Road to Hornbill 2026: Since 90's and Bound By Fire win in Kohima as Nagaland takes its band battle to Delhi

The road to India's most famous Northeast music festival is getting busier every year. Two bands have already won their way through in Nagaland, and a new national band battle in Delhi has opened another route to the Hornbill stage. Road to Hornbill: the winners Bands Since 90's and Bound By Fire emerged as the winners of Road to Hornbill 2026, a live music event held at The Switch Music Arena in Kohima on Sunday, 11 October. Ticket to Hornbill comes to Delhi For the first time, the Government of Nagaland, through Tourism Nagaland and the Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA), took Ticket to Hornbill out of the state. The two-day showcase was held at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on 16 and 17 October 2026: 1. Day 1 introduced Delhi audiences to Nagaland's music, traditions and contemporary creative scene. 2. Day 2 hosted Ticket to Hornbill, billed as India's Biggest Band Battle, with emerging bands from across the country competing for prizes worth Rs 25 lakh. 3. The winning act earns a slot at the Hornbill Music Festival in Nagaland in December. Nagaland's tourism and higher education minister, Temjen Imna Along, said the event gives Delhi a direct introduction to Nagaland's cultural energy and a reason to experience Hornbill itself. Last year's winner The 2025 edition of Ticket to Hornbill was won by NOVO from Assam at RCEMPA, Jotsoma, near Kohima, taking home Rs 20 lakh and a slot at the 26th Hornbill Music Festival. Hornbill Festival 2026 dates The Hornbill Festival runs from 1 to 10 December 2026 at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, near Kohima. Alongside its traditional tribal performances, food and crafts, the Hornbill Music Festival has grown into one of India's biggest stages for independent bands, with nightly concerts through the festival. Why it matters for independent bands Most Indian music festivals book acts by invitation. Hornbill's band battles are one of the few routes where an unsigned band can win its way onto a major festival stage on merit. For rock, metal and indie bands outside the big metros, that is rare. We will add the Ticket to Hornbill 2026 winner once TaFMA confirms the result. In a band heading to Hornbill season? Get your music heard before December. Promote your music on Media Marvels at https://mediamarvels.in/promote.