Meghalaya is set to elevate its cultural calendar as the Me’gong Festival returns to Tura on December 5 and 6, featuring a global lineup led by pop-rock legend Richard Marx and internationally acclaimed electronic duo Yellow Claw. The 2025 edition reinforces the State’s expanding cultural economy framework envisioned by Shri Conrad K. Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister, where festivals serve as engines for tourism, livelihoods, and community-led growth.
Over the years, Me’gong has evolved into one of Meghalaya’s most influential cultural showcases. The 2024 edition recorded over 3 lakh visitors across two days, marking one of the largest festival footfalls in the Northeast and underscoring its growing national and international appeal. This rise in scale is integral to the Chief Minister’s vision of building an economic ecosystem powered by music, creativity, culture, and indigenous heritage. From hospitality and transport to artisans, food entrepreneurs, and local youth, the festival fuels widespread economic opportunities and strengthens the emergence of the Garo Hills as a major cultural and tourism hub.
The Me’gong Festival 2025 will present a spectacular lineup headlined by Bollywood artists Kanika Kapoor and Neeti Mohan, alongside an impressive roster of local performers including Rough Road, Hoi Hoi Makbil, Haystack Ladies, G-Hills Finest, Crack Gang, and Ahaia. This vibrant mix of local talent and global icons promises an electrifying celebration in the Garo Hills.
The 2024 edition notably featured the iconic Swedish rock band Europe, performing for the first time in Northeast India.
Visitors can indulge in authentic Garo cuisine, along with craft exhibitions, weaving workshops, bamboo artistry, and beaded jewellery that highlight the region’s rich craftsmanship. The festival continues its commitment to sustainability through zero-plastic operations, community-led waste management, and eco-friendly installations that reflect Meghalaya’s environmental ethos.
Me’gong is a key component of Meghalaya’s holistic tourism development strategy, which prioritizes infrastructure expansion, community-driven tourism, and equitable benefits across regions. Once an underexplored destination, the Garo Hills have rapidly emerged as a cultural and adventure tourism hotspot, supported significantly by Me’gong’s rising national and global profile.
With world-renowned performers, indigenous cultural experiences, sustainable initiatives, and a vibrant community ecosystem, the Me’gong Festival 2025 is poised to once again transform the Garo Hills into a global cultural stage. Updates on ticketing, schedules, and festival highlights will be available on the Meghalaya Tourism website and official social media channels.
This December, Meghalaya invites visitors from across India and the world to experience the Garo Hills at their cultural, creative, and celebratory best.
