Nagaland gears up for Hornbill fest from Dec 1

Nagaland is all set to host the 26th edition of its biggest cultural celebration the Hornbill Festival from December 1, marking the state’s Statehood Day. Tourism Minister Temjen Imna Along announced that preparations are almost complete despite delays caused by continuous rainfall and damaged roads. The 10-day festival has grown into an international cultural hub and will once again bring together all 18 major Naga tribes, along with international partners, in a showcase of unity, tradition, and tourism.

First celebrated in 2000, the Hornbill Festival has evolved into Nagaland’s most prominent tourism event, attracting thousands of visitors from India and abroad. Its main venue is Kisama, located around 12 km from Kohima on the Kohima-Imphal highway (NH-29). Over the years, it has expanded beyond a single venue and now includes parallel events in different districts across the state.

This year’s edition is special, with six international country partners France, Ireland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Malta, and Austria and Arunachal Pradesh as the state partner. The event will be officially hosted by the Governor of Nagaland, with foreign delegations and the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh in attendance. According to the tourism minister, this edition will focus strongly on culture, collaboration, and increasing Nagaland’s global visibility.

Festival extensions will also be held across various districts including Mon (Dec 8–10), Dimapur (Hornbill Carnival from Dec 6), Wokha (Doyang Festival), Zünheboto, and others. The government has ensured that all departments Tourism, Police, Power, PHED, district administrations and more worked round-the-clock to be ready in time.

To welcome more international tourists, the government has relaxed the Protected Area Permit (PAP) norms. While PAP remains mandatory, on-arrival counters have been set up at airports to ease approvals. If mobile connectivity is stable, the process can take just 15 minutes. The relaxation is not applicable to tourists from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has also written to the Union Home Minister seeking further relaxation for the festival.

The Hornbill Festival also provides a strong economic boost. Last year, official estimates suggested that around Rs 189 crore was generated from the largely unorganised sector. However, the minister believes the real figures are higher, as homestays, artists, transporters, and local businesses earn significantly during the festival. Thousands of temporary jobs are created in these 10 days, along with long-term opportunities in the tourism sector. The government aims to keep the venue open throughout the year to promote sustainable tourism.

Appealing to citizens and visitors, the minister urged everyone to celebrate Nagaland’s spirit of unity, culture, art, tradition, and hospitality. The entry ticket for the main venue in Kisama has been fixed at Rs 150 per person for all categories of visitors.

With global participation and growing public interest, this edition of the Hornbill Festival promises to be one of the grandest celebrations Nagaland has ever hosted.