Through a letter addressed to the Minister of Tourism, Nagaland, Chief Minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio extended a warm congratulations to the entire organising team on the successful conclusion of the Hornbill Festival 2025 on 10th December 2025. The 26th edition of this iconic Festival of Festivals has crossed yet another significant milestone and has set new benchmarks for excellence, scale, and global engagement, it stated.

The Chief Minister conveyed his sincere appreciation to every department, institution, organisation and individual who contributed to the success of the Hornbill Festival 2025. He said the success of an event of this scale and magnitude would not have been possible without the positive participation of the people, and thanked every citizen for contributing to making Nagaland proud, and added that this achievement belongs to the people of Nagaland.

This year's edition witnessed the participation of six Country Partners - Austria, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland and Malta - along with Arunachal Pradesh as the Partner State. This wide-ranging participation reflects the growing international stature and relevance of the Hornbill Festival as a platform for cultural exchange, collaboration, and people-to-people engagement.

The challenges faced during this year's preparations were unprecedented. Prolonged monsoon rains and natural calamities posed serious constraints and tested our collective resolve to meet timelines and deliver a world-class event. Despite these obstacles, the organising teams demonstrated exceptional commitment, resilience and professionalism, ensuring that the festival was delivered with dignity and distinction, Rio stated.

Rio also mentioned that Hornbill Festival continues to grow in popularity, scope and reach with every passing year. The international community has embraced this festival wholeheartedly, evident from the increasing interest of tourists and delegates wishing to visit Nagaland. However, challenges such as the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime - imposed despite a peaceful environment and against the sentiments of the people - continue to affect the free flow of visitors and tourism growth.

The success of the Hornbill Festival 2025 is the result of sincere and coordinated efforts by all stakeholders. The contributions of the tribal hohos, the invaluable prayer support of church organisations, and the tireless work of government departments, event management teams and private entrepreneurs collectively ensured the smooth conduct of the festival.

This success belongs to the people of Nagaland. The Hornbill Festival is truly a people's festival, and its real stakeholders are the citizens of the State. The cultural troupes representing all Naga tribes remain the festival's most precious assets. It is our living culture and heritage that continue to attract friends and well-wishers from across the world, and the Hornbill Festival stands where it does today because of the commitment and pride of our people.

The CM also said the expansion of the festival this year into six district extensions has directly touched more lives, benefited a wider section of citizens, and expanded the horizons of Nagaland's tourism, creative and service sectors, and mentioned Mon district, where the Konyak Heritage Centre has emerged as a vibrant and internationally recognised venue.

Our Country Partners and Partner State have added immense value to the festival. Platforms such as the International Roundtables, Networking Summits, and Investment & Business Meets organised under the aegis of the Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (ID AN) have introduced new dimensions to the festival. These initiatives will pave the way for meaningful collaborations and partnerships that will benefit both present and future generations, he mentioned.

He also said the Hornbill Music Festival continues to evolve as a global cultural platform. The year-round efforts of the Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA) have yielded rich dividends, with our artists, musicians and cultural performers emerging as ambassadors of Nagaland on the global stage.

Equally commendable were the showcasing of Naga textiles and handicrafts, the presentation of our rich ethnic cuisine, the promotion of traditional sports and games, village and nature-based experiences, night bazaars, carnivals, and a wide array of entertainment programmes. Together, these elements make the Hornbill Festival unique, unparalleled, and immensely attractive to the outside world, he asserted.

 (DIPR)