NEW DELHI | The ninth edition of ‘North East Fest’ is set to bring the diverse culture, cuisine, music, fashion and traditions of Northeast India to the national capital, with the two-day event scheduled at Talkatora Indoor Stadium on September 4 and 5.

Organised by NGO My Home India, the festival has emerged as a major annual platform for the Northeast community in Delhi and for visitors seeking to experience the region’s cultural diversity. Previous editions have drawn more than 25,000 visitors.

The festival is expected to feature traditional and contemporary music, folk performances, regional cuisine, handicrafts and fashion from across the eight northeastern states. Artistes including Chorun Mugli, AJ Maisnam, Dikshu Sharma, Sourabhee Debbarma, Moko Koza, Lily Sawian and Siampuii Ralte are scheduled to perform.

The event will also feature Danube Kangjam, who was crowned Miss Manipur in 2024 and Miss Asia Pacific International in 2025, as well as Lunia Tadu, Miss Arunachal 2024. Food is expected to be among the major attractions, with stalls representing all eight northeastern states showcasing regional specialities.

Visitors will get an opportunity to sample dishes featuring ingredients such as khorisa, akhuni, Naga chilli, perilla seeds and ngari, along with popular preparations including smoked pork, thukpa, momos and jadoh. Organisers said the culinary showcase is intended not only to promote the region’s food traditions but also to offer people from the Northeast living in Delhi a taste of home.

The festival will also present folk dances and traditional performances from across the region. Cultural troupes from other parts of the country, including Haryana, are expected to participate, promoting cultural exchange between the Northeast and other regions.

Traditional attire and handicrafts will feature prominently in the fashion segment, with models showcasing the textiles, designs and craftsmanship associated with different communities of the Northeast. Sanoj Kumar, convenor of North East Fest 2026, described the festival as My Home India’s flagship programme and a bridge between the Northeast and the rest of the country.

He said the event would focus not only on showcasing the region but also on promoting cultural exchange and highlighting the traditions of smaller tribal communities.

Several dignitaries are expected to attend the event, including Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Mizoram Governor Vijay Kumar Singh and Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma.

For members of the Northeast community living in Delhi, however, the festival holds a significance beyond its cultural showcases. Paul Debbarma, an MBBS student from Tripura who has attended the festival for the past two years, said the event provides a rare opportunity to feel connected with home while living in the national capital.

Astera Sangma, a Delhi-based student from Meghalaya, said last year’s festival gave her an opportunity to see her community’s language, food and traditional attire represented outside Meghalaya.

With its ninth edition approaching, the North East Fest continues to position itself as both a cultural showcase and a meeting point for people from the region living in Delhi, while offering audiences from across the country an opportunity to experience the Northeast’s diverse heritage.