The 13th edition of the Ziro Festival of Music will be held from September 24 to 27 in Arunachal Pradesh’s Ziro Valley, bringing together more than 40 artists from India and abroad for four days of independent music without a traditional headliner hierarchy.
The Indian lineup includes veteran names such as Sukhbir, Sneha Khanwalkar, Midival Punditz, Shakthisree Gopalan, Shanka Tribe and Parikrama, with Parikrama also marking 35 years since the band’s formation as part of the festival. Other Indian performers include rapper Shikriwal, Kaali Duniya, Karan Kanchan and Swara Oza, alongside classical musicians Sarwar Hussain and violinist Apoorv Krishna.
True to its founding focus on platforming Northeast Indian talent alongside national and international acts, the festival will also spotlight regional performers, including Tripura busker Sukesh Suklabadya, Manipur’s Chingleipak Collective and Yelhomie, Sikkim’s Tribal Rain, Nagaland’s Temsu Clover, Mizoram’s Mood Station, Assam’s Novo and Arunachal Pradesh’s own David Angu.
The international contingent draws performers from across the globe, including Sri Lankan singer Yohani, Algeria’s Fati Teniri, Palestinian-French producer Isam Elias, Nepal’s Phosphenes, Thailand’s GYMV, Ireland’s Saltaire, the Philippines’ Talahib and South Korean act Moher, along with acts from Switzerland and South Africa.
Held at the Ziro Festival Ground in Biiri, in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Subansiri district, the festival takes place against the backdrop of Ziro Valley’s pine forests, paddy fields and Apatani cultural heritage. Tickets are priced at Rs 3,700 for the opening day, Rs 5,300 for each of the following three days, and Rs 11,200 for a full four-day festival pass. Organisers have indicated the lineup may continue to grow as the event approaches, with festival tradition also known for spontaneous jam sessions and late-night sets beyond the scheduled programme.
