NE India

The festival calendar

The Northeast runs on festivals. Here are the visitor-friendly ones, with 2026 dates where they have been announced.

Pralaylahiry · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons

Book ahead for the big threeHornbill (Nagaland, 1–10 Dec), Ziro Festival of Music (Arunachal, 24–27 Sep) and the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival (20–21 Nov) fill up months in advance. Permits for Nagaland and Arunachal add lead time.

January

Buddhist

Torgya

January 2026 · Arunachal Pradesh

Masked cham dances at Tawang to drive out evil for the year ahead.

Tawang Monastery

Harvest

Bhogali (Magh) Bihu

14 January 2026 · Assam

Assam's harvest feast of community bonfires (meji) and endless food.

Across Assam

February

Tribal

Sekrenyi

25 February 2026 · Nagaland

The Angami purification festival, ten days of ritual, song and feasting.

Angami villages, Kohima

Buddhist

Losar

Feb/Mar 2026 · Arunachal / Sikkim

Tibetan/Monpa New Year, with monastery rituals and family celebration.

Tawang, Bomdila, Gangtok

March

Spring

Chapchar Kut

March 2026 · Mizoram

Mizoram's spring festival of bamboo dance (Cheraw) and white costumes.

Aizawl

April

Tribal

Aoleang Monyu

1–6 April 2026 · Nagaland

The Konyak spring festival welcoming the new sowing year.

Mon district (Konyak)

New Year

Rongali (Bohag) Bihu

April 2026 · Assam

Assam's spring New Year of husori dance, feasting and courtship songs.

Across Assam

May

Tribal

Moatsu

1–3 May 2026 · Nagaland

The Ao festival of rest and renewal after the sowing.

Mokokchung (Ao)

June

Religious

Ambubachi Mela

June 2026 · Assam

One of the largest tantric gatherings, when the goddess is believed to menstruate and the temple closes three days.

Kamakhya, Guwahati

July

Agrarian

Dree

5 July 2026 · Arunachal Pradesh

The Apatani prayer for a good harvest, free of famine and pests.

Ziro (Apatani)

Tribal

Behdienkhlam

July 2026 · Meghalaya

Pnar festival driving away plague and evil, with towering decorated raths.

Jowai (Jaintia)

Religious

Kharchi Puja

July 2026 · Tripura

Worship of the fourteen deities of the Tripuri royal line.

Old Agartala

September

Music

Ziro Festival of Music

24–27 September 2026 · Arunachal Pradesh

India's greatest outdoor indie festival, in a Himalayan rice valley.

Ziro Valley

November

Harvest

Wangala (100 Drums)

November 2026 · Meghalaya

The Garo thanksgiving to the sun-god Misi Saljong, with a hundred drums.

Asanang, Garo Hills

Music

Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival

20–21 November 2026 · Meghalaya

India's only autumn cherry-blossom festival, with big-name music acts.

New Shillong

Culture

Sangai Festival

21–30 November 2026 · Manipur

Manipur's showcase of dance, martial arts, crafts and cuisine.

Imphal & Moirang

Tribal

Nongkrem Dance

November 2026 · Meghalaya

The Khasi thanksgiving and goat-sacrifice festival of the Syiem of Khyrim.

Smit, near Shillong

December

Culture

Hornbill Festival

1–10 December 2026 · Nagaland

The 'festival of festivals' — all sixteen Naga tribes in one place. The Northeast's single biggest draw; book months ahead.

Kisama, near Kohima

Adventure

Orange Festival

December 2026 · Arunachal Pradesh

Orchards, off-roading and music in the Dibang valley.

Dambuk

Buddhist

Losoong / Namsoong

December 2026 · Sikkim

Sikkimese New Year of the Bhutia and Lepcha, with cham dances.

Across Sikkim

River

Hornbill of the plains: Dwijing

Dec 2026–Jan 2027 · Assam (Bodoland)

A riverside festival of Bodo culture, food and adventure.

Aie river, Chirang