Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival is returning with its 2026 edition, set to take place from 20th and 21st November. The much awaited music festival will see a number of both international and Indian artists perform on-stage. While the festival has not announced its entire lineup, it has dropped the names of the three major acts performing at Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2026. Which artists are performing at this festival in 2026?
Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2026: Line-Up, Dates & Location
Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival Dates & Location
The 2026 edition of the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival will take place on 20th and 21st November, 2026. The music and culture festival will take place at New Shillong Highland Grounds over the course of two days.
Last year, in 2025, Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival was held on 14th and 15th November at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Polo Grounds. This time, the festival organizers held an audience poll to decide on the festival venue, with the New Shillong Highland Grounds ultimately winning the poll. The new venue is larger than Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and has better facilities, including parking.
Also Read: Meghalaya During Monsoon: What To Expect And Travel Tips
Who Is Headlining Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2026?
Every year, Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival sees a mix of international and Indian artists performing on the stage. From international DJs, bands, and solo artists to homegrown voices, Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival offers a platform for them to collaborate and perform.
Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 saw globally acclaimed artists like Jason Derulo and The Script headline the festival, along with many other artists like Diplo, Tyga, Aqua, and Nora Fatehi.
Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2026 Lineup
While Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2026 has not announced its entire lineup yet, it has announced three out of the four headliners performing at the festival this year. These are:
Khalid: Also known as Khalid Donnel Robinson, he is an American singer and songwriter from El Paso, Texas. He is best known for his 2016 debut single, “Location” and its 2017 follow-up, “Young Dumb & Broke”. The artist is currently on a World Tour, titled “It’s Always Summer Somewhere”. As part of his World Tour, he’ll be performing in Gurugram, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, along with performing at Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival as its festival headliner.
Swae Lee: Khalif Malik Ibn Shaman Brown, known professionally as Swae Lee, is an American rapper and singer from Inglewood, California. He is known for his wide-ranged, reverb-heavy vocals, and genre-blending music. Lee is also one half of the Mississippi-based hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd, which he formed in 2010 with his older brother Slim Jxmmi.
Boys Like Girls: Boys Like Girls is an American rock band formed in Andover, Massachusetts, in 2005. The group gained mainstream recognition with their self-titled debut album, which went on to sell over 7,00,000 albums in the US, and received a gold certification from the RIAA, Recording Industry Association of America.
Also Read: India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train To Run Between Guwahati-Howrah
Where To Buy Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2026 Tickets?
On 6th July, 2026, Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival announced the sale of Blind Tickets, translating to sale of tickets without any information on the headliner acts or dates.
The music festival is set to roll out another ticket sale, the Mastercard Presale, on 7th September, 2026. With registration starting 11 AM on 7th September, 2026, there will be a 10% off on presale tickets.
While ticket prices and categories haven’t been fully disclosed yet, the tickets will start at INR 2,500 per person, inclusive of taxes.
Visiting Shillong? Here are some of the best homestays in Shillong to stay at.
How To Reach Shillong For Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2026?
Air
The Guwahati International Airport is the closest major airport to Shillong. The airport is located about 113 to 120 kilometers, and takes about 3 to 4 hours to reach. It is connected to most major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru as well as select foreign destinations. It is recommended to make your flight bookings well in advance to get the best deals.
Railway
The Guwahati Railway Station is the major railhead located near Shillong. It is located about 96 to 100 kilometers away from Shillong. One can find shared cabs, buses, and private taxis to reach Shillong.
Road
NH-106 and NH-217 are important highways connecting Shillong to other major cities and towns. NH-6 is also an important highway connecting Shillong to Guwahati, Silchar, and Jowai. There are state-run buses connecting Guwahati and Shillong, and private and shared cabs are readily available too.
Also Read: How To Reach Shillong For The Cherry Blossom Festival: Travel Guide
Author’s Note
The Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2026 promises a celebration of diverse music on a global stage. The Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2026 lineup includes acclaimed international artists like Khalid, Swae Lee, and Boys Like Girls set to headline the festival. I’m definitely optimistic about the future of the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival as it brings both famous international artists and homegrown voices under one roof.
Summing Up
Khalid, Swae Lee, and Boys Like Girls are three headlining acts set to perform at the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2026. Set to take place on 20th and 21st November, 2026, the festival will promise diverse musical acts and fun cultural experiences over the course of two days.
