The 26th Edition of the Hornbill Festival 2025 culminated with pomp and gaiety at Unity Plaza, Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, Kohima on 10th December 2025.
Deputy Chief Minister & Minister for Planning & Transformation, T.R. Zeliang in his festival message elaborated why Hornbill Festival is cherished as the ‘Festival of Festivals’, as it is a space where traditions, culture and cuisines of the Naga people are proudly showcased and celebrated. This festival has offered our tribes, villages, craftsmen, entrepreneurs, and youth a meaningful platform to present our magnificent diversity and talents to the world. More than a celebration, it has served as a meeting ground where cultures intersect, generations connect, and aspirations take shape.
This festival is a testament to who we are as people, proud of our heritage, confident in our identity and hopeful for our future. Let this spirit of togetherness not remain confined within the boundaries of Kisama village, but extend into our daily lives.
Over the past 26 years celebration of the Hornbill festival, the Nagas have witnessed the presence of distinguished dignitaries from our own country and across the world. The Hornbill Festival has become a powerful cultural soft power of Nagaland, placing our State prominently on the world map.
The misgivings about Nagaland and Naga people, often shaped by distance and misunderstanding, are now being dispelled as visitors experience our warm hospitality, our kindness and our rich cultural tapestry. They return homes carrying goodwill and cherished memories. He reminded to carry its spirit forward and urged all the visitors to bring more people to experience the beauty, diversity and traditions of the Naga people.
Minister for Tourism and Higher Education and Festival Host, Temjen Imna Along in his closing address thanked the visitors, friends, well- wishers and tourists for coming to the Hornbill Festival, and had the vibes and experiences of the Naga people. He lauded the artists and performers of both cultural and contemporaries for their resilience in showcasing the rich culture and traditions of the Nagas to the outside world. Along said "Hornbill Festival has become the stage and the world has become its audiences."
While thanking the Country Partners and State Partner, he expressed his appreciation and hoped that the relationship and collaboration built together through this festival would go on for a lifetime. He also thanked the leadership of Arunachal Pradesh for sending its performers and actively participated throughout the festival.
He reiterated that Hornbill Festival brings different tribes of Nagaland to a common platform, where the vibrant Naga culture and traditions along with contemporary music, songs and dances resonate, thereby manifesting unity over isms and differences.
The comrades we had, the relationship we built, and the unique bonding we shared in this festival be made a perpetual impression on us, he wished.
Special guest for the culmination programme of the 26th Hornbill festival, Minister, Tourism, Education, Parliamentary affairs & RWD, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Pasang Dorjee Sona in his greetings said, he was truly delighted to be at the Hornbill festival. He complimented the organizers, the people of Nagaland, the Chief Minister, and everyone involved in making this festival a grand success.
He stressed that the Hornbill Festival has given the world a window to see the Northeast, and especially Nagaland and celebrations like this showcasing art, culture, indigenous lifestyles, vibrant traditions, and the colourful spirit of the people have created tremendous exposure at national and international levels.
He also said, an agreement of partnership between Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have been signed, and hoped that it would take both the states to much greater heights. He further added that collaborations in various sectors like music, art, tourism, horticulture, industries etc. will grow strong and help both the states surge ahead in every area.
Deputy Ambassador, Embassy of Ireland, India, Raymond Mullen said that their entire team has been deeply moved and overwhelmed by the generosity, the friendship, and the warmth shown to them by the people of Nagaland.
He mentioned that for Ireland, being a partner country at this festival has been both an honour and a profound source of pride. Hornbill is far more than a celebration, it is a declaration of identity, of creativity and of cultural confidence and added that, Ireland has learned much from Nagaland, about resilience, identity, and the transformative power of cultural pride.
He said that, they look forward to building friendships with the young people of Nagaland, whose talent and ambition are unmistakable and the beginning of deeper collaboration in education, research, tourism, culture, sport, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and, most importantly, people-to-people exchange.
H.E Reuben Gauci, High Commissioner of the Republic of Malta to India, in his speech said Nagaland holds a special place in his heart, a place where he can see and feel the warmth of the people. He stated that the Naga people and the Maltese people share many similarities.
He also brought along a Maltese poem that conveyed the message of love and praise for the State of Nagaland, and thanked the organisers of the Hornbill Festival.
He also expressed his hope that this will not be the last time Malta participates in this beautiful, energetic, and remarkable festival.
Task Force for Music and Arts (TaFMA) enthralled the visitors and well-wishers with their stimulating and spectacular performances.
Following the tradition of the Hornbill Festival, the reigning Miss Nagaland 2025, Linoka K. Achumi lighted the bon fire, marking the closure of the 26th Edition of the Hornbill Festival.
(Nongozo, Asst. Director, Siizo Kikhi,IA and Mainodi Naben, IA)
