“Switzerland and Ireland named as partner countries for Hornbill Festival 2025 — major announcement from Nagaland.”

The Nagaland government has officially announced that Switzerland and Ireland have been selected as country partners for the Hornbill Festival 2025. This decision further elevates the festival as an international cultural platform. The partnerships were finalised yesterday in New Delhi after separate meetings with representatives of the two countries.

Switzerland’s partnership was confirmed after a meeting between Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Swiss Ambassador Maya Tissafi. Welcoming the collaboration, Ambassador Tissafi expressed hope that it would strengthen cultural ties between the two nations and open new avenues for future cooperation across multiple sectors.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Rio also held a separate meeting with Ireland’s Ambassador Kevin Kelly, after which Ireland was announced as the second partner country for the Hornbill Festival. Ireland’s participation will bring a rich cultural programme to the event — including folk music, theatrical performances, literary sessions, public art installations, and dialogue forums.

Ambassador Kelly said that Ireland’s partnership reflects the growing cultural and diplomatic relations between India and Ireland. With this announcement, Switzerland and Ireland join the United Kingdom, which has already been named a partner country for the Hornbill Festival 2025. The festival’s rising stature as a vibrant global celebration of cultural exchange and diversity has been further strengthened by this development.