Every December, the Hornbill Festival fills the hills of Kisama with music. This October, Nagaland is bringing a taste of it to the capital. Ticket to Hornbill 2026 runs at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on 16 and 17 October.
Day 1: a showcase of Nagaland
On Friday 16 October, gates open at 5 pm for an evening of cultural performances and live music from Nagaland. Entry is free. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is expected to attend, along with union ministers and ambassadors.
Day 2: the band battle
On Saturday 17 October, from 5 pm, emerging bands from across India compete in a national contest. The prize pool is ₹20 lakh in cash plus ₹5 lakh in instruments. The biggest prize is a slot on the Hornbill Music Festival stage in December. Tickets cost ₹200 on the Ahibi platform.
Win in Delhi, and your next gig is in the Naga hills.
The event is run by the Government of Nagaland, Tourism Nagaland and the Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA), a state body that supports Naga musicians. The organisers say they want to close the gap between young bands and the big stages they rarely get to play. Casio India presents the event, with Furtados and Sennheiser as partners.
Can't make it to Delhi?
The Hornbill Festival itself runs from 1 to 10 December at Kisama, near Kohima. Read our first-timer's guide to Hornbill to plan the trip.
