North East Students’ Festival 2026 Set to Celebrate Culture and Talent in New Delhi
Overview of NESt Fest 2026
A file image of NESt Fest 2026 meeting held on August 31
New Delhi, Sept 2: The upcoming North East Students’ Festival (NESt Fest) will take place in New Delhi on September 4 and 5, highlighting the rich cultural diversity, student talents, music, crafts, food, and youthful perspectives from the Northeast region.
This festival, organized by the NGO My Home India, is free for all attendees and will be hosted at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium, under the theme “The Sound of India’s Yuva Shakti.”
The event will kick off on September 4 with an opening ceremony that includes a cultural parade showcasing the Northeast, the launch of a government pavilion, and performances of folk music and dance, alongside an exhibition of traditional handicrafts and cuisine.
Sunil Deodhar, the founder of My Home India and a senior leader of the BJP, expressed, “My Home India was established with the belief that the gap between Delhi and the Northeast should not be one of misunderstanding. After twenty-one years, this festival embodies that vision annually. When leaders from various regions unite on the same platform for our students, it reflects the India we aspire to create.”
The second day will feature a cultural competition themed around “Vande Mataram,” a fashion show showcasing regional attire, a youth pledge ceremony, and a closing session.
Performers at the festival will include Sourabhee Debbarma, Dikshu Sarma, Danube Kangjam, Lunia Tadu, Aj Maisnam, Moko Koza, Chorun Mugli, Siampuii Ralte, and Lily Sawian.
Notable attendees on the second day will include Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Mizoram Governor V K Singh, along with other dignitaries such as Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Sambhaji Shinde.
Additionally, the festival will feature an Assam flood relief help desk aimed at providing support to those affected by recent flooding and coordinating assistance efforts.
Expected guests at the inaugural ceremony include Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, and Odisha Governor K Hari Babu.