Kohima District
Angami
The host tribe of Kohima — stone-walled villages, terraced rice fields and the famous Sekrenyi festival.
Explore CultureKisama Heritage Village · Kohima · Nagaland
Hornbill Festival
Nagaland 2026
1–10 December 2026 · Kisama Heritage Village, Kohima · All 17 Naga tribes.
Scroll
About the Festival
The Hornbill Festival of Nagaland
The Hornbill Festival is Nagaland's flagship cultural festival, held every year from 1 to 10 December at Kisama Heritage Village, about 12 km south of Kohima. Launched by the Government of Nagaland in 2000 to encourage inter-tribal interaction and promote Naga cultural heritage, it is popularly called the "Festival of Festivals" and named after the Indian hornbill — a bird revered across Naga folklore.
All 17 major Naga tribes — Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Kuki, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Yimchunger, Zeliang, Kachari and Garo — take part. Each tribe sets up its own morung (traditional wooden hut), performs warrior dances and folk songs, cooks its cuisine and showcases weaves, crafts and rice beer. The programme runs through indigenous games, Naga wrestling, chilli-eating contests, a night carnival in Kohima and the Hornbill Rock Contest at BSF Ground.
It's loud, colourful and deeply rooted — less a show, more a gathering. By day two, you're usually being pulled into a dance circle by someone you met an hour ago.
Why Travel With Us
A small team that knows the festival well
01
Festival Specialists
We focus on the Hornbill Festival and Naga culture — not a long catalogue of unrelated trips.
02
Real Cultural Access
Time with Naga elders, dancers and artisans, beyond the main festival arena.
03
Honest Stay Options
From deluxe hotels in Kohima to comfortable standard properties closer to Kisama.
04
Local Guides
Native Naga guides who actually live the culture you're coming to see.
05
Flexible Itineraries
Short festival trips or longer journeys through the Naga hills — your pace, your interests.
06
Always Reachable
A direct WhatsApp line and email, seven days a week, during planning and on the ground.
Cultural Heritage
Tribes of Nagaland at Hornbill Festival
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Hornbill Festival is the opportunity to experience the traditions, customs and cultural heritage of Nagaland's diverse tribal communities in one place. Each tribe has its own language, attire, architecture, festivals and way of life, making Hornbill Festival a unique cultural gathering.
Mon District
Konyak
Once feared headhunters, now Nagaland's most photographed elders — facial tattoos, brass-skull necklaces and Aoleang spring festival.
Explore Culture
Mokokchung District
Ao
Mokokchung's principal tribe — known for the Moatsü festival, refined weaving and a long literary tradition.
Explore Culture
Zünheboto District
Sumi
Known for the Tuluni festival, vigorous war dances and a strong warrior code in the central Naga hills.
Explore Culture
Wokha District
Lotha
Wokha district's principal tribe — famed for the Tokhü Emong post-harvest festival and intricate body ornaments.
Explore Culture
Longleng District
Phom
Longleng district's principal tribe — famous for log-drum traditions and the Monyü festival in April.
Explore Culture
Phek District
Chakhesang
A confederation of three communities — Chokri, Khezha and Sangtam — based in Phek district with rich weaving and terrace agriculture.
Explore Culture
Phek District (eastern)
Pochury
A small but distinct community in eastern Phek district, with the Yemshe festival and rich folk music traditions.
Explore Culture
Tseminyu & Kohima Districts
Rengma
A smaller Naga community spread across Kohima and Tseminyu districts — known for the Ngada post-harvest festival.
Explore Culture
Peren District
Zeliang
A confederation of Zeme and Liangmai communities in Peren district — famous for the Mileinyi festival.
Explore Culture
Kiphire & Tuensang Districts
Sangtam
A community spread across Kiphire and Tuensang districts — known for the Mongmong festival in September.
Explore Culture
Shamator & Kiphire Districts
Yimkhiung
An eastern Naga community in Shamator and Kiphire districts, with cultural ties across the Myanmar border.
Explore Culture
Noklak District
Khiamniungan
A Noklak district community whose villages extend across the Myanmar border — known for the Miu festival.
Explore Culture
Tuensang District
Peren & Dimapur Districts
Kuki
A community with a long history in Nagaland's southern districts and across Manipur, Mizoram and Myanmar.
