Mysuru is on track for a bigger and more elaborate Dasara festival in 2026, featuring the world-famous festival of drones, with plans for a drone light show with over 3,500 drones. In that regard, the goal is to create a spectacular giant peacock display in the night sky and to set a new Guinness World Record for the Mysuru Dasara celebrations.
The ambitious project is led by Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC), which is preparing an elaborate drone performance that will turn the sky above Mysuru into a huge digital canvas. Armed with LED lights, thousands of drones will fly in synchronised formations for about 15 minutes in what’s expected to be a visually stunning display that can be seen from several kilometres away. The centrepiece of the display will be a gigantic peacock, India’s national bird, which is expected to become one of the largest aerial drone formations ever attempted.
According to reports, the proposal has been sent to the government for approval and will be evaluated to meet the logistics and requirements needed for the world record attempt. If approved, the display will not only add to Dasara’s grandeur but will also put Mysuru once again in the spotlight as a city of innovation and cultural celebration.
The city has already made history in the drone entertainment industry. An event at Mysuru Dasara, 2023, had a huge tiger display of 2,983 drones in the sky and reached the Guinness World Records list as the largest aerial display of a mammal made of multirotor drones, proving India’s growing drone technology and aerial entertainment capability.
In 2024, drone shows gained popularity, and about 1,500 drones lit up the skies over the Bannimantap Torchlight Parade Ground. The display was full of intricate formations and quickly became one of the festival’s most talked-about attractions. Now we’re going to see a more advanced and bigger spectacle in 2026,” said organisers.
The drone show could cost around ₹5 crore to organise. The budget includes the cost of drone procurement, software systems, technical infrastructure, control mechanisms, safety protocols, and the experts who will run the operation. According to sources, the government is also looking at private sponsorship to save money and for the event to be a global event.
The responsibility for the show is now with Delhi-based Botlab Dynamics, the world-famous firm that has hosted the record-breaking 2023 performance in Mysuru. The company has built up the complex 3D aerial formations to create the show, and has provided several high-profile drone shows throughout India. Last year’s display featured impressive visuals including the solar system, a world map, military tributes, peacocks, tigers, dolphins, eagles, Lord Krishna performing Kalinga Nartana, the iconic Ambari elephant, the Karnataka map, and Goddess Chamundeshwari.
This year's drone extravaganza will be held on October 17, 18, 20, and 21 as part of Dasara celebrations. A dedicated team will record the record attempt in accordance with Guinness World Records guidelines. After verification and evaluation of the required quality of the new world record attempt, it will be announced in the future.
With the latest technology combining perfectly with Karnataka’s cultural heritage, the planned 3,500-drone show will be one of the biggest attractions of Mysuru Dasara 2026, expected to bring thousands of visitors and to prove India’s growing proficiency in aerial innovation and entertainment.
