The Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2026 has announced its first international headliners, with global R&B star Khalid, rapper Swae Lee and American pop-rock band Boys Like Girls set to perform on November 20 and 21.
The festival will shift to the New Shillong Highland Grounds, a newly designated permanent venue for large-scale events in Meghalaya. The new venue will provide a larger setting for international and Indian performers, while showcasing local music, food, culture and lifestyle.
Khalid will perform his popular R&B tracks, while Swae Lee will bring hits such as Sunflower. Boys Like Girls will perform favourites including The Great Escape, Thunder and Two Is Better Than One. Additional international and national artists are expected to be announced soon.
The announcement follows the success of the 2025 edition, which featured international acts such as Jason Derulo, The Script, Tyga, Diplo and Aqua. The festival has grown into one of Meghalaya’s flagship cultural and tourism events, attracting visitors from across India and abroad.
The event is also central to Meghalaya’s vision of developing a concert economy, using large-scale music events to drive tourism, employment, entrepreneurship and local economic activity.
By combining international music with Meghalaya’s distinctive cultural and natural appeal, the 2026 festival is expected to further strengthen Shillong’s profile as a destination for music and cultural tourism.