The Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 is set to open with a star-studded line-up, featuring Moroccan-born performer Nora Fatehi in her first-ever stage show in India, alongside American singer Jason Derulo and popular band The Script. Widely known for her performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Fatehi’s appearance adds global glamour to the festival, which will be staged at JN Stadium.
The approach road to Polo Ground will be pedestrianised, creating a walk-through experience of stalls and displays leading to the venue. The stadium is expected to host up to 30,000 visitors, with over 9,000 tickets already sold to tourists outside Meghalaya. The festival has been relocated from Ward’s Lake and Polo Grounds after Kurkalang Ground was earmarked for a new cricket stadium.
Last year’s edition generated nearly 10 crore against an investment of ₹5 crore, while this year’s budget has been set at ₹4 crore. Ticket prices have seen a marginal rise but remain subsidised to ensure affordability. Alongside international acts, the government highlighted its support for local talent, with over 7,000 artists promoted through state programmes and some now performing internationally.