Kalolsavam 2026: Thrissur, Kannur, Palakkad battle for trophy; Mohanlal to be special guest

Thrissur: As the 64th Kerala State School Kalolsavam draws to a close, all eyes are on the golden cup which celebrates art, knowledge, and music. The suspense over who will claim it this year will be revealed on Sunday. At present, the cup rests with Thrissur.

Sunday will decide the winner of the golden cup among Kannur, Thrissur, and Palakkad districts. Currently, Kannur leads with 990 points, followed by Thrissur at 983 and Palakkad at 982. The same districts that topped last year are once again in contention.

Actor Mohanlal is to attend the closing ceremony as the special guest.

‘Responsible Kalolsavam’

This year’s cultural festival in Thrissur was marked not by fierce competition but by a sense of responsibility. Both participants and parents carried out their roles with full commitment, and the five-day festival flowed smoothly except for one or two minor complaints.

The organisers can take pride in the 64th Kerala School Arts Festival for prioritising responsibility alongside talent. From the participating students to parents, teachers, judges, the Chief Minister, ministers, security personnel, sanitation workers, and catering staff—all displayed complete responsibility, making this a model cultural extravaganza.

Responsibility in conduct, food consumption, and competition—these three principles, emphasised by the Education Minister V Sivankutty, represent one of the finest milestones in the festival’s history. The only complaint came from a delay in the first day’s competitions, which was quickly resolved the next day.

The organisers also excelled in real-time decision-making. When the duration of tribal art competitions was highlighted by Mathrubhumi, they assured adjustments for the next festival. Revenue Minister K. Rajan, Higher Education Minister R. Bindu, and District Collector Arjun Pandian have every reason to be proud of the smooth conduct of the festival in Thrissur. The police, ensuring safety and vigilance, deserve a big salute. The enthusiastic crowd proved once again that Thrissur remains a festival-loving district.

Last year, Thrissur secured the crown after a nail-biting finish, overtaking Palakkad, while Kannur came third. Sunday’s competitions in the Higher Secondary category—including folk dance (male), Vanchipattu (boat song), Kathakali music (female), Nagaswaram (instrumental music), High School Kuchippudi (male), Urdu group singing, classical song (male), and violin—will determine the new champion. The results of higher appeals in certain events from all three districts will also be decisive in crowning the golden cup winner.