December 1
Hornbill Festival Day 1, the Opening Ceremony
December 1 · Nagaland Statehood Day
The grandest day: the festival opens on Nagaland Statehood Day with the official ceremony, the traditional fire lit at the arena, all-tribe processions and the first full day of morungs, food stalls and performances.
Morning, the arena
Official opening ceremony at the Kisama arena, dignitaries, Statehood Day celebrations, the lighting of the traditional fire, and all the tribes in full regalia for the opening processional and first performances.
Afternoon, the grounds
The morungs open for the season, every tribe's house at Kisama welcomes visitors; food stalls and craft stalls begin their ten-day run.
Evening, Kohima
First evening programmes in Kohima, cultural shows and the opening night of the music calendar.
Who this day suits: Book the opening day if you want the ceremony at full scale; expect the year's biggest crowd and the year's tightest security lines.
The day-wise programme is announced by the state each edition, this guide describes what Day 1 typically holds across editions. Check the official schedule closer to December, or ask us on WhatsApp before your dates.
Hornbill Festival 2026, Dec 1–10, 2026, Kisama. Packages from ₹3,999, camp, permits, transport, passes, all included.