Terat band from Mizoram won the coveted ‘Ticket to Hornbill 2026,’ the result of which was declared at the grand finale held at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi on November 6. Terat band emerged as the winner of ‘India’s Biggest Band Battle,’ from a total of 221 bands who auditioned. Twelve bands performed in the preliminary round, finally narrowing down to 5 bands that competed for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes.
Steel Falcon from Bengaluru were the first runners up, and Nchanter from Uttarakhand were declared the second runners up. The top three bands will now perform at the iconic Hornbill Music Festival 2026, at Kisama to be held from December 1 to 10.
‘Ticket to Hornbill’ is in its 3rd edition this year and for the first time the event was held outside the State. On the decision to hold the event outside the State, Theja Meru, Chairman of Task Force Music and Arts (TaFMA) stated that in order to highlight the thriving music scene of the State, and for better accessibility, less cost, more band friendly, including the presence of a large Naga community, Delhi was chosen as the venue.
The event was organized by the Tourism Department, Government of Nagaland in collaboration with Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA) and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The winner won a cash prize of ₹10 lakh, first runners up won ₹6 lakh, and second runners up won ₹4 lakh. Total prizes worth ₹5 lakh, sponsored by Furtados and Sennheiser, were awarded to winners in individual categories. Casio India, is the sponsor of this year’s winners of ‘Ticket to Hornbill.’
Subir Malik, founder of Parikrama, Arpito Gope, Chief Consultant to TaFMA, and Mayank Mittal, frontman of KAPOW, India’s first comic rock band, were the judges for the Ticket to Hornbill contest.
Highlighting the special place music occupies in the social and cultural life of Nagas, Secretary, Tourism, Government of Nagaland, Nchumbemo Lotha shared that music is much more than entertainment for the Nagas, it is a form of storytelling, means of preserving history and expression of identity and an important part of community life.
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Traditional folk songs, indigenous instruments, rhythmic performance have been passed through generations reflecting the experiences, values and collective memories of the community. Over the years this rich musical foundation has evolved into a contemporary music culture that has brought Nagaland considerable recognition.
With the Hornbill Festival becoming one of the most recognized cultural and tourism festivals in India and over the years, the festival has evolved into an important platform for showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the State, bringing together all tribes under one roof, providing visitors opportunity to experience the State’s unique traditions, cuisines, handicrafts and way of life.
Secretary, Nchumbemo informed that the State Government aspires to take the spirit of Hornbill beyond the Festival and not just for ten days, and establish the State as a destination that visitors would want to experience throughout the year. He further emphasized that tourism promotion requires collective participation of creative artists, entrepreneurs, hospitality sector, local communities and private partners.
Ticket to Hornbill is such an initiative, it represents the State’s effort to take the cultural and creative identity of Nagaland to a wider national audience while creating a meaningful connection between music, youth, entertainment and tourism. By bringing together talented bands from different parts of the country, this platform goes beyond the conventional musical competition. It creates opportunities for cultural exchange, encourages collaborations among musicians and provides national space for emerging talent to showcase their abilities. More importantly it allows to introduce the spirit of Nagaland to audience who may not have opportunity to visit the State.
