Khedan Vatan Punjab Diyan 2026: Punjab’s Biggest Sports Festival Begins Soon

August 19, 2026

Jalandhar: Punjab is gearing up for the 2026 edition of Khedan Vatan Punjab Diyan, with the state government targeting participation of around 10 lakh athletes. The sports festival will feature 38 disciplines, with competitions being held from village level to the state level.

Events will be organised across 153 blocks and all 23 districts of Punjab, giving athletes from different parts of the state an opportunity to compete.

Torch March to Cover All 23 Districts

The Torch March for the 2026 edition will begin on August 12 and continue till September 5, covering all 23 districts of Punjab.

The grand opening ceremony will be held in Bathinda on September 5, while the closing ceremony is scheduled for November 29 in Patiala.

This year’s festival will include age categories ranging from Under-14 to 70+, allowing both young and senior participants to take part.

New Sports and Para-Sports Added

The 2026 edition will feature several new attractions. Girls’ Tennis Ball Cricket has been introduced for the first time.

Four para-sports will also be part of the festival — Athletics, Powerlifting, Badminton and Wheelchair Basketball.

The initiative builds on the success of the first three editions, which saw more than 11.85 lakh participants take part.

Focus on Sports, Not Drugs

The Punjab government has linked the sports festival with its “Sports Against Drugs” campaign, encouraging youngsters to choose sports and a healthy lifestyle over drugs.

Over the past 4.5 years, more than ₹135 crore in cash prizes have been awarded to 40,415 athletes. The government also provides ₹15 lakh assistance to athletes preparing for the Olympics and ₹8 lakh for those preparing for the Asian and Commonwealth Games.

This year, 85 athletes have been honoured with the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award, while 11 leading sportspersons have been given government jobs at PCS/DSP level.

Free registration for Khedan Vatan Punjab Diyan 2026 is available through the Sports Department portal or the designated QR code.

The government’s message for the campaign is clear: Choose sports over drugs, discipline over destruction, and dreams over addiction.