Adventure Tour at Summer Festival!
Destination: International Summer Festival 2026
At Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre Ulverston, UK
July 24th - Aug 8th (Festival Dates)
Join us for what’s going to be an incredible adventure!
— See all live updates for flights and accommodations here: —
“Welcome everybody to the NKT International Festival. The NKT International Festivals are the special method to maintain the International Kadampa Buddhist Union from generation to generation. We should know this Union is very important. With this Union we can fulfill our own and others wishes easily. So please keep my message in your heart.
With much love and prayers,”
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
A Meaningful Experience & Adventure
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The International Kadampa Summer Festival 2026 is a joyous gathering of thousands of Kadampas from around the world, coming together to receive blessed teachings and guided meditations at our Mother Centre, Manjushri KMC. This year, we have the rare and extraordinary opportunity to receive the Highest Yoga Tantra empowerments of Heruka and Vajrayogini.
During the festival, we'll be able to explore the beautiful Conishead Priory — home of Manjushri KMC — meditate in the first Kadampa Temple for World Peace, and spend inspiring time with the international Kadampa Sangha in a peaceful setting, enjoying beach walks, woodlands, and gardens. We will also explore the nearby town of Ulverston in the Lake District, one of the most beautiful areas in the UK.
For many people, attending these festivals in person is a truly life-changing experience.
We’re hoping many students from KMC Canada can travel and stay together if it helps them attend the festival. If you would like to travel or share accommodation with others, please visit this form with live updates.
May this be a smooth, joyful experience for everyone.
Plan ahead for a truly meaningful holiday!
• Enjoy spiritual renewal and make friends from around the world
• Be inspired by our new General Spiritual Director (GSD), Gen-la Kelsang Jampa
• Receive the Highest Yoga Tantra empowerments of Heruka and Vajrayogini
• Explore our Mother Centre in historic Conishead Priory
• Meditate in the first Kadampa Temple for World Peace
• Visit the quaint town of Ulverston, in the Lake District
... and so much more!
Get a glimpse of the International Kadampa Festivals watching these inspiring videos:
Flights & Trains
Flight Options (Toronto - Manchester)
We will soon have 2 flight options for the whole Festival and 1 flight option for week 2 only. Please refer to this Google Form for all the latest updates about the selected flights and accommodations!
Trains from Manchester Airport to Ulverston
Going to Ulverston, home of Manjushri KMC, from Manchester Airport is very easy and straightforward. From the Arrivals at the airport, the train station is just a few minutes walk away. From there, hop on the train and enjoy the comfortable 2h ride through the beautiful English countryside!
From Ulverston station, taxis will be available for a quick 5 minutes drive.
Train schedules for the proposed flights:
Coming soon!
Booking Your Festival
Kadampa Festival Accounts
Book your festival at kadampafestivals.org!
To book your festival, you will need to create an account at kadampafestivals.org once the bookings are open.
BOOKING OPENS THURSDAY MARCH 19th 09:00 GMT-4
Attending in Person
Attending an International Kadampa Festival in person is no more less than an amazing experience. It is an opportunity to spend precious time with the International Sangha - people from all corners of the world who have to heart the practice of Buddha’s teachings and the development of inner peace. For many, these festivals become a life changing experience.
If attending the Summer Festival in person, you can book your festival teachings, meals and accommodations (if staying on site), the teachings recordings as well as any other inquiries directly in the booking system of kadampafestival.org.
Attending Online
In order to truly experience the unique and precious benefits of these special gatherings, it is definitely recommended to attend the festivals in person. But sometimes, we simply cannot make it. Yet, due to the kindness of many devoted volunteers, we still have the wonderful and meaningful opportunity to attend all the festival teachings online from the comfort of our homes!
If attending the Summer Festival online, you can book your festival teachings and purchase their recordings directly in the booking system of kadampafestival.org.
Useful Links
Festival & Manjushri KMC Websites
Kadampafestivals.org/summer
Manjushri.org
Train Tickets
Visa / ETA
Extra Tips & Infos
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Mild to warm temperatures with long daylight hours, and lush green landscapes are to be expected when visiting the Lake District in the months of July and August. While it is generally the warmest time of year, with temperatures often in the high teens or low twenties (Celsius), it remains unpredictable with frequent rain showers.
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What to bring depends mostly on your accommodation type and your free time activities.
