International music stars to glitter at Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2025

Meghalaya festival to host US singer Jason Derulo, Irish band Script

Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 returns with global music stars, highlighting Meghalaya’s growing cultural scene and its innovative approach to boosting the local economy through sustainable music and tourism initiatives.

Global music stars, including American singer Jason Derulo and top Irish band the Script, will be amongst the performers during a series of concerts to be organised during Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2025, set to be held in Meghalaya’s capital on November 14 and 15.

“Every concert is a celebration of who we are. We are not just hosting performances; we are building an economy of talent and identity that speaks to the world. We have seen how the concert economy is an aspect that has been worked on in Meghalaya, and how it was implemented here long before it was done in any other part of the country. We have now simply given it better structure and expanded it into much bigger programmes. We hope that, in the coming years, it will become even bigger,” says Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya.

“The two artists announced are just 50 pc of the lineup, we are working hard to lock in the rest and hope to confirm more big names within the next month. For now, it will remain a surprise that will make this edition even more exciting,” he adds.

In a press statement, the Tourism Ministry of Meghalaya says that the concerts lined up for this year’s edition are expected to make it one of the biggest music nights in India, transforming Shillong into a citywide celebration.

According to the statement, the festival is a flagship of Meghalaya’s ambitious push for a sustainable ‘Concert Economy’. Under Sangma’s leadership, the state has pioneered this model, yielding a 5.7 times return on investment, it adds.

Additionally, in FY25, a public investment of INR 235 million generated an economic impact of INR 1.3 billion, with over 76,000 visitors attending just 13 days of events.

The tourism ministry says that hospitality revenues rose to INR 337.8 million, hotels in Shillong and Cherrapunji reported full bookings and daily job creation peaked at over 5,500, benefiting youth, women-led kitchens, local artisans and rural entrepreneurs.

The statement adds that the government’s vision includes expanding concerts to all districts, enforcing zero-waste mandates and reserving 30 pc of opportunities for artisans and home kitchens.