India GO
Hornbill Festival: ten days of Naga culture at Kisama
The tribes of Nagaland in one village, to the beat of the log drums
The Hornbill Festival is Nagaland’s “Festival of Festivals”: for ten days the Naga tribes gather at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, 12 km from Kohima, each around its own morung, with dances and log drums by day and music and a street carnival in Kohima after dark. It runs on 1–10 December 2026 (expected), opening on 1 December, Nagaland’s Statehood Day. Plan the entry permit before anything else.
Nagaland's "Festival of Festivals": the tribes of the Northeast gather in full regalia
Fixed dates; the Government of Nagaland announces the programme of each edition in the autumn.
The legend
The festival is named after the hornbill, a bird found in the folklore of almost every people of Nagaland.
In 2000 the state government first gathers the tribes in one village so they can get to know each other better.
Each tribe raises its own morung here, and the elders welcome guests at its door.
Meaning
Angami
In February the Angami keep Sekrenyi: ten days of washing away past sins and of initiating the young into adulthood.
Konyak
In early April the Konyak celebrate Aoleang: they greet the spring, their new year, and pray for a good harvest.
Customs
Games of old
There are contests in archery, Naga wrestling and old indigenous games.
Bamboo and log
Bamboo flutes and mouth organs sound out, along with trumpets and log drums.
Shawls
Shawls are woven by women, each from three panels stitched together, and one takes several days to finish.
What people eat
Axone
fermented soybean; "strong smell" in Sümi
Words of the festival
morung
the young men's house of a village: club, school and training camp in one
Nagamese
an Assamese-based creole that the different tribes speak with each other
bhut jolokia
"Bhutanese pepper" in Assamese, also called the ghost pepper
True or myth
❌ Myth. In 2007 Guinness World Records named it the hottest, 170 times hotter than Tabasco, but three peppers have overtaken it since.
✅ True. Among many tribes the design shows the wearer's social status, and men's and women's patterns differ.
✅ True. By one account that is what their neighbours in Assam called them: Noga or Naka.
Where to celebrate
Kohima
Worth the trip
For ten days in December the Naga tribes gather at Kisama: dances and log drums in the arena by day, food in the tribal morungs, music and a street carnival in Kohima after dark.
What you see at Kisama and in Kohima
Kisama’s heritage village is built in the form of an old Naga village on a slope below a steep peak, on the highway 12 km from Kohima. Each tribe raises its own morung, the traditional house, where food is served and elders welcome guests at the door. In the Unity Arena the tribal troupes perform through the day: war dances, songs, log drums, bamboo flutes and mouth organs. Around them are craft stalls with shawls, each woven by women from three panels, contests in archery, Naga wrestling and old indigenous games, and the chilli-eating contest with the Naga king chilli.
In the evening the Hornbill Music Festival takes over, with a separate paid entry, and in Kohima the Night Carnival of the Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industry fills the town centre every evening of the festival (17:00–21:00 the last time). The road from Phoolbari to Razhü Point closes to traffic for it. The Naga wrestling championship has been held at the Kimipfüphe Ground in Kigwema, and the Kohima War Cemetery of the Second World War is in the centre of town.
The festival was launched by the state government in 2000 to bring the tribes together and show their culture. It is named after the hornbill, the bird found in the folklore of almost every people of Nagaland; for the bird itself see great hornbill.
Entry permits: sort them out first
Indian nationals need an Inner Line Permit for all of Nagaland, Kohima and Kisama included. It is applied for online at ilp.nagaland.gov.in: ₹200 for 30 days.
Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit, which the Centre made mandatory again after years of relaxation. It is applied for online through e-FRRO, and you must register at the district Foreigners Registration Office within 24 hours of arrival. Since then the Ministry of Home Affairs has relaxed the regime for the festival at least once, by a letter sent only two days before the opening, so do not count on a relaxation: plan on the permit and check the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Nagaland ILP portal before you book. The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advises applying for protected-area permits three months before arrival and notes that permit rules can change at any time.
Have the permit in hand before you travel on from Dimapur.
Rules and tips
A few things that differ from a festival elsewhere in India.
- Alcohol law — The FCDO lists Nagaland among the states where alcohol is illegal and warns that if you drink or possess alcohol there you could be arrested and held without bail. Do not bring alcohol in.
- Drones — Flying a drone during the festival has required prior permission from the Nagaland Police Headquarters.
- Road disruption — The FCDO notes that protests and blockades are common in the north-eastern states and can disrupt the highways linking them with Assam. Follow local news and the advice of the authorities.
- Mornings and evenings — Cultural performances fill the day and the concerts the evening, so plan for both. December is cold in the hills: pack warm layers.
Getting there, where to stay, when to book
Book about three months ahead: Kohima’s hotels and homestays have been fully booked before the opening, and there are few homestays near Kisama.
- Fly or take the train to Dimapur
Dimapur is the gateway, about 70 km from Kohima, and flights there are limited, so fix the flight or train together with the room. The road up takes about 1.5 hours on a normal day and much longer in festival traffic.
- Stay in Kohima or by Kisama
Kohima has the most rooms and the Night Carnival; Kisama is 12 km away by state shuttle bus or taxi. Homestays in Kigwema and Kipfuzha, next to the heritage village, are within walking distance of the arena, and Khonoma and Jotsoma have more village homestays on the official list. Dimapur is the fallback when Kohima is full, at the cost of a long drive each day.
- Arrive the day before
Arrive on 30 November for the opening ceremony, which has started in the afternoon. Three nights is the minimum, five are better. Entry to the heritage village is paid, about ₹150, with wristbands sold at the gate.
FAQ
When is the Hornbill Festival?
1–10 December 2026 (expected). The festival has fixed dates: ten days from 1 December, Nagaland’s Statehood Day, and the state government announces each edition’s programme in the autumn.
Where is the Hornbill Festival held?
At the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, 12 km from Kohima, the capital of Nagaland; the Night Carnival is in Kohima town.
Do foreigners need a permit for the Hornbill Festival?
Yes: a Protected Area Permit through e-FRRO, plus registration within 24 hours of arrival. A relaxation for the festival has come as late as two days before the opening, so plan on the permit. Indians need an Inner Line Permit (₹200 for 30 days online).
Is there an entry fee for the Hornbill Festival?
Yes, the heritage village is paid, about ₹150, and the evening Hornbill Music Festival has its own ticket. The Night Carnival in Kohima is free.
Why is it called the Hornbill Festival?
After the hornbill, a bird found in the folklore of almost every Naga people. For the bird itself, see great hornbill.
Sources (13)
- Hornbill Festival (Tourism Nagaland)
- Kisama Heritage Village (District Kohima)
- Nagaland ILP fees
- FCDO travel advice for India
- Mandatory Protected Area Permit for foreign visitors to Nagaland (All India Radio)
- GoI relaxes PAP for Hornbill Festival 2025 (Morung Express)
- FCDO travel advice for India: entry requirements (access permits)
- Protected Area Regime reimposed in Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram (Scroll, December 2024)
- FCDO travel advice for India: safety and security (alcohol laws)
- FCDO travel advice for India: regional risks (north-eastern states)
- Prior permission from PHQ Nagaland required for drones during Hornbill Festival (IPR Nagaland)
- Homestays (Tourism Nagaland)
- NST shuttle service for Hornbill Festival (IPR Nagaland)
Facts checked: 21 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.