Explore Culture
Dimapur District
Kachari
Descendants of the ancient Kachari kingdom — guardians of the medieval ruins at Dimapur.
Explore CultureEach tribe page opens in a new tab · 16 communities · in-depth cultural guides
Travel Guide
Hornbill Festival 2026 — A Quick Travel Guide
The Hornbill Festival takes place from 1st to 10th December 2026 at Kisama Heritage Village, about 12 km from Kohima. It's the largest cultural festival in Nagaland, and one of the most important in Northeast India.
The easiest way to plan a Hornbill Festival tour is to give yourself at least four to five days. Two to three days at Kisama for the festival itself, one day for Kohima — the WWII cemetery, the local market, the old churches — and a day for a nearby village like Khonoma or Touphema.
If you have more time, longer Nagaland cultural tours can take you up to Mon to meet the Konyak elders, or pair the festival with Kaziranga and Majuli in Assam. The journeys below are a starting point — every itinerary is adjusted to your dates, pace and interests.
For Hornbill Festival accommodation, Kohima fills up quickly in December. Booking early matters more than booking expensive. We work with a range of properties from deluxe hotels in Kohima to comfortable standard stays closer to Kisama.
Beyond the Festival
Places to Explore Around Kohima
While Hornbill Festival is the main attraction, the region around Kohima offers beautiful villages, cultural experiences, historical landmarks and scenic landscapes that are worth exploring before or after the festival. These places offer a deeper understanding of Nagaland's culture, history and natural beauty.
Khonoma Green Village
Asia's first green village, 20 km west of Kohima — terraced fields, Angami warrior heritage and community-led conservation.
Learn More →Photo: Joli Rumi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Dzukou Valley
A high-altitude valley of seasonal wildflowers and rolling green hills on the Nagaland–Manipur border — a moderate trek from Viswema.
Learn More →Photo: Samrat Pakrashi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Kigwema Village
A traditional Angami village 15 km south of Kohima, neighbour to Kisama — many festival visitors stay here in homestays during Hornbill.
Learn More →Photo: Shyamal L. · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Dzüleke Village
A quiet Angami hamlet in the clouds beyond Khonoma — clear streams, community-run homestays and some of Nagaland's best birding.
Learn More →Photo: Dr. Raju Kasambe · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons (Nagaland forest landscape)
Benreu Village
A Zeliang village in Peren district at the foot of Mount Pauna — pine forests, traditional huts and panoramic Naga hill views.
Learn More →Photo: Dr. Raju Kasambe · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons (Nagaland hill landscape)
Touphema Heritage Village
A reconstructed Angami heritage village 41 km from Kohima — traditional thatched cottages, community kitchens and cultural evenings.
Learn More →Photo: Vikramjit Kakati · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons (traditional Angami Naga hut)
Kohima War Cemetery
A serene Commonwealth memorial to the 1944 Battle of Kohima, with terraced lawns of headstones above the heart of the city.
Learn More →Photo: Ly.n0m · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Nagaland State Museum
On Bayavü Hill in Kohima — ceremonial dress, ancestral weapons, jewellery and crafts of all major Naga tribes, in one quiet morning.
Learn More →Photo: Ppyoonus · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Suggested Festival Journeys
Itineraries around the Hornbill Festival
Short trips focused on the festival, or longer journeys that pair Kisama with the wider Naga hills and Assam.
I
4 Nights / 5 Days
Hornbill Festival Short Trip
Dimapur · Kohima · Kisama · Khonoma
A focused festival trip with two full days at Kisama, a walk through Kohima and a quiet afternoon in Khonoma village.
II
5 Nights / 6 Days
Festival & Naga Villages
Dimapur · Kohima · Kisama · Touphema · Khonoma
Festival mornings at Kisama paired with evenings in traditional Naga villages and a night at a heritage homestay.
III
7 Nights / 8 Days
Konyak Country & Hornbill Festival
Dibrugarh · Mon · Mokokchung · Kohima · Kisama
Meet the tattooed Konyak elders in Mon, travel through Mokokchung, and end with festival days at Kisama.
IV
7 Nights / 8 Days
Assam, Nagaland & the Festival
Guwahati · Kaziranga · Majuli · Kohima · Kisama
Wildlife in Kaziranga, a slow day on Majuli island, and a cultural finish at the Hornbill Festival in Kisama.
