Nagaland Festival Calendar 2026-27: Dates of Every Tribal Festival

Quick answer: Nagaland's Department of Tourism lists a festival almost every month, and the dates below are built from its festival calendar. Dates for the rest of 2026 are marked confirmed on our festival pages. Dates for 2027 are "usual" dates only. Festival dates can differ from village to village, so confirm locally before you travel.

Key takeaways

• Next up in 2026: Chega Gadi (30 to 31 October), Chavang Kut (1 November), Tokhu Emong (6 to 7 November), Ahuna (14 to 15 November), Wangala (21 November) and Ngada (27 to 28 November).
• The big one: the Hornbill Festival runs 1 to 10 December 2026 at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, near Kohima.
• 2027 dates are not confirmed. They follow the usual month and are shown as "usually" dates.
• Dates vary by village. Many festivals are held at different times in different villages. Ask the village council or the tourism office.
• Visitors need a permit. Check the ILP guide and apply only on the official portal.

Last checked: 11 October 2026.

How to read this calendar

We built this list from the Government of Nagaland festival calendar kept by the Department of Tourism, and from the entries we show on hornbillaistudio.in/events. Two entries (Tsonglak-Nyi and Chavang Kut) come from a community list and are not on the official calendar page. We mark them that way so you know.

A "confirmed" date means the date is stated for 2026. A "usual" date means the festival normally falls in that month and the exact day should be confirmed locally. Festivals belong to communities, so we only give the name, the community, the place, and the date. We do not describe rituals or meanings here.

2026 festivals

2027 festivals (usual dates, not confirmed)

All 2027 dates above are marked "usually" on our site and are not confirmed. Treat them as a planning guide, not a booking date.

Month by month, at a glance

• October to November 2026: Tsonglak-Nyi, Chega Gadi, Chavang Kut, Tokhu Emong, Ahuna, Wangala, Ngada and the Cherry Blossom Festival.
• December 2026: Hornbill Festival and People's Festival.
• January to April 2027: Sukrunye, Mimkut, Bishu, Sekrenyi, Mileinyi, Aoleang Monyu, Monyu and Tsukhenyie.
• May to October 2027: Moatsu, Tuluni, Naknyulum, Metumnyo, Mongmong, Tsokum and Yemshe.

Dates vary, so confirm locally

The Department of Tourism's calendar gives one date per festival, but villages of the same community can celebrate on different days, and dates can move. Before you plan a trip around a single day:

1. Check the Department of Tourism event calendar again close to your travel date.
2. Contact the local village council or a district tourism office.
3. Keep a spare day in your plan.

Planning around the festivals

• Permit: Most visitors from outside Nagaland need an Inner Line Permit (ILP). Apply only on the official portal, ilp.nagaland.gov.in. Our ILP guide explains the steps.
• Hornbill Festival: the busiest period. Read the first-timer guide and how to reach Kisama.
• Respect: these are community celebrations. Ask before photographing people and follow the guidance of the hosts.

Sources

• Government of Nagaland, Department of Tourism, festival calendar: https://tourism.nagaland.gov.in/event-calendar/
• Directorate of Tourism, Nagaland: https://tourism.nagaland.gov.in
• Naga Heritage Village, Kisama: https://tourism.nagaland.gov.in/naga-heritage-village/
• Official Inner Line Permit portal: https://ilp.nagaland.gov.in
• Our festival pages: https://hornbillaistudio.in/events

Drawn from public sources, written and checked with AI assistance. Spot a mistake? Tell us at hornbillaistudio@gmail.com.