excitement in the region.

Local businesses have also seen a clear increase. A hotelier in Tangmarg reported that bookings increased sharply several weeks before the event. More than 50 percent of Gulmarg’s approximately 2,300 hotel and hut beds are already booked.

Continuous Growth in Participation

The Winter Games have continued to grow. In the first edition in 2020, 1,123 athletes participated in 13 sports. This number increased to 1,208 in 2021. The 2023 edition saw a peak of 1,395 athletes.

The 2026 edition will feature four medal sports—ski mountaineering, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing (cross-country), and snowboarding—with athletes from across the country participating.

New Hope for Local Employment

In addition to hotels and resorts, the event is also becoming a significant source of income for seasonal workers. Sled-pullers on the slopes of Kongduri are busy preparing for the increasing number of tourists. Their daily income increases significantly during the event.

The Khelo India Winter Games being held in Gulmarg are no longer just a sporting event, but rather demonstrate how sports policy can strengthen the local economy and establish Gulmarg as the winter sports capital of India.