Kohima. Pct 15: The highly anticipated ‘Ticket to Hornbill’ band competition, the curtain raiser to the 25th Hornbill Music Festival, will be held from October 18 to 21 at RCEMPA, Jotsoma.

Thirty shortlisted bands will compete in live performance rounds on October 18 and 19, with seven selected bands advancing to the grand finale on October 21. A prize money of Rs 4 million is at stake, with Rs 2 million for the first prize, Rs 1 million for the second, and Rs 500,000 for the third.

The judging panel includes Arpito Gope, Moanungsang, and Viveick Rajagopalan for the live rounds, and Subir Malik, Sonam Kalra, Arpito Gope, Suraj Mani, and Moanungsang for the grand finale.

Entry to the venue is free on October 18 and 19, while tickets for the grand finale on October 21 will cost Rs 50. The event has partnered with Coca-Cola as the official beverage partner and Sennheiser as the audio partner.

Organizers have outlined security and traffic regulations, including prohibited items and parking arrangements, to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for attendees.