Nestled in the lush hills of Arunachal Pradesh, the picturesque Ziro Valley is preparing to welcome the 13th edition of the Ziro Festival of Music. Running across four full days from September 24 to 27, the open-air cultural gathering will unite an expansive roster of more than 40 musical acts originating from across the subcontinent and abroad. A defining philosophy of the event remains its deliberate refusal to establish a conventional hierarchy among performers, ensuring that emergent independent talents share equivalent prominence alongside widely celebrated names.
Celebrated mainstream artists join vibrant regional talents
An eclectic assembly of Indian talent anchors this year's schedule. Audiences will witness sets from veteran names such as Sukhbir, Sneha Khanwalkar, Midival Punditz, Shakthisree Gopalan, Shanka Tribe, and legendary rock outfit Parikrama. Broadening the sonic palette even further, the stage will host classical maestros including sarangi player Sarwar Hussain and violinist Apoorv Krishna, alongside contemporary beats courtesy of Bihari rapper Shikriwal, Kaali Duniya, Karan Kanchan, and Swara Oza.
Regional expressions from the Northeast remain central to the festival's identity. Among the featured performers are Tripura busker Sukesh Suklabadya, Manipur-based acts Chingleipak Collective and Yelhomie, Sikkim band Tribal Rain, Nagaland singer Temsu Clover, Mizoram group Mood Station, Assam musician Novo, and Arunachal Pradesh native David Angu.
Expansive international line-up and residency programmes
Performers from across several continents are travelling to the valley. The overseas delegation features Sri Lankan vocalist Yohani, Algerian act Fati Teniri, Palestinian-French producer Isam Elias, Nepalese band Phosphenes, Thai collective GYMV, Filipino group Talahib, and South Korean musical outfit Moher.
Cross-border artistic dialogues also form a cornerstone of the itinerary. The festival will stage the concluding chapter of Circuit Mixers, an international electronic music initiative supported by the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia following previous residencies in Johannesburg and Montreux. This final segment features collaborative efforts from India's Zequenx, South Africa's Naledi Chai, alongside Swiss producers Lua Jungck and Owelle. In an inaugural partnership with Ireland, backed by Culture Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi to mark Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, traditional folk outfit Saltaire will participate in a cultural residency comprising workshops and creative sessions with local regional instrumentalists.
Spontaneous jams at Cosmos and Apatani cultural immersion
To foster uninhibited artistic connection, organisers have introduced an informal space named Cosmos. The zone provides a venue for impromptu jam sessions, artistic dialogues, and completely unscripted collaborations among participants throughout the four days.
Beyond live concert stages, the festival integrates closely with the indigenous heritage of the hosting Apatani community. Attendees can observe the traditional Daminda harvest dance, witness presentations spearheaded by the Apatani Women's Association Ziro (AWAZ), and attend hands-on artisan workshops at Popi Sarmiñ Studio covering pottery and the craft of fashioning paddy flutes known as Elu. As co-founder and director Bobby Hano highlighted, artistic exploration alongside mutual cultural exchange continues to steer the fundamental vision behind the festival.
