Hornbill Festival
Festival of Festivals — all 17 Naga tribes in one place
Significance
Named after the hornbill bird, central to Naga folklore. Designed to preserve and promote tribal culture, heritage and traditions in a single unified celebration.
Nagaland's biggest cultural celebration brings together all major tribes — Ao, Angami, Konyak, Sumi and more — for a 10-day showcase of warrior dances, indigenous sports, cuisine and crafts.
First-time visitor
Spend at least 3 days — one for the opening, one to walk the Morungs, one for the night carnival.
What to see
- Opening ceremony with tribal chieftains
- War-dance competitions between tribes
- Chilli-eating contest (the world-famous Bhut Jolokia)
- Night carnivals with rock concerts
Festival foods
Best for
Travel tips
- 1Carry an Inner Line Permit (ILP) — mandatory for non-Nagaland residents
- 2Kohima is cold in December — pack warm layers
- 3Book the Morung homestays early — limited capacity
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Kohima and Hornbill Festival
Nagaland
Seventeen warrior tribes gather in the Naga capital every December for the 10-day Hornbill Festival. Morungs, feathered warriors, war dances, mithun feasts. The same hills hold the WW2 battlefield where Japan's invasion of India was halted in 1944.
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Questions & Answers
About Hornbill Festival
Hornbill Festival 2026 is scheduled for 1–10 Dec 2026. That's 170 days from today.
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