Essentials:
Passeport and UK ETA Visa
UK Electric Plug Adapters (Type G)
Waterproof clothing
Versatile layers for unpredictable weather
Warm clothings for mild evenings
Some Sterling Pounds in cash is always good to have (MKMC’s laundry machines require £ coins)
Power banks for your electronics
You may wish to get an eSIM card for your phone
If planning on being outside a lot:
Waterproof clothing such as a good raincoat, rain boots or waterproof shoes are a must have. A warm jacket and pants make the mild evenings comfortable.
If camping:
Make sure your tent is well waterproofed. It is good practice to take cardboard from Manjushri’s recycling bins to put under your tent when arriving. This blocks humidity very well. Otherwise, you may want to bring an extra tarp to put under your tent. This is also as to prevent humidity or water flooding from below in case of very bad weather. Nights can be quite cold even in the summer, so make sure to have a trusty sleeping bag and a warm liner.
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Entry Requirements and Documents
ETA/Visa: As of early 2025, many visitors, including Americans, Canadians, and Europeans, need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK, costing £10-£16.
Passport: Must be valid for your entire stay.
Documents: Keep passports secure and carry a digital or physical copy.
Transportation and Getting Around
Trains: Generally efficient, but book in advance for cheaper fares.
Driving: Drives on the left. Rent a car for rural areas (Scotland, Wales, Cotswolds).
Practical Tips
Voltage: 230V, 50Hz, Type G (three-pin) plug.
Weather: Highly unpredictable, often rainy. Pack layers, an umbrella, and a rain jacket.
Safety: The emergency number is 999 or 112.
Vocabulary: Common differences: "loo" (toilet), "lift" (elevator), “rubbish” (trash/garbage).
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If you have any questions, please email: [email protected]
KMC Canada is commited to supporting your journey!
Everyone is welcome!
International Summer Festival 2025
The Festival will take place in the Temple for World Peace set in the blessed environment of Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre, the Mother Centre of Kadampa Buddhism, which is located in Ulverston in the beautiful Lake District, UK. It is open to everyone and suitable for all levels of experience.
Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre Conishead Priory, Ulverston LA12 9QQ, United Kingdom
Many members of the Toronto community
will be attending this event in person or online.
There is no programming at the Centre. Classes resume after the Festival.
International Fall Festival 2024
The Gateway to Highest Yoga Tantra
International Fall Festival ～ Oct 25 - Nov 1, 2024
Highest Yoga Tantra Empowerments of Heruka & Vajrayogini & Commentary with Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong, NKT-IKBU General Spiritual Director
As Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche explains in Modern Buddhism, the gateway through which we enter Tantra is receiving a Tantric empowerment. This bestows upon us special blessings that heal our mental continuum and awaken our Buddha nature. In this Festival Gen-la Dekyong will grant the empowerments of the principal Deities of Highest Yoga Tantra – Heruka and Vajrayogini – and introduce their essential practices.
This is a rare and wonderful opportunity to receive from Gen-la Dekyong the Highest Yoga Tantra empowerments and teachings of Heruka and Vajrayogini according to the Ganden oral lineage, which is the special heart treasure of her Spiritual Guide, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.
International Summer Festival 2024
Profound Teachings from Buddha's Heart
International Summer Festival
July 26 - August 10, 2024
Prajnaparamita Empowerment & Teachings on the Heart Sutra, Commentary to Blissful Path & The Uncommon Yoga of Inconceivability ～ with Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong, NKT-IKBU General Spiritual Director & Gen-la Kelsang Jampa, NKT-IKBU Deputy Spiritual Director
(Portugal Festival 2013 Revisited)
In October 2013 Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche gave his last public teachings in Portugal. During these teachings, Geshe-la granted the empowerment of Great Mother Prajnaparamita, taught the Essence of Wisdom Sutra (Heart Sutra), which contains the heart essence of Buddha’s perfection of wisdom teachings, and gave commentaries to The Blissful Path, the condensed self-generation sadhana practice of Buddha Vajrayogini and to The Uncommon Yoga of Inconceivability, the special instruction of how to reach the Pure Land of Vajrayogini with our present human body.
During this Festival, these teachings will be revisited by Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong and Gen-la Kelsang Jampa. By helping us to take these teachings deep into our hearts, we can attain deep experience of them, thus transforming our lives and drawing us closer to attaining full enlightenment.
International Spring Festival 2024 - Centre Closed
Accomplishing the Great Wisdom Protection
International Spring Festival ～ May 24-29, 2024
Dorje Shugden Empowerment & Teachings on the Extensive Protector Puja ～ with Gen-la Kelsang Jampa, NKT-IKBU Deputy Spiritual Director
Dorje Shugden is a Dharma Protector emanation of the Wisdom Buddha who averts obstacles to our spiritual practice and gathers necessary conditions for our attaining spiritual realizations.
