The 27th edition of the Hornbill Music Festival will feature internationally acclaimed Japanese performance group Drum TAO, alongside new digital partnerships with Spotify and YouTube, and increased participation of Naga musicians.
The 10-day festival, scheduled from December 1 to 10, was announced at a press conference attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister and chairman of Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), Abu Metha; Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA) chairman Theja Meru and managing director of Okusa Toyota Nagaland, Y. Vikheho Swu on Thursday. Marking the fifth consecutive year of Toyota’s association with the festival, this year’s edition will feature Drum TAO, a world-renowned Japanese martial arts drumming and performance group, collaborating with local Naga artists. Toyota also announced Miss Nagaland 2022, Miss North East first runner-up and Femina Miss India participant, Hikali Achumi as the Toyota Hornbill Ambassador for 2026. Addressing the press conference, Abu Metha described the Hornbill Festival as one of Nagaland’s most valued cultural assets and a major ambassador for the State, attracting visitors from across the country and abroad. He said the Hornbill Music Festival had grown into one of the largest music festivals in the country, with performances spread across five to six districts and multiple venues over 10 consecutive days.
According to Metha, the festival brings together more than 1,000 musicians, with over 60 to 70 bands, solo artists and ensembles performing throughout the event. This year’s edition is expected to feature more than 50 bands and musicians from Nagaland, other parts of India and abroad.
Emphasising that the festival was primarily aimed at promoting local talent, indigenous music and independent artists, Metha said the focus remained on creating greater opportunities for Naga musicians rather than spending large amounts of public funds on commercial headliners. He said TaFMA continued to provide platforms for local artists through multiple stages, venues, restaurants and street busking.
He also announced two major digital partnerships with Spotify and YouTube. A dedicated evening will be curated in collaboration with Spotify, while representatives from the music streaming platform and the head of YouTube Asia are expected to attend the festival to scout local talent and explore opportunities for Naga musicians on global streaming platforms.
On the selection process, Metha said the nationwide “Ticket to Hornbill” competition was conducted through an open process, with independent music industry professionals serving as judges. For local musicians, TaFMA works with district partners and follows an artist empanelment system based on prescribed eligibility criteria.
TaFMA chairman Theja Meru said the organisation had collaborated with the Naga Musicians Collective to curate three local bands from its roster, while six solo artists were selected directly through the Nagaland Music Awards. He said local participation had been expanded this year in response to feedback received through social media and email. Metha further disclosed that the State government had allocated around Rs.1 crore for the 10-day music festival, with the budget currently being finalised. He said technical requirements, including professional stage equipment and sound production, could alone cost Rs.30-40 lakh, apart from expenses for rehearsals and arrangements involving hundreds of performers.
Acknowledging Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Okusa Toyota for their continued support over the past five years, Metha said the partnership had extended beyond the music festival. He stated that Toyota had rolled out corporate social responsibility initiatives worth over Rs.10 crore in Nagaland within less than 10 months of signing an MoU with the State government, particularly in the healthcare and education sectors.
The grand opening ceremony of the festival will be held on December 1, with performances at the Main Arena, Kisama, scheduled every evening from 5 p.m. onwards. Various events and extensions will also be organised across districts.
Y. Vikheho Swu expressed gratitude to the State government, TaFMA and the Tourism Department for enabling Toyota’s continued association with the festival. He said the partnership was aimed at supporting the growth of music and creative talent in Nagaland.
Later, the Toyota Hornbill official vehicle was flagged off during the conference. (Staff Reporter)
