VISAKHAPATNAM: The nine-day Visakha Utsav-2026 will commence on January 24 in Visakhapatnam, with events spread across Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle and Alluri Sitarama Raju districts. The festival aims to showcase the cultural heritage, tourism potential and natural diversity of North Andhra Pradesh.
State Ministers and officials unveiled the curtain-raiser poster for the festival at the VMRDA Children’s Arena here on Tuesday.
Ministers Kandula Durgesh, Vangalapudi Anitha, Gummadi Sandhya Rani, Dola Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy and Kollu Ravindra took part in the programme and reviewed the arrangements with officials.
The inaugural ceremony of Visakha Utsav would be held in Visakhapatnam, while the concluding programme would take place in Anakapalle district. The nine-day festival will not be limited to the city this year, but will extend to neighbouring districts to ensure wider participation and outreach.
“Over 500 cultural and tourism-related programmes will be held at 20 venues across the three districts. The festival is expected to generate economic activity of around `500 crore and provide employment opportunities to nearly 3,000 people, particularly local youth and artists. Priority will be given to local performers, while the programmes will also aim to attract national and international attention to the region,” stated APTDC Managing Director Amrapali Kata.
Speaking at the curtain raiser event, Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh said that this year’s Visakha Utsav is being organised under the theme ‘Sea to Sky’, reflecting celebrations from the coastal areas to the hill regions of North Andhra Pradesh. “Visakhapatnam will be highlighted as a coastal ecology destination, Anakapalls as a centre for culture, cuisine and MSMEs, and areas such as Araku and Lambasingi in Alluri Sitarama Raju district for their tribal culture and natural landscapes,” he elaborated.
The Minister stated the coalition government has renewed focus on tourism, arts and culture after a period of stagnation.
He referred to various festivals organised across the State in recent times and said such events have contributed to increased public participation and tourism activity.
Visakhapatnam MP Sribharat, TDP State president and MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao, and MLAs Velagapudi Ramakrishna, P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, Visakhapatnam Collector MN Harendhira Prasad, Anakapalle Collector Vijaya Krishnan, Alluri Sitarama Raju district Collector AS Dinesh Kumar, Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi, Anakapalle Superintendent of Police Tuhin Sinha, and other officials were present at the event.