Nepal-Japan Festival 2026 to Feature Godiego, Sabin Rai & The Pharaoh, Kutumba and Cobweb

Kathmandu, November 9, 2026 — Kathmandu is set to host the Nepal-Japan Festival 2026 on November 22 at Durbar Marg, featuring performances by renowned Japanese band Godiego and three popular Nepali acts: Sabin Rai & The Pharaoh, Kutumba and Cobweb. The festival will offer free entry to visitors and mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan.

Titled ‘Nepal-Japan Festival 2026: Solidarity Through Culture’, the event will celebrate seven decades of friendship and cooperation between the two countries through music, cultural performances and public engagement.

One of the main attractions will be Godiego, the Japanese band returning to Nepal more than four decades after its performance at Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu in 1980. Its return is expected to highlight the longstanding cultural connection between the two countries.

Nepal's musical representation will include Sabin Rai & The Pharaoh, Kutumba and Cobweb. The three Nepali acts will bring different musical styles to the festival, adding a local dimension to the international celebration. Their performances, alongside Godiego, will make live music one of the major attractions of the event.

Beyond the musical performances, the festival will provide a platform to showcase Nepali and Japanese cultures, traditions, tourism and commercial activities. It aims to encourage cultural exchange and strengthen people-to-people connections between the two countries.