Nepal, Japan to mark 70 years of diplomatic ties with cultural festival in Kathmandu on Nov 22

KATHMANDU: Nepal and Japan will celebrate seven decades of diplomatic ties with a special cultural festival at Durbar Marg in Kathmandu on November 22, 2026. The event will be jointly organised by the Government of Nepal, the Embassy of Japan in Nepal, and Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

A central feature of the celebrations will be a performance by the acclaimed Japanese band Godiego. The group is returning to Nepal more than 40 years after their historic 1980 concert at Dasharath Stadium, adding a strong symbolic link to the enduring cultural connections between the two nations. The festival will also include performances by prominent Nepali artists, alongside various commercial, cultural, and tourism-related activities representing both countries.

At a press meet and event announcement ceremony in Kathmandu, organisers highlighted tourism promotion as a key element of the event, aiming to send a clear message that Nepal is open, welcoming, and ready to receive international visitors.

In addition to celebrating the historic relationship, promoting solidarity, and encouraging people-to-people engagement, the festival incorporates a philanthropic objective. Organisers confirmed that any surplus funds generated, after deducting essential event expenses, will be donated to the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund.