Nagaland is one of the least visited states in India, and the Hornbill Festival is the easiest way in. Each December, the tribes of Nagaland gather in one hillside village to show their dances, songs, dress, crafts and food. It's loud and colourful and friendly, and it feels very different from the rest of India. It takes more planning than most Indian festivals, though, mainly because of the permits. This guide covers what happens, the rules you need to know, and how to plan the trip.
What the Hornbill Festival is
The state government started the festival in December 2000 to celebrate Naga culture and to bring the tribes together in one place. It's organised by Nagaland's tourism and art and culture departments. It's named after the hornbill, a large forest bird that appears in the folklore of most Naga tribes.
It opens on 1 December, Nagaland's Statehood Day, and runs for ten days. The 2025 edition was the 26th, so 2026 is the 27th.
At Kisama you'll find:
- The morungs. Each tribe has a traditional house, or morung, in the heritage village. Morungs were once the dormitories and meeting houses where young men learned the tribe's skills and history.
- Performances. Each day brings war dances, folk songs, drumming and traditional games in the central arena, with the tribes in full traditional dress.
- Food and crafts. Stalls sell smoked pork, bamboo-shoot dishes, local rice and plenty of chilli, including the famous king chilli. There are also woven shawls, beadwork, wood carving and other crafts.
- Evenings in Kohima. Music concerts, including the Hornbill International Rock contest (3 to 6 December in 2026), and a night bazaar with food stalls keep going in town after the heritage village closes.
Hornbill Festival 2026 dates
| Dates | |
|---|---|
| Hornbill Festival 2026 | Tue 1 to Thu 10 December 2026 |
| Hornbill Festival 2027 | Wed 1 to Fri 10 December 2027 |
| Venue | Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, near Kohima |
The dates are fixed every year. The daily programme is published by Nagaland Tourism, usually shortly before the festival.
Permits: what you need to visit Nagaland
This is the most important part of planning. Check the rules again before you book, because they changed recently and may change again.
Foreign visitors
- A Protected Area Permit (PAP) is required. In December 2024, India's Ministry of Home Affairs brought back the Protected Area Permit rules for Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. An Indian e-visa on its own isn't enough.
- How to apply. You can apply online through the e-FRRO portal, or through an Indian mission, an FRRO office or Nagaland's government offices. Nagaland police advise applying online.
- Register when you arrive. Foreign visitors have to register with the district Foreigners Registration Officer within 24 hours of arriving in Nagaland.
- The 2025 festival exception. For the Hornbill Festival from 1 to 10 December 2025, the central government relaxed the permit rules for foreign visitors, except nationals of a few countries, including China and Pakistan, who still needed prior approval. It applied to those ten days only, and the relaxation was only confirmed days before the festival opened.
- A push to scrap the permit for good. On 3 September 2026, Nagaland's Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution asking the central government to withdraw the Protected Area Permit regime altogether, arguing it holds back tourism and investment, with the Hornbill Festival's own success cited as evidence the state can host foreign visitors safely. Nothing had changed by the time we checked, so treat this as a state government request rather than a confirmed rule change.
- 2026. As of 3 October 2026, no relaxation has been announced or confirmed for the 2026 festival, and the PAP remains mandatory for foreign visitors. Apply for the permit, and check again closer to December in case a last-minute exception is announced as it was in 2025.
Indian visitors
Indian citizens from outside Nagaland need an Inner Line Permit (ILP). You can apply online at the Nagaland ILP portal (ilp.nagaland.gov.in). In 2025 it cost ₹200 for 30 days. The portal also takes applications from foreign visitors, so check what applies to you.
Planning your trip
- Getting there. Dimapur, in the plains, has Nagaland's only airport and its main railway station. From there it's a drive of a few hours up into the hills to Kohima. Kisama is about 12 km beyond Kohima.
- Where to stay. Kohima has hotels, guesthouses and homestays, and some villages near Kisama offer homestays and camping during the festival. Rooms fill up for the festival, so book early.
- Entry fee. In 2025, entry to the heritage village was ₹150 per person per day, the same for everyone.
- Weather. December in the hills is dry, with mild, sunny days and cold nights. Bring warm layers.
- Alcohol. Nagaland is a dry state. Alcohol is officially banned, so don't count on a drink.
- Cash. Bring enough cash for the festival stalls and homestays, because card payments aren't always possible.
Tips for solo travellers
- Ask before photographing people. Ask first, especially with elders and anyone who isn't performing.
- Be open about food. Naga food is based on pork, other meats, smoked and fermented ingredients and a lot of chilli. Vegetarians can manage, but ask what's in a dish.
- Get to Kisama early. The mornings are the calmest time to walk around the morungs.
- Plan your evenings. Kisama is outside town. Arrange your ride back to Kohima before dark, or stay near the venue.
- Give yourself a buffer. Allow extra time for permits, flights to Dimapur and the road up to Kohima.
The Hornbill Festival and our trips
We don't run trips to Nagaland at the moment, so the Hornbill Festival is one to plan yourself. If you're coming to India for the festival and want to see more of the country, the India Golden Triangle fits a week in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur around your own plans. See the trip pages for current dates. Both of our India trips start in Delhi.
