A special cultural festival will be held in Kathmandu on November 22 to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan, according to the organisers.

The “Nepal-Japan Festival 2026: Solidarity Through Culture” will be held at Durbar Marg and is being organised by the Executive Committee for the Nepal-Japan Festival 2026.

According to a press statement issued by the committee, the festival will seek to highlight friendship, compassion and solidarity through Nepali and Japanese music, culture and people-to-people engagement.

A major attraction will be a performance by Japanese band Godiego, which will return to Nepal more than four decades after performing at Dasharath Stadium in 1980.

The organisers said the band’s return would add a symbolic connection to the longstanding cultural relationship between Nepal and Japan.

The festival will also feature performances by Nepali artists and cultural, tourism and commercial activities representing both countries, the statement said.

The organisers said that, in light of the Bhotekoshi river floods, any surplus generated from the festival after necessary event expenses would be donated to the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund.

The committee also said it expected the festival to have a positive economic impact by promoting tourism and showcasing Nepal to global audiences, in support of the country’s recovery.