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India’s cultural calendar comes alive with art, music and festivals. A curated guide to the must-attend events of the season.
These events reflect a cultural moment defined by intention, craft, and exchange.
As India’s creative economy matures, its cultural calendar is becoming richer, more layered, and unmistakably global in outlook. Early 2026 sets the tone with a series of festivals and fairs that move beyond spectacle – offering deeper engagement with art, music, food, craft, and community. From large-scale art fairs and intimate retrospectives to genre-spanning music festivals and coffee culture celebrations, these gatherings reflect how India is curating experiences rather than just events.
Here’s a curated guide to the key cultural moments shaping the season.
India International Coffee Festival, Bengaluru
The India International Coffee Festival returns for its second edition as a definitive celebration of India’s evolving coffee ecosystem. Bringing together growers, roasters, baristas, equipment innovators, and consumers, the festival offers a full-spectrum view of how coffee travels from estate to cup. Workshops and masterclasses explore brewing, sustainability, post-harvest innovation, and flavour science, while live music, performances, and cultural programming keep the energy immersive.
Dates: February 12–14, 2026 | Venue: Marakata, Bengaluru
India Art Fair 2026, New Delhi
Marking its 17th edition, India Art Fair cements its position as South Asia’s most influential art platform. With a record 133 exhibitors, large-scale outdoor commissions, performance art, city-wide activations, and an ambitious talks programme, the fair transforms Delhi into a cultural nerve centre. This year’s edition foregrounds dialogue between craft, technology, ecology, and contemporary practice.
Dates: February 5–8, 2026 | Venue: NSIC Exhibition Grounds, New Delhi
Gujral Within: An Introspection, New Delhi
A quieter but deeply significant moment in the season, Gujral Within honours the centenary of modern master Satish Gujral. Drawn entirely from Raseel Gujral’s private collection, this acquisition-led exhibition focuses on Gujral’s final decade – marked by restraint, reflection, and distilled form. Never-before-seen works invite viewers into an inward, contemplative encounter with the artist’s legacy.
Preview: January 31, 2026 | Venue: Bikaner House, New Delhi
India Art Festival, Mumbai
Returning for its 14th Mumbai edition, India Art Festival continues its democratic approach to art discovery. With over 550 artists, 45 galleries, and thousands of artworks across two pavilions, the festival bridges emerging voices with established names. Its emphasis on direct engagement between artists and audiences keeps it accessible, inclusive, and community-driven.
Dates: January 30 – February 1, 2026 | Venue: Nehru Centre, Worli, Mumbai
The LaLiT, Chandigarh
The LaLiT Chandigarh is set to transport guests to the enchanting valleys of Kashmir with Baluchi-ae-Wazwan, an exclusive Kashmiri food festival at its signature Indian fine-dining restaurant, Baluchi, from 28th January to 10th February 2026. For this special festival, master chefs have been specially flown in from Kashmir, carrying with them generations of culinary knowledge and an uncompromising commitment to authenticity. The menu showcases iconic dishes such as Tabak Maaz, Rogan Josh, Rista, Gushtaba, Nadru ka Korma, Daniwal Korma, Lal Paneer, along with several other classic and signature preparations that reflect the depth, precision, and soul of Kashmiri cuisine. Available for lunch and dinner, the festival promises a distinctive dining experience that balances robust flavours with delicate spicing.
Date: January 28 – February 10, 2026 | Venue: Baluchi, The Lalit Chandigarh Hotel, Rajiv Gandhi IT Park, Near DLF Commercial Complex, Chandigarh
SulaFest
Set against vineyard views, SulaFest blends music, wine, and relaxed festival energy. The 2026 lineup leans India-forward, with electronic pioneers, indie rock favourites, folk-fusion acts, and pop voices sharing the stage across two days.
Dates: January 31 – February 1, 2026 | Venue: Sula Vineyards, Nashik
Sacred Spirit Festival, Jodhpur
Hosted within the majestic Mehrangarh Fort, Sacred Spirit Festival remains a cornerstone for folk, fusion, and global collaborations. The 2026 edition brings together Indian classical traditions, world music, and cross-cultural performances in an atmospheric setting that prioritises depth over scale.
Dates: February 13–15, 2026 | Venue: Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur
Jazz India Circuit 2026
Touring Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi, the Jazz India Circuit returns with a lineup that blends virtuosity with experimentation. Featuring international jazz innovators and cross-cultural ensembles, the circuit reinforces India’s growing appetite for contemporary global jazz.
Dates: February 4–8, 2026 | Venues: Bengaluru, Mumbai, New Delhi
PURVAI: Printmaking in Eastern India – Pedagogy to Practice
Curated by Dr Paula Sengupta, PURVAI traces contemporary printmaking practices across Eastern and Northeastern India, highlighting the role of institutions, workshops, and artist-pedagogues. The exhibition brings together 43 artists from West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and the Northeastern states, showcasing traditional and experimental approaches, including bookmaking, graphic narratives, papermaking, textile-based processes, digital and photographic methods, moving image, and sculptural extensions.
Dates: 9 January – 7 March 2026 | Venue: Emami Art, Ground Floor, 777, Anandapur, E.M. Bypass, Kolkata
Field Notes (On the Afterlife of Trees)
Vishal Kumar Gupta’s debut solo exhibition brings together oil paintings, watercolours, and graphite works inspired by fragments of the natural world—fallen twigs, gnarled branches, and weathered tree stumps. His work reflects time, memory, growth, and decay, transforming overlooked remnants into evocative forms that bridge abstraction and physical presence.
Dates: 9 January – 7 March 2026 | Venue: Emami Art, Ground Floor, 777, Anandapur, E.M. Bypass, Kolkata
The Sacred Amritsar
The Sacred Amritsar returns from 20–22 February 2026, bringing together music, poetry, and artistic expression in one of India’s most evocative and historically resonant cities. Among the featured performers at Sleepwell presents The Sacred Amritsar 2026 is The Anirudh Varma Collective. The festival also welcomes Usha Uthup. Adding vibrant folk and Sufi energy to the programme is the Kutle Khan Project, an exploration of Rajasthan’s rich musical traditions through a contemporary global lens. One of the most anticipated performances is by Padma Shri Kailash Kher, one of India’s most iconic voices.
Dates: February 20–21, 2026 | Venue: Qila Gobindgarh, Amritsar | Day/Festival Pass: INR 499-899
Delhi, India, India
January 26, 2026, 18:05 IST