Ziro Music Festival: Dates, artists and other details for the 13th edition

Set against the paddy fields and pine-covered hills of Arunachal Pradesh, the Ziro Festival of Music has become one of India’s most distinctive independent music festivals. The 2026 edition will take place from September 24 to 27 in Ziro Valley, bringing together musicians, travellers and music lovers for four days of live performances, local culture and an eco-conscious festival experience. (Wikimedia commons)

Mark Your Calendars: The Ziro Festival of Music 2026 will be held from September 24 to 27 in Ziro Valley, in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Subansiri district. The four-day event is known for placing independent music in an unusual setting, surrounded by mountains, rice fields and pine forests rather than a conventional urban concert venue. (official website of ziro festival)

How It All Started: The festival began in 2012, after filmmaker Bobby Hano and musician Anup Kutty, guitarist of Menwhopause, began discussing the idea of bringing a small music festival to Hano’s hometown of Ziro. The first edition featured acts including Menwhopause, Lou Majaw and Peter Cat Recording Co., and what started as a modest experiment gradually grew into a major festival. (wikimedia commons)

Music Meets the Mountains: Ziro is more than a backdrop for the festival. Performances take place on stages made largely with locally sourced bamboo, while the event places emphasis on sustainability and engagement with the local community. Visitors can also experience Apatani food, crafts, villages and hospitality alongside the music. (wikimedia commons)

Artists to Watch in 2026: The 2026 lineup brings together established and emerging names from India’s independent music scene. Artists announced for the edition include Parikrama, Midival Punditz, Yohani, Vedan, Michael Dias, Owelle, Kaali Duniya, Yelhomie and Apoorva Krishna, alongside musicians from Northeast India. (instagram: zirofestival)

A Global Lineup: Ziro’s 2026 programme also has an international flavour, with artists from countries including Sri Lanka, Ireland, Nepal, Thailand and South Korea. The festival continues its tradition of bringing Indian and international independent musicians together, while giving artists from Northeast India an important platform. (wikimedia commons)

More Than Just Music: For many visitors, the appeal of Ziro lies in the complete experience rather than the concerts alone. Camping, local food, interactions with the Apatani community and the surrounding landscape make it different from a typical city music festival. The festival has also become an important draw for tourism in Arunachal Pradesh, attracting thousands of visitors each year. (wikimedia commons)