Ziro Festival returns from 25–28 September, celebrating music, community, and conscious living. Now in its 13th year, the four-day festival continues to reimagine what a music festival can be – an intersection of global sounds, creativity, and responsible celebration. This year, the opening day of the festival is dedicated to the legendary Zubeen Garg – a fiercely independent artist whose music and spirit inspired generations across the Northeast and beyond.
A Global Tastemaker
Ziro Festival may be a destination festival to many, but at its core it has always placed new and emerging artists at the heart of its curation. Since 2012, Ziro has consistently introduced audiences to fresh sounds long before they reach the mainstream.
“Ziro Festival has always been about discovery – of new sounds, ideas, cultures and ways of living. Each year, we see music creating powerful connections between artists, audiences, and the valley itself. That magic of discovery is what keeps us going, and what makes Ziro such a unique experience,” says Anup Kutty, Co-Founder and Creative Producer, Ziro Festival.
Artists are chosen with a sharp ear for the Ziro Valley setting – lush greenery, rolling hills, cloud play, late monsoon drizzles, and starry nights. Unlike most festivals, Ziro doesn’t rely on headliners; every artist is given equal footing, often gaining recognition here before larger platforms take notice. This curation across borders and genres has made Ziro a tastemaker in the independent music circuit.
Over the years, the festival has remained a launchpad for emerging talent while celebrating India’s diverse independent music scene. In 2014, audiences gathered under open skies for intimate solo sets by Prateek Kuhad and Taba Chake – moments later seen as milestones in their rise. Hip hop sensations Divine and Hanumankind also found early recognition at Ziro, long before their global breakthrough; international UK jazz star Nubya Garcia played here before winning the Mercury Prize. The story stretches back to 2012, when Shillong/Dimapur outfit Street Stories set the tone with their irreverent pop-punk spirit, joined that same year by Peter Cat Recording Co., now one of India’s most celebrated independent acts. More recently, Manipur’s Meewakching used the 2022 stage to push boundaries and experiment with new sounds.
Each edition amplifies voices that need to be heard – whether it’s a young hip-hop artist from India’s Northeast, a folk revivalist preserving forgotten traditions, or a boundary-pushing international act. The music that fills the valley year after year ensures Ziro remains not just a festival, but a movement keeping audiences ahead of the curve.
Imagining Sustainable Futures
Ziro Festival has always been more than a celebration of music; it is a celebration of the land and the people who inhabit it. From the very beginning in 2012, sustainability has been woven into the festival’s DNA. Each year, the team works to embed eco-conscious practices into every aspect of the event, navigating challenges while staying true to this vision. Bamboo and reclaimed wood shape the festival infrastructure, global and local crafts come together in installations, and single-use plastics are banned – small choices that add up to a big impact.
“Our commitment to sustainability has only grown stronger with time,” says Bobby Hano, Co-Founder and Festival Director. “Ziro shows that large cultural events can be unforgettable while caring for the land they inhabit. Responsible tourism and extraordinary experiences can go hand in hand.”
Keeping these values at the forefront of everything the festival has successfully partnered with organisations with the same vision. This September, in recognition of these efforts, Ziro Festival received the BSG Award for Excellence in Sustainability in the Responsible Consumption & Production category at a ceremony in Delhi. Sustainability at Ziro is not an add-on; it is a guiding principle, ensuring the festival leaves no trace while inspiring others to follow.
It is in this very spirit that Signature Packaged Drinking Water has been a proud, long-standing partner of the Ziro Festival. The collaboration celebrates mindful living, slowing down, and building lasting connections, while also reinforcing the brand’s commitment to sustainability. Through this association, Signature Packaged Drinking Water continues to champion experiences that bring together music, community, and nature in their purest form.
Varun Koorichh, Vice President and Portfolio Head – Marketing, Diageo India, said, “The Ziro Festival of Music is not just an iconic cultural event, but also a symbol of harmony between people, music, and nature. As presenting sponsor, Signature Packaged Drinking Water is proud to strengthen this shared vision. This year, we are showcasing our efforts to support the regeneration of lost mangrove cover along the Odisha coast through a special installation at the Ziro Festival – made with an environment-first approach using upcycled material. We are also showcasing the ‘Rooted Collection,’ a curated sustainable fashion line inspired by the mighty mangroves. For us, culture and conscious living go hand in hand, and this partnership is about inspiring a generation to live mindfully, sustainably, and in tune with nature.”
Art, Community, and Collaboration
Beyond the music, Ziro is a space for creation, experimentation, and connection. Interactive installations, open workshops at Popi Sarmiñ Studio, and culinary experiences inspired by the valley invite audiences to engage with the festival in new ways. Since 2018, the Sustainable Design Residencies have brought together artists, designers, and local communities to respond to the land, its materials, and its stories – sparking collaboration that reaches beyond art into ecology, heritage, and imagination.
This year, Swiss artist Karin Bucher presents Being with Nature, an interactive installation guided by an Apatani folktale of the Mithun. Alongside collaborators Jennifer Mc Innis and Samuel Neff, Bucher will engage audiences through workshops and mentorship, continuing the festival’s tradition of connecting creativity with community and environment.
A Collective Effort
Ziro Festival thrives because of partners who share its vision of meaningful, sustainable cultural celebration: Signature Packaged Drinking Water (Presenting Sponsor), Budweiser 0.0 (Pouring Partner), Toyota India (Mobility Partner), Rolling Stone India (Media Partner), Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, the Embassy of Switzerland in India and Bhutan under their campaign Sustainability with a Plus, and the District Administration of Lower Subansiri and Department of Tourism, Arunachal Pradesh. Together, they help Ziro remain not just a festival of music and culture, but a symbol of responsible celebration rooted in nature.
At its heart, Ziro Festival is as much about the journey as the destination – bringing travelers, artists, and dreamers together in one of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes. It is a space to slow down, share stories, and become part of a community. Discover the valley’s magic at www.zirofestival.com.
