BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The National Panpipe Festival (NATPAN) 2026 officially begins today, bringing together panpipe and cultural performers from across the Solomon Islands for five days of traditional music and cultural celebrations.
The theme for the 2026 National Panpipe Festival (NATPAN) is “Echoes of the Past, Sounds of the Hapi Isles”.
Speaking at a media conference on Monday, the Director of Culture at the Ministry of Culture & Tourism (MCT), Dennis Marita, said the opening ceremony will take place at 10 am at the National Art Gallery in Honiara.
Marita said that this marks the start of the festival, which runs from Wednesday, 1st, to Sunday 5th July.
He said the National Art Gallery will serve as the main festival venue, while performances will also be staged at the outdoor auditorium of the National Museum.
“The National Art Gallery is our main hosting venue for NATPAN, while the National Museum Auditorium and its outdoor area will host the performances. We will begin with the opening ceremony on Wednesday, after which the festival programme will continue throughout the five days,” Marita said.
He said most of the participating groups from the provinces have already arrived in Honiara, with performers alongside Honiara-based cultural groups.
“We are welcoming groups from the provinces, and most have already arrived in town. We also have several Honiara-based groups taking part,” he said.
He said that although NATPAN focuses on the country’s rich panpipe tradition, the festival will also feature other cultural performances representing different provinces.
“Besides panpipe performances, there will also be other cultural groups representing their respective provinces who will participate in the event,” he said.
Among the featured groups are the Dahui Cultural Group from Tawatana Village in West Makira, Wasa Pan Pipers of Choiseul, Haroro Pan Pipers from Central Islands Province, Ailali Pan Pipers of Langalanga, Wairaha Pan Pipers, Ngaru Pan Pipers and Wisikananara Pan Pipers.
The festival is expected to showcase the diversity of Solomon Islands’ musical heritage while promoting the preservation and appreciation of traditional panpipe music.
Photo credit: MCT
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