Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival returns on 20 and 21 November with Khalid, Swae Lee and Boys Like Girls

Shillong's Cherry Blossom Festival is back for a two-day run on 20 and 21 November 2026, and this year's first international names lean toward American R&B and rap: Khalid, Swae Lee and the pop-punk band Boys Like Girls.

Who is playing

Khalid is the R&B and pop singer behind "Young Dumb & Broke" and a multiple Grammy nominee, so this is a rare chance to see a streaming-era R&B star in the hills of north-east India. Swae Lee is one half of the Mississippi duo Rae Sremmurd and a solo artist, and he co-wrote the Post Malone hit "Sunflower". Boys Like Girls, the Massachusetts band behind "The Great Escape", bring the pop-punk singalong end of the bill.

Organisers have said two more international headliners will join them, taking the total to five. They have not yet named the other two, and the full schedule and homegrown acts are still to be announced. We will update when they are.

The festival and the new ground

The Cherry Blossom Festival began in 2016 as a Meghalaya celebration of the state's autumn cherry blossoms and has grown into a two-day event of concerts, local music, culture and a food market. It is launched by the Government of Meghalaya.

For 2026 it gets a permanent home: the New Shillong Highland Grounds in Mahmawdkuk, a site allocated by the state for large festivals and concerts, about 30 minutes from central Shillong. Earlier editions were held at the Polo Grounds. The ticketing site's own listing runs from 3pm on 20 November to 10pm on 21 November, so check the official ticket page for the final venue and gate details before you travel.

Tickets

Single-day tickets start at Rs 2,500 and went on sale on 4 September 2026 through RockskiTickets. Shillong is a long-time music town, often called India's rock capital, and hotels fill quickly in festival week, so it is worth booking travel early.

Khalid and Swae Lee are both on ADMC artist pages where we track new releases and tour news.