Music is often described as the soul of Northeast India. The serene beauty of the region, combined with its rich cultural heritage, has contributed to the rise of many musical legends. From Tripura’s S.D. Burman and R.D. Burman to Assam’s Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, Zubeen Garg, and Papon, the Northeast has made a significant contribution to India’s mainstream music industry. The rhythm of Bihu reflects the musical spirit that resonates among the people of Assam.
Northeast India also has a large fan base for international musical bands. The region has produced several renowned singers and bands of its own. From Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland to Manipur, there are numerous local yet widely recognized artists. Be it Lou Majaw and the Shillong Chamber Choir from Meghalaya, Guru Rewben Mashangva from Manipur, the Tetseo Sisters from Nagaland, or Mami Varte from Mizoram, the list is endless.
The internationally renowned band Guns N’ Roses recently announced through its X handle that it will perform in Guwahati and Bengaluru in November 2026.
The northeastern states, especially Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, have a long tradition of organizing music festivals during the winter season. Events such as the Ziro Festival of Music, Hornbill Festival, Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival, Orange Festival, and Wangala Festival attract thousands of visitors every year. Assam has now positioned itself in the same league.
The Assam Government organized Advantage Assam 2.0 on February 25 and 26, 2025, in Guwahati. The event, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, witnessed the signing of several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for business investments in the state. During Advantage Assam 2.0, the government laid the foundation for larger musical events, and accordingly, a memorandum between the Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) and Big Tree Entertainment, the parent company of BookMyShow, was signed on June 24, 2025.
The Assam Government, through a notification dated May 26, 2025 (ECF No. 638375/33), notified the Concert Tourism Policy through a gazette notification. The policy defines concert tourism as travel undertaken by individuals or groups to attend live music events, including concerts, music festivals, and cultural performances.
As part of its concert tourism initiative, US-based singer Post Malone performed in Guwahati on December 8 last year, and now Guns N’ Roses is scheduled to perform in the city this November.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a recent X post, stated that the state is expecting a significant economic impact from planned concert-related activities over the next five years. According to Sarma, sectors ranging from tourism and transportation to hospitality and accommodation are expected to receive a major boost from the emerging concert economy.
Substantiating the Chief Minister’s observations, Managing Director of Assam Tourism Development Corporation Limited, Padmapani Bora, while speaking to ETV Bharat, elaborated on the concept of concert tourism and the steps taken by the Assam Government in this regard.
He stated, “Concert tourism is essentially aimed at boosting the state’s economy through hospitality and logistics management. Local entrepreneurs also benefit significantly from concert tourism.”
Bora further said, “The objective of the Concert Tourism Policy is to position Assam as a premier music and entertainment tourism hub with an ecosystem capable of supporting large-scale music concerts and festivals. The policy also aims to develop world-class concert venues equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting technology, enabling audiences to enjoy high-quality concert experiences.”
The initiative is designed to strengthen Assam’s tourism sector through sustainable and responsible tourism practices, ensuring environmental conservation and community participation. It also aims to transform Assam into a preferred destination for internationally acclaimed singers and musical bands.
The Assam Government has identified three locations for development under the Concert Tourism initiative — Guwahati, Jorhat, and Dibrugarh. As the state capital, Guwahati already hosted a major concert in December last year and is set to host another in November. According to ATDC Managing Director Padmapani Bora, infrastructure development efforts are simultaneously underway in Jorhat and Dibrugarh to establish them as concert destinations with similar enthusiasm and capacity.