Where You'll Stay
Accommodation during the festival
Kohima offers a full spectrum of accommodation during Hornbill — from polished premium hotels to character-rich homestays in the surrounding Naga villages. Below is an honest guide to the properties we work with most often, organised by style and comfort level.
Rooms across every category sell out 3–6 months before December, so the earlier you confirm, the better the choice. We'll match you to a property based on your dates, budget and how close to Kisama you'd like to be.
Tier 01
Premium Hotels
Best for travellers who want full-service comfort after long festival days — heated rooms, hot showers, in-house dining and reliable Wi-Fi. Ideal for first-time visitors, couples and families who prefer a hotel experience.
Hotel Vivor
Contemporary boutique hotel in central Kohima with the city's most refined restaurant and a calm, design-led aesthetic.
de Oriental Grand
One of Kohima's best-known full-service hotels — spacious rooms, multi-cuisine dining and dependable service through the festival.
Niraamaya Retreats Aradura
Hillside resort on Aradura with quiet forested views, plush rooms and a slower, retreat-style pace away from the city centre.
La Colline Resort
Elegant resort-style stay on the outskirts of Kohima with valley views, landscaped grounds and generously sized suites.
Tier 02
Deluxe & Mid-Budget Hotels
The sweet spot for most festival visitors — clean, comfortable hotels in and around Kohima with the essentials done well. Suited to small groups, return travellers and anyone who plans to spend most of the day out at Kisama.
·Hotel Ura
·Blue Bayou
·Eden
·Eastgate
·Ariel
·Crescent International
·Hotel Japfü
·2K Hotel
·Alder Retreat
·Razhu Pru
·Hotel Millennium
·Hotel Lavisto
Several other reliable mid-range properties operate in Kohima — including newer boutique additions each year. We'll recommend whichever has the right rooms left for your dates.
Tier 03
Village Homestays
The most authentic way to experience Hornbill — staying with a Naga family in Kohima or in the villages closest to the festival ground.
Kohima City Homestays
Family-run heritage homes scattered across Kohima's older neighbourhoods. Expect home-cooked Naga meals, conversation with hosts who've grown up with the festival, and a level of warmth no hotel can replicate.
Kisama & Kigwema Homestays
Just a short walk or drive from the festival ground. Staying here means quieter mornings, easy access to evening events, and the chance to share meals and rice beer with Angami families who help host Hornbill each year. Rooms are simpler than city hotels but the experience is unmatched.
Khonoma & Touphema Villages
A little further out, but worth it for travellers who want to combine the festival with a deeper village stay — heritage Angami homes in Khonoma and traditional thatched cottages at Touphema's community-run tourist village.
We're not affiliated with any single property. We'll suggest the right fit honestly based on what's available, your group size and how close to Kisama you'd like to be.
Gallery
The festival, in frames
Frequently Asked
Before you travel
The Hornbill Festival is held every year from 1st to 10th December at Kisama Heritage Village, around 12 km from Kohima, Nagaland.
At the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, a short drive south of Kohima. All 17 major Naga tribes set up their morungs (traditional huts) here for the ten days of the festival.
The nearest airport is Dimapur (DMU). From Dimapur it's about a 2.5 to 3 hour drive to Kohima, and another 30 minutes onward to Kisama. Guwahati is the other common entry point.
Go early in the morning when the dances begin, take a slow lunch break with Naga food, and return for the evening programmes. Two to three days at Kisama is usually enough to see it properly without rushing.
There are several stay options available in and around Kohima during the festival season, ranging from deluxe hotels to comfortable standard accommodations. We'll suggest the right fit based on your budget and travel style.
Indian travellers need an Inner Line Permit (ILP). International visitors need a Protected Area Permit (PAP). We arrange both as part of the booking process.
Yes. Nagaland is one of the safer states in Northeast India, and Kohima is well-organised during festival season. People are warm, and the festival is a family-friendly event.
Travelling from India or abroad? Read our full Hornbill Festival Permits – ILP & PAP Guide for application links, fees and timelines.
Plan Your Trip
Let's plan your
Hornbill Festival trip
Send us a message on WhatsApp or give us a call. We'll get back to you personally and help you put together an itinerary that works for your dates.
Available 7 days a week