Guwahati: The culturally vibrant North East Spring Festival 2026, to be celebrated alongside the Madhya Dakshini Festival 2026, will be held from February 26 to 28 at the NEZCC Complex in Dimapur, Nagaland. The joint festival aims to showcase India’s rich folk and tribal heritage while strengthening cultural bonds between the North Eastern and South-Central regions of the country.
Organised by the North East Zone Cultural Centre in collaboration with the South-Central Zone Cultural Centre under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the festival will present a colourful confluence of traditions, music, dance and indigenous art forms. All programmes will begin daily from 5:00 pm.
Artistes from all eight North Eastern states will participate, featuring iconic performances such as Bihu, Wangala, Cheraw, Lai Haraoba, Hojagiri, and several traditional Naga dances. Around 130 folk artistes from the region will take part. To engage younger audiences, popular bands and choirs from Shillong, Dimapur, Guwahati and Kohima will also perform during the three-day event. Under the Madhya Dakshini Festival, 83 artistes from states including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh will present renowned folk and devotional traditions like Gondhal, Bathukamma, Panthi and Bessu Kamsale.
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The festival will further extend to Namsai in Arunachal Pradesh and Ri-Bhoi in Meghalaya in early March. Expected to boost cultural tourism and national integration, the event is being led by NEZCC Director Dr. Prashanna Gogoi and SCZCC Director Smt. Astha M. Karlekar.
