Quick answer
The Ziro Festival of Music is a four-day outdoor festival held every late September in the Ziro Valley of Arunachal Pradesh. The 2026 edition ran 24–27 September, and next year's dates are usually announced in spring. You need an Arunachal Inner Line Permit, a festival pass and a camping package or homestay, and you should plan for rain, mud and long road transfers.
Highlights
- Independent bands from India, the North-East and abroad on two outdoor stages
- Bamboo stages built by Apatani craftspeople
- Rice fields and pine hills of the Apatani plateau
- Apatani food and rice beer at the festival stalls
- Homestays in the villages of Hong, Hari and Hija
What actually happens
The Ziro Festival of Music started in 2012 and has become one of India's best-loved outdoor music festivals. Over four days, independent bands and artists from across India, the North-East and abroad play on two stages set among the rice fields and pine hills of the Ziro Valley, home of the Apatani people. The stages are built from bamboo by local craftspeople, the festival pushes a low-plastic ethic, and the food stalls serve Apatani cooking and rice beer.
Dates
Ziro takes place in late September; the 2026 edition ran from 24 to 27 September. Dates for the next edition are usually announced in spring, with early-bird passes released soon after.
Passes, camping and stays
Four-day passes have typically cost ₹5,000–9,000 depending on when you buy, with camping packages, which include a tent and shared bathrooms at the festival campsite, sold separately. The alternative is a homestay in the Apatani villages of Hong, Hari or Hija, from about ₹1,500–3,500 per person a night with meals. Book two to three months ahead, because rooms in Hapoli, the main town, are few.
Permits and getting there
Indian visitors from outside the state need an Arunachal Pradesh Inner Line Permit, applied for online a week or two ahead. Ziro is remote. The usual routes are a flight to Itanagar's Donyi Polo Airport and then four to five hours by road, or a train to Naharlagun followed by a shared Sumo. Guwahati is a 10–12 hour drive.
Weather, crowds and what to pack
Late September is around 25°C by day and 15°C at night, with frequent rain. Mud is part of the experience: pack gumboots or waterproof shoes, a rain jacket, a warm layer, a torch and a power bank. Crowds are a few thousand, young and friendly. Vegetarians manage on rice, dal, momos and noodles, but the choice is limited.
Photography and etiquette
The older Apatani women with facial tattoos and nose plugs are not an attraction; the practice ended decades ago and many dislike being photographed. Ask first, and accept a no. Stay out of the paddy fields, which are working farms.
Combining it
Majuli island in Assam is on the way back, and Kaziranga reopens for safaris in October. See the best time to visit Arunachal Pradesh, things to do in Arunachal Pradesh, the best time to visit Kaziranga and our September ideas.
Frequently asked questions
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How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
