Held annually in Laya, one of Bhutan’s most remote and picturesque highland villages, the Royal Highland Festival (RHF) was initiated in 2016 under the Royal Vision of His Majesty The King. More than a cultural celebration, it serves as a platform that brings together highland communities, government agencies, civil society, and guests from Bhutan and beyond. Bhutan’s highland communities—spread across 11 gewogs in 10 dzongkhags including Laya, Lunana, Soe, Naro, Lingzhi, Merak, Sakteng, Dangchu, Sephu, Dungkar, and parts of Gasa—are stewards of an ancient way of life rooted in harmony with nature. Sustained by yak herding, the gathering of medicinal plants, and unique cultural traditions, their resilience and ecological wisdom are central to Bhutan’s identity and its climate-adaptive future. The Festival celebrates this heritage, while creating opportunities for exchange, recognition, and sustainable development in the highlands.