The 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival will feature more than 50 bands and musicians from Nagaland, different parts of India and abroad, with global digital platforms YouTube and Spotify joining as partners for the Hornbill Music Festival.
Abu Metha, Advisor to the Chief Minister and Chairperson of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), announced this during a press conference, highlighting the growing international recognition of the Hornbill Music Festival and its role in promoting local talent.
Metha said the Hornbill Festival had evolved into one of Nagaland’s most valuable intellectual properties and a major cultural brand ambassador for the State. He described it as a festival that belonged to all the Naga people, with its success rooted in the rich culture, heritage, traditions and way of life of the Nagas.
He said Nagaland offered a distinctive form of experiential tourism, allowing visitors to experience the Naga way of life, build friendships and carry home lasting memories, rather than competing with other destinations through luxury hotels and resorts.
Describing the Hornbill Music Festival as one of the flagship events of the 10-day celebration, Metha said it was among the biggest music festivals in India and the region. It brings together more than 1,000 musicians over the festival period, including 300 to 400 artists and performers participating in the opening and closing ceremonies, besides over 60 to 70 bands, individuals and musical groups performing during the festival.
He said the music festival was spread across five to six districts, with multiple venues providing opportunities for performances. The festival would continue to prioritise local and indigenous talent, independent music and musicians from Nagaland, while also providing platforms for performers from other parts of India and abroad.
Metha clarified that the objective was not to bring expensive, internationally renowned bands at the cost of local talent, but to add value to the larger cultural celebration. He said public funds and government support extended through the Task Force for Music and Arts (TaFMA) were primarily intended to promote and empower local musicians.
He observed that the festival’s reputation had grown to the extent that well-known bands and musicians from across the country were now approaching TaFMA seeking opportunities to perform at Hornbill, whereas there had been a time when organisers had to offer incentives and meet expenses to attract performers.
Metha also highlighted international collaborations developed through music festivals and platforms abroad, noting that Naga musicians had secured opportunities to perform at international events through such partnerships. He cited performances by young Naga musicians at events in the United Kingdom, cultural artists in Italy and Naga musicians and traditional ambassadors in Canada.
He said TaFMA’s objective was to create opportunities for local talent to gain exposure and establish connections with the international music industry.
Metha placed on record his appreciation for Toyota Kirloskar Limited for partnering with the Hornbill Music Festival for the fifth consecutive year. He said Toyota had consistently supported local talent, helped bring international musicians to Nagaland and facilitated opportunities for Naga musicians to visit Japan and collaborate with Japanese artists.
He also acknowledged Toyota’s support for youth, sports, music and arts, as well as its corporate social responsibility initiatives in the State.
Referring to the memorandum of understanding signed between the Nagaland Government and Toyota Kirloskar during last year’s Hornbill Festival, Metha said the company had implemented and launched CSR initiatives worth more than Rs 10 crore in Nagaland within less than 10 months, particularly in the health and education sectors.
He further said Toyota had supported the development of dedicated infrastructure at Kisama, which had become a hub for the music and arts fraternity and contributed to the festival.
While answering queries from media persons, Metha explained that TaFMA followed a structured selection process for musicians, with a nationwide competition called ‘Ticket to Hornbill’ for bands from outside Nagaland. The competition involves applications, submission of credentials and evaluation by a panel of reputed musicians.
For local musicians, he said TaFMA worked through district partners in every district and an artist empanelment system, which enabled performers to participate in State-level events and represent Nagaland at platforms outside the State.
He said artists from all districts were also brought together during the Hornbill Festival through the Hornbill Busking Festival, supported by Coca-Cola, while opportunities were provided at various venues, including restaurants, hotels, the night bazaar and street performances.
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TaFMA Chairman Theja Meru supplemented that the Naga Musicians Collective had been entrusted with selecting bands from within Nagaland and had already selected three bands for the festival roster. In addition, six solo artists from the Nagaland Music Awards would be included.
Meru said TaFMA was open to expanding local participation, but stressed that selection should take place through proper channels and competition to ensure that the best talent was showcased.
Metha also announced partnerships with YouTube and Spotify for this year’s Hornbill Music Festival. He said a dedicated evening would be organised in partnership with Spotify, with representatives and senior officials of the platform expected to attend along with selected artists. The platforms would also explore local talent and provide opportunities for Naga musicians to reach wider audiences.
He said the YouTube Asia Head would also attend the festival, adding that the platform was interested in Nagaland’s growing digital content ecosystem, including music, vlogging, cooking and football.
Metha said the Hornbill Festival would be held from December 1 to 10, with the opening and closing ceremonies on the first and final days respectively. The main arena music festival would take place every evening from 5 pm onwards, alongside programmes at extension venues in different districts.
Highlighting the Zunheboto extension, he recalled the enthusiastic public participation witnessed there last year, with thousands attending the evening programmes featuring music, food, culture, art and interactions.
He said TaFMA would work with the people of Zunheboto to further strengthen the extension this year, describing it as an important destination for visitors during the festival.
Meanwhile, Y Vikheho Swu, Managing Director of Okusa Toyota and former Minister, thanked the Nagaland Government, Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio, TaFMA and the Department of Tourism for facilitating Toyota’s partnership with the Hornbill Music Festival.
Swu announced that Toyota would present the famous Japanese performing group Drum Tao this year, which would collaborate with a Naga artists’ band. He also announced Nikali K Shohe as Toyota’s ambassador for the festival. Shohe had represented Nagaland at Femina Miss India 2026.
