SHILLONG, October 1, 2026: The Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2026 will return to Madan Kurkalang in Bhoirymbong, with organisers reversing an earlier decision to shift this year’s event to the New Shillong Highland Grounds at Mawkhanu.
The festival is scheduled for November 20 and 21, and the latest venue decision brings the event back to a site that hosted major editions in 2023 and 2024. Organisers have cited public demand for the return to Madan Kurkalang.
The venue had initially been changed in August, when organisers announced the newly established New Shillong Highland Grounds as the festival’s permanent home. The government-backed venue was planned as a dedicated space for large-scale concerts and festivals, with multiple entry and exit points, parking facilities and a dedicated traffic-management plan.
The latest reversal marks another change in the festival’s venue history. After beginning at Shillong’s Polo Grounds, the event moved to RBDSA Sports Complex, Madan Kurkalang, where it hosted some of its largest editions. The 2025 festival subsequently returned to the Shillong area, around the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and Polo Grounds.
Madan Kurkalang has previously hosted international performers including Ne-Yo, Ronan Keating, Jonas Blue, Akon, Clean Bandit, Boney M and R3HAB. Meghalaya Tourism recorded a footfall of 58,000 for the 2024 edition held at the venue.
The 2026 edition will feature Khalid, Swae Lee and Boys Like Girls as the first announced international headliners, with two more international acts expected to be announced.
The festival has grown into a major music and tourism event for Meghalaya, combining international and Indian performers with regional artists, food, art, fashion and cultural programming. Its return to Madan Kurkalang places the upcoming edition at a venue with an established track record of hosting large audiences and international acts.
With the venue now shifted back from New Shillong Highland Grounds to Madan Kurkalang, visitors planning their November trip will need to account for the latest location when arranging accommodation, transport and festival access.