During this Festival, Gen-la Kelsang Jampa will grant the Blessing Empowerment of Dorje Shugden. Then, based on instructions received from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, he will teach on the Melodious Drum practice, the ‘Fullling and Restoring Ritual’, which is usually performed monthly in Kadampa centres.
International Spring Festival 2024 - Centre Closed
Accomplishing the Great Wisdom Protection
International Spring Festival ～ May 24-29, 2024
Dorje Shugden Empowerment & Teachings on the Extensive Protector Puja ～ with Gen-la Kelsang Jampa, NKT-IKBU Deputy Spiritual Director
Dorje Shugden is a Dharma Protector emanation of the Wisdom Buddha who averts obstacles to our spiritual practice and gathers necessary conditions for our attaining spiritual realizations.
During this Festival, Gen-la Kelsang Jampa will grant the Blessing Empowerment of Dorje Shugden. Then, based on instructions received from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, he will teach on the Melodious Drum practice, the ‘Fullling and Restoring Ritual’, which is usually performed monthly in Kadampa centres.
International Fall Festival
Developing a Pure Heart
NKT-IKBU International Fall Festival
At the Fall Festival 2023, which will be held October 6-12 at the Kadampa Temple for World Peace in Málaga Spain, Gen-la Kelsang Khyenrab, retired General Spiritual Director of NKT-IKBU, will grant the empowerment of Medicine Buddha and give teachings on the eleven reversals.
In spiritually degenerate times one of the most important practices is that of Medicine Buddha. The teachings on the eleven reversals reveal the essence of Buddha’s teachings of Sutra and Tantra.
By integrating the teachings on the eleven reversals into our daily life, and through relying on Medicine Buddha, we can free our mind from the inner poison of the delusions that are the root of all suffering. We will then be in a position to help others through healing actions.
The Festival is set in the beautiful location of the World Peace Temple in Spain. It is open to everyone and suitable for all levels of experience.
Attending in-person and online: In addition to attending the live in-person event, there will also be an opportunity to join the Festival online. All online sessions will be streamed 48 hours after the live session.
International Summer Festival
Kadam Lamrim of Sutra & Tantra
The Complete Path to Enlightenment
International Summer Festival with Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong & Gen-la Kelsang Khyenrab
The sequence of teachings at the Sumer Festival 2023 will cover all the essential practices of Kadam Lamrim of Sutra & Tantra. In the first week Gen-la Kelsang Khyenrab will teach the Lamrim of Sutra which is regarded as an essential prerequisite for receiving tantric empowerments and teachings. These special teachings of Buddha were arranged by Atisha and present the essential practices of Dharma for all levels of practitioners from the initial scope to the great scope. These teachings are immensely practically and easy to apply to our modern daily life. By relying on these teachings we can guide ourself along the path to liberation from suffering and eventually to full enlightenment for the benefit of all living beings. These teachings are open to everyone regardless of previous experience.
In the second week Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong will present the essential Highest Yoga Tantra practices of the New Kadampa Tradition. She will begin by granting the empowerment of Heruka Body Mandala and Vajrayogini and then give brief essential commentaries to these practices. By engaging in these practices sincerely with a mind of faith we can swiftly overcome ordinary appearance and conception in this life and attain the highest state of all - the union of enlightenment. To receive the commentaries you must have previously received the empowerments.
International Spring Festival
The Source of Happiness & Goodness
International Spring Festival with Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong, General Spiritual Director of NKT-IKBU
‘‘The Liberating Prayer is not an ordinary prayer – It is like a text and has profound meaning. All Lamrim teachings – renunciation, bodhichitta, and correct view of emptiness are included in this prayer. I can say very few people understand the Liberating Prayer. It definitely needs verbal commentary by a Teacher. If we understand and contemplate its meaning - it is the best method to develop faith in Buddha and his teachings, which is our spiritual life and the root of all Dharma realizations.’’ - Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche
At this Festival Gen-la Dekyong will share a special transmission and blessing of the meaning of this prayer that she received directly from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. She will also bring together commentary Venerable Geshe-la has given on the meaning of different verses of this prayer over many years. There will also be an opportunity to engage in a powerful and immensely meaningful International Refuge Vow Ceremony with the worldwide Kadampa family. The Festival is open to everyone and suitable for all levels of experience.