Shillong: The Cherry Blossom Festival has announced a special tribute to Zubeen Garg scheduled for Saturday (November 15), which is expected to be among the highlight performances of this year’s edition of Northeast India’s premier music festival.
The tribute, titled “Zubeen Garg Tribute,” will showcase performances by Zublee, Priyanka, Prabin, and Arupjyoti, celebrating the legendary Assamese singer’s remarkable musical legacy and vast repertoire.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said, “Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 will be a grand celebration of music, art and culture, reflecting Meghalaya’s rich diversity. A special tribute to the legendary artiste Zubeen Garg, performed by musicians who shared a close bond with him, will be one of the highlights of this year’s festival.”
“I take this opportunity to invite all citizens and visitors to join us for this vibrant celebration of art, culture, and music,” he added.
The two-day festival, to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Polo Grounds in Shillong, will also feature an exciting Saturday line-up headlined by Tyga and Aqua. Tyga, the American rapper known for chart-toppers like “Rack City” and “Taste”, will share the stage with Aqua, the Danish-Norwegian pop group behind the 1990s global hit “Barbie Girl.”
Alongside the Zubeen tribute, Saturday’s lineup features Arius (Laser Assassin), Meghalaya’s Meba Ofilia, Sikkim’s Girish & The Chronicles, and performances from Nate 08, Finding Mero, Arpan, Drum Tao, Sev, DJ Zethan, Ahaia, G Hills Finest, Soulgroove, Dalapriti, Varun Vohra, Cardo, Brian, Catatonic, and T8:3zn.
Day one of the festival, on November 14, will feature Jason Derulo, Nora Fatehi, and The Script as the headliners, supported by performances from Zephyrtone, ADL x Dappest, Walter Wahlang, Khasi Bloodz, and Prismer.
The line-up will also include acts such as Alive, Larger Than 90, Bending Waves, Baddvision, Smokey, Gary Daniel, Arki, Some Guy, Isaac, and Kly, with the festival concluding with a high-energy closing set by Diplo.
The festival also offers a wide variety of activities, including the Cherry Blossom Arm Wrestling Championship, Glow-in-the-dark Football, Fitness Activities, Silent Disco, Karaoke, Mechanical Bull, Regional Jetskiing, Experience Zones, Graffiti Contest, Comedy Pavilion, Storytelling and Poetry sessions, Cherry Blossom Carnival, Cherry Blossom Merchandise, The Drip, and special programs curated by the North East Zonal Cultural Centre.
Tickets are now available online through rockskitickets.com and BookMyShow. The Box Office will open on November 12, and organisers anticipate a large turnout of visitors from across the region and beyond.
