Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival is often regarded as the ‘festival of festivals’ in the Northeastern state. Organized from December 1 to December 10 each year, the festival brings together the 17 major tribes of Nagaland. This is why it is rightfully named as the festival of all festivals! What’s also special is that the festival is completing 25 glorious years in 2025, making this year’s celebrations even more significant! During these ten days, visitors can expect an array of cultural performances, handicraft stalls, and exhilarating sporting events guaranteed to make you awe in wonder. If you’re interested in knowing more about the 10 must-see events at Hornbill Festival 2025, here’s team unstumbled helping you with the list!
Top 10 Hornbill Festival Events 2025: Rice Beer Tasting, Naga Shawls, And So Much More
1. Enjoy The Music Performances
Music is an integral part of the Naga way of life. In fact, western music and rock music are quite popular in the state. During the Hornbill Festival, one can expect a variety of rock, western, and other genres of musical performances. Plus, the local artists and tribals also perform their traditional folk music that brings more life to the festival. The fusion of rock-western and traditional music is an experience we bet you surely wouldn’t want to miss.
2. Sample Naga Delicacies
How can you attend Hornbill Festival 2025 and not sample the delicious delicacies? The Hornbill Festival in Nagaland is a celebration of traditional Naga cuisine, turning the festival into a foodie paradise. It is particularly a haven for those who enjoy non-vegetarian dishes – we’re talking about pork preparations, chicken pickles and curries, bamboo fish, etc.
Plus, there are so many vegetarian food options that you can never run out of options. Hornbill Festival 2025 is also famous for different food contests like the Naga King Chili Eating Contest and Pork Eating Contest among others. These different contests add an element of excitement to the festival.
3. Collect Postcards
If you’re someone who loves keeping mementos, don’t skip the stalls selling postcards, tribal art, and handmade crafts. You can opt for a speed post, a normal post, or even an international post. All you have to do is purchase them, write a sweet message to your loved ones (or yourself), and send them to the desired address.
These humble postcards reflect the local art and culture of the region and are the perfect keepsakes to send home or frame later. These small souvenirs make for beautiful reminders of your journey, especially when you look back at them after a long time.
4. Visit Tribal Morung Display Kisama Village
One of the must-see attractions at Hornbill Festival 2025 is the Tribal Morung display at Kisama Village. These morungs are traditional huts – communal spaces where you can learn more about the history and culture of the different tribes.
These morungs are spaces where young men from the respective tribes are sent to learn about their village and tribe’s history and heritage. Morungs are also where you can see the tribals get ready for cultural performances and rituals – so you can closely engage with them. However, if you intend to photograph or have a conversation with them, make sure you get their consent first.
5. Styling Done Right With Naga Shawls And Costumes
The traditional attire of the Naga tribes is not just attire – it is a moving, breathing testament to their ancient culture. The craft that goes behind making these traditional attires is an art form that has been preserved for generations. In fact, each tribe in Nagaland has its own distinct style and techniques of making their attire.
Each tribe makes their own distinct shawl, and in fact, the weaving patterns and designs of these shawls reflect the wearer’s position in the tribal community. If you get to wear these shawls, do not miss out on this chance! You can purchase these shawls and style them in different ways! Also, watch out for the Hornbill Festival Fashion Show – the ultimate event for fashion enthusiasts!
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6. Enjoy Delicious Rice Beer
Zutho is a traditional fermented rice beer that is popular in Nagaland. At the festival, you can enjoy delicious rice beer and a few other fermented alcoholic beverages. Although Nagaland is officially a dry state, you can enjoy traditional fermented alcoholic beverages at the Hornbill Festival 2025. Plus, it is reasonably priced, so you need not worry about burning a hole in your pocket to try the local beer.
The Log Drum Rituals and folk music sessions often include rice beer sharing, symbolizing unity and friendship. It’s a wonderful experience helping you connect with the Naga spirit – warm, welcoming, and always ready to celebrate.
7. Witness Folk Arts
On each day of the festival, the tribal dance troupes at the festival present their signature dances. From war dances to harvest dances, each community has a unique style of dance – and that too for each different occasion.
Each tribe takes turns to showcase their traditional music and dance, an experience that we definitely recommend! Watch brilliant storytelling, expressive emotions, and thumping beats that all come together in harmony. Besides, there is a different kind of joy watching folk dancers move in synchronization and sway to the beats of traditional music.
8. Shop Authentic Naga Bead Jewelry
Naga tribes are known for their elaborate, vibrant jewelry pieces and no we’re not talking about conventional pieces made of gold, diamond, and silver. These pieces are majorly constructed of bead, wood, ivory, animal bone, brass, etc.
Tribal jewelry in Nagaland is a reflection of the hunter-gatherer tribal societies they were once a part of as it uses mostly naturally available materials. At the Hornbill Festival 2025, you’ll find several stalls selling colorful tribal jewelry. We’re talking about necklaces, wrist bands, earrings, nose rings, hair accessories, and much more!
9. Purchase Unique Souvenirs
Shopping at the Hornbill Festival 2025 is a must-have experience that we cannot recommend enough. Nagaland’s cultural heritage is so diverse that there are tons of handicrafts, bamboo bags, jewelry, and other items that you can take home as souvenirs.
Along with handmade goods you can also find original artworks made by the local artisans, spices, unique herbs, roots, and many other items that you will not find anywhere else. Souvenir shopping is an enjoyable activity that not only lets you take home a slice of the culture you’re experiencing but also supports the local economy.
10. Watch Indigenous Sports And Games
Last but definitely not least – if you love watching sports, you must not miss out on the different sporting events at Hornbill Festival 2025. There are different kinds of sporting events like archery, Naga wrestling, bamboo pole climbing, log-drumming, spear-throwing, and many others.
These sporting events attract massive crowds, blending adrenaline-pumping excitement with cultural heritage. The sight of participants battling it out to display their physical prowess is one of the most exciting parts of the festival. Plus, many of these participants dress up in their traditional attire as they proudly flaunt their cultural identity.
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Hornbill Festival 2025: What We Know So Far
While the music festival lineup and the full festival schedule hasn’t been disclosed yet, here are a few details from the Hornbill Festival 2024.
Apart from the events and experiences mentioned above, 2024 had quite a few fun events such as the Kids Carnival, Hornbill International Photo Fest, Kigwema Village Walk, Flower Festival, Dzukou Trek, and exhibitions of tribal crafts and arts. As these festival events were a part of the 2024 edition, it is likely that these events will be a part of the 2025 festival as well!
Summing Up
The Northeast is blessed with diverse yet untapped cultural heritage that is waiting to be explored. Hornbill Festival 2025 is a unique cultural festival that celebrates the rich heritage of Naga tribes. And there are plenty of events that you can witness at this festival. From fashion shows and music concerts to exciting sporting events and quirky contests, the festival presents a diverse array of cultural experiences that are unique to these Naga communities.
