Hornbill Festival tickets & entry, passes

Quick answer: Entry to the Hornbill Festival arena at Kisama is cheap and simple, an entry pass is bought at the grounds (nominal per-day rates are set by the organisers each year; passes for the opening ceremony are the exception and sell fast). No permit is needed for Indian nationals; foreign nationals register on arrival. Our packages cover the entry passes.

The two things you pay for

It helps to separate the two charges people confuse:

1. ILP waived during festival week for Indian nationals, carry a government photo ID. Outside Dec 1–10 the ILP applies: ₹200 online at ilp.nagaland.gov.in. Foreign nationals: ₹500 permit via the official portal.
2. Festival entry pass, the per-day ticket to the Kisama arena. Buy at the gate on the day; rates are modest and announced each edition. The opening ceremony on December 1, with VIP protocol, is the one day that can need advance arrangement.

Evenings in Kohima, the night carnival is free to walk; concerts may have their own tickets depending on the venue and year.

What things cost around the festival (2026, our prices)

• Hornbill 3D/2N package, ₹4,999 per person, all-inclusive
• Dzükou Valley ex-Kisama 2D/1N, ₹3,999
• Hornbill & Dzükou 4D/3N, ₹7,999
• Hornbill & Dzükou & Khonoma 5D/4N, ₹12,999

All-inclusive means transport, meals, guide, campsite stay, entry passes and permits, the ILP and the arena passes are already inside the price, confirmed on WhatsApp before you pay anything. Full details in the 2026 packages.

Three rules to remember

• Get the ILP before you travel, it is checked en route, and doing it at the last minute in Dimapur eats half a day.
• Carry the ID you booked with, passes and permits are checked together on busy days.
• Book stays early, Kohima sells out for festival week; our campsite near Kisama is included in every package, which is exactly why we run it. See where to stay at Hornbill.

The full permit walkthrough is in our ILP guide, and the Hornbill 2026 hub has dates, venue and travel planning.