Feast of St Francis Xavier 2026 at Old Goa
The Feast of St Francis Xavier is on Thursday 3 December 2026, and it is a public and bank holiday in Goa. It is the state's largest religious gathering, centred on the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, where the saint's body lies in a silver casket. The feast is preceded by a novena, nine days of prayer that by tradition begin on 24 November, with masses from early morning to evening in Konkani, English and other languages under a large pandal beside the basilica. Pilgrims arrive from across Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, many of them on foot from their villages. The feast day begins with masses before dawn and a solemn high mass in the morning. The 2026 mass schedule had not been published when we checked in October; the basilica and the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman announce it shortly beforehand. Outside, a fair stretches along the approach roads for the whole period, selling khaje, roasted gram, sweets, toys and household goods. This is an ordinary feast year. The exposition of the relics, held roughly once a decade, last took place from November 2024 to January 2025.
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Good to know
- Take a bus from Panaji. Roads into Old Goa are closed or diverted on the feast day and parking is moved to the outskirts.
- Go on a novena weekday if you want to pray in peace; the weekend before the feast and 3 December itself are packed.
- Dress modestly, carry water and expect long, slow queues to enter the basilica.
- The fair stays open into the night through the novena. Keep cash for the stalls.
- Mass timings change each year. Check the archdiocese's or basilica's announcement in late November.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Feast of St Francis Xavier in 2026?
Thursday 3 December 2026. It is a public holiday in Goa.
When does the novena start?
By tradition on 24 November, nine days before the feast. The 2026 mass timings had not been published when we checked in October 2026.
Is there an exposition of the relics in 2026?
No. The exposition is held about once every ten years, and the last one ran from November 2024 to January 2025. The body can still be seen in its casket inside the basilica.
How do I get to Old Goa for the feast?
Kadamba and private buses run from the Panaji bus stand, about 10 km away. Karmali railway station is about 2 km from the basilica.
Can non-Christians attend?
Yes. People of all faiths visit the basilica and the fair. Dress modestly and keep silent inside the church.
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