Every December the Hornbill Festival brings the Naga tribes together at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, on the outskirts of Kohima, the capital of Nagaland in north-east India. The 27th edition runs from 1 to 10 December 2026.
It is a trip to prepare in advance: foreign visitors need a Protected Area Permit, and anyone from outside the state, Indian or foreign, needs Nagaland's Inner Line Permit. This guide explains what to apply for, how to get there and who to call if something goes wrong.
Key facts for the 2026 Hornbill Festival
- Dates: 1 to 10 December 2026, at Kisama, on the outskirts of Kohima.
- Foreign visitors: need a Protected Area Permit (PAP), applied for online on the Indian government's e-FRRO portal, and also Nagaland's Inner Line Permit (ILP); no PAP exemption has been announced for 2026.
- Indian citizens from other states: need an Inner Line Permit (ILP), also applied for online.
- Emergencies: 112, across India.
- Alcohol: banned in Nagaland.
Protected Area Permit (PAP) for foreign visitors: how to apply
Since December 2024, the Indian government again requires a Protected Area Permit to visit Nagaland. The Nagaland government asked in 2026 for it to be withdrawn, with no decision so far.
- You apply online on the Indian government's e-FRRO portal, and the permit is electronic only.
- Apply as early as you can: official Indian guidance mentions at least 30 days before arrival, and the UK government advises three months.
- On arrival, register with the district's foreigners registration office within 24 hours, as the Dimapur police remind visitors.
- Hotels, agencies and public offices must check that you hold the permit before providing a service.
- Permit rules can change at any time, as the UK government warns.
In 2025 the Indian government lifted the permit requirement only for the days of the festival, and announced it two days before it began. Nothing has been announced for 2026: check the e-FRRO portal before you travel.
Nagaland Inner Line Permit (ILP): who needs it
- Anyone from outside the state needs it, including for Dimapur since 2024.
- You apply and pay on Nagaland's official ILP portal; the tourist permit lasts 30 days and costs 200 rupees for Indian citizens and 500 rupees for foreign visitors.
- People only passing through Dimapur, Chumoukedima or Niuland in transit, with a valid ticket, do not need it.
How to get to Kohima and the festival
- Dimapur has Nagaland's only airport; Kohima is about 74 km away by road.
- Public buses and taxis run between Dimapur and Kohima; it is a mountain road, so leave plenty of time.
- If you travel as a group, agree where your return transport will pick you up outside the venue.
Is Nagaland safe to visit? What governments say
- The United Kingdom does not advise against travel to Nagaland, but it does advise against all but essential travel to neighbouring Manipur, and warns that protests, road blockades and large gatherings are common in the north-eastern states.
- The United States asks travellers to reconsider travel to the north-eastern states (level 3 of 4), while noting that there have been no recent reports of violence in Nagaland; for Manipur, do not travel (level 4).
- Alcohol is illegal in Nagaland: if you drink or carry it, you could be arrested and held without bail.
- December nights in Kohima are cold, often below 5 °C: bring warm clothes for the evening and night.
At the festival
- Agree a meeting point inside the venue that is easy to recognise, in case you get separated.
- If you have children with you, take a photo of them when you arrive and write your phone number on their wrist.
- Charge your phone, carry a power bank and save 112 and your embassy's details.
- Ask permission before photographing people.
If something goes wrong: your embassy
- On the Telcomia safety page, choose your nationality and India to see your embassy or consulate, its 24-hour emergency line and directions.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in India, you can ask any other EU country's embassy for help, and it must assist you as it would its own nationals.
- If you lose your passport, report it to the police and contact your embassy or consulate.
How Telcomia helps
- The India safety page sums up what governments say every day, with Telcomia's risk level, and Telcomia alerts you if it rises during your trip.
- With a Telcomia eSIM active on your account, your embassy's details, the phone numbers, the risk level, the warnings and the emergency phrases stay saved on your phone and open even without a connection.
- If you travel as a group, the group map lets you set your meeting point at the venue and, with consent, see where everyone is.
- If you need data during your trip, see the plans for India.
Questions travellers ask about the 2026 Hornbill Festival
When is the 2026 Hornbill Festival?
From 1 to 10 December 2026, at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, on the outskirts of Kohima (Nagaland).
Do I need a permit for the Hornbill Festival?
Yes. If you are a foreign visitor, you need a Protected Area Permit (PAP), applied for on the e-FRRO portal, and Nagaland's Inner Line Permit (ILP); on arrival, you must register within 24 hours. If you are an Indian citizen from another state, you need the ILP.
Can you drink alcohol at the Hornbill Festival?
No. Alcohol is illegal in Nagaland, and drinking or carrying it can lead to arrest.
What is the emergency number in India?
112, for police, ambulance and fire, across the country.
The short version
Apply for the permits you need as early as you can, register on arrival if you are a foreign visitor, leave alcohol out of Nagaland and bring warm clothes for the night. Agree a meeting point at the venue, and save 112 and your embassy's details.
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