What is Ziro Festival ?
The Ziro Music Festival is India’s premier eco-friendly outdoor music festival held annually in the scenic Ziro Valley of Arunachal Pradesh. Founded in 2012, it showcases a diverse mix of independent artists from India and around the world, ranging from indie rock and folk to experimental and electronic music. The festival is hosted by the indigenous Apatani tribe, who play a central role in organizing and creating the unique experience with bamboo stages, local crafts, and traditional cuisine.
What makes Ziro Music Festival special is its strong commitment to sustainability, community involvement, and cultural diversity. It emphasizes responsible tourism by using locally sourced materials, enforcing a zero-plastic policy, and engaging local artisans and youth in festival production. Over four immersive days, visitors enjoy live performances, art installations, workshops, and a deep cultural connection with Northeast India’s traditions in the beautiful setting of Ziro Valley’s rolling hills and rice fields.
The festival is known not only for its stellar lineup of emerging and established independent musicians but also for its intimate, community-driven vibe, making it more like a gathering of passionate music lovers and cultural explorers rather than a commercial event. The next edition is scheduled from September 25 to 28, 2025.
How to Plan Your Trip
At the Ziro Music Festival, attendees have several stay options to choose from based on their preference for comfort and experience:
Camping Tents: The most authentic festival experience is camping on-site in dome-style or alpine tents equipped with sleeping mats and bags. This allows you to immerse fully in the festival vibe with bonfires, chill zones, and night jam sessions. Campsites typically provide eco-friendly amenities like compost toilets and community spaces.
Local Homestays: For those who prefer more comfort and a cultural connection, staying with local Apatani families in homestays is a great option. Guests get private rooms, home-cooked meals, and an intimate experience of tribal life and hospitality.
Hotels and Guesthouses nearby: Several hotels, guesthouses, and inns are available within a few kilometers of the festival ground in Ziro town, offering varying levels of comfort and pricing.
Regarding the festival attendance duration, visitors can choose passes and plan their stays for 2, 3, or 4 days according to their convenience:
Single-day tickets are available for each of the four festival days with varying prices.
Full festival passes cover all four days of the event.
Many travel and camping packages also reflect these duration options.
Moreover, visitors can book sightseeing tours to explore nearby attractions in the Ziro Valley region such as:
Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary – a biodiversity hotspot with trekking trails.
Kile Pakho – a scenic ridge offering panoramic views of Ziro Valley and the Himalayas.
Meghna Cave Temple – an ancient cave shrine with valley vistas.
Apatani tribal villages – to experience local culture and traditional architecture.
Tarin Fish Farm, Bamboo Grove, Pine Grove, Dolo Mando hill, and more natural and cultural sites.
These sightseeing trips can be combined with festival packages or booked separately to enrich your overall experience of Ziro and its unique natural and cultural landscape. This way, visitors get both the vibrant festival atmosphere and the serene beauty of Northeast India’s hidden treasures.