The 26th Hornbill Festival concluded at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, marking new global and regional partnerships with record participation.
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KISAMA — The ten-day 26th edition of Nagaland’s premier cultural event, Hornbill Festival, came to a close on Wednesday, marking the end of yet another year of friendships, cultural exchange and collaborations.
Held from December 1 to the 10th with the centre stage at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, this year’s edition drew tens of thousands of visitors, including locals as well as domestic and international tourists from across the world.
The 26th edition also witnessed the highest number of partner countries—six—along with Arunachal Pradesh as the state partner.
Representatives from Malta, Ireland and Arunachal Pradesh attended the closing ceremony on Wednesday.
Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang, in his festival message, said that the Hornbill Festival has become a powerful instrument of cultural soft power for Nagaland, placing the state prominently on the global map.
He said that the festival has provided a meaningful platform to showcase the state’s magnificent diversity and stands as a testament to the identity of the Naga people.
The spirit of togetherness, he added, must not remain confined to Kisama but extend into everyday life.
He urged the people to renew themselves and work towards a united and progressive state, invoking the spirit of the Hornbill Festival to guide Nagaland toward a future of harmony and prosperity.
Deputy Ambassador of Ireland to India, Raymond Mullen, described being a partner country at the festival as “an honour and a source of deep pride.”
He said that the festival is more than a celebration—it is a declaration of identity, creativity and cultural confidence.
“Ireland has learned a great deal from our time here—about resilience, identity and the transformative power of cultural pride,” Mullen said.
He expressed hope that the festival would mark not an end but the beginning of deeper collaboration in education, research, tourism, culture, sports, entrepreneurship and agriculture, as well as stronger people-to-people ties.
High Commissioner of Malta to India, Reuben Gauci, described Nagaland as a “jewel” and urged people to cherish it.
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The diplomat added that he hopes this will not be the last time Malta participates in the Hornbill Festival.
Fresh collaboration
Arunachal Pradesh Minister for Tourism, Education, Parliamentary Affairs and RWD, Pasang Dorjee Sona, announced that Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have signed a partnership agreement between the two states.
The collaboration will span several sectors, including music, art, tourism, horticulture, industry and more.
He said that the partnership would help both states progress across multiple sectors and position them among the frontrunners in the Northeast, while strengthening bonds in the days ahead.
Sona added that the Hornbill Festival has offered the world a window into the Northeast—particularly Nagaland.
While many people may not know much about the region, festivals like Hornbill showcase its art, culture and indigenous lifestyle, generating national and international attention, he said.
Having state partners, he added, will make the festival even more vibrant and visible globally.
Festival host and Tourism & Higher Education Minister Temjen Imna Along maintained that the Hornbill Festival has become a global stage with the world as its audience, as visitors, partners and well-wishers experience the ten-day event.
He expressed hope for lasting friendships with this year’s partner countries and the state partner.
The closing ceremony concluded with the annual tradition of lighting the bonfire by the dignitaries.