Cultural calendar 2025
Jodhpur RIFF
When: October 2-8
Where: Jodhpur
Back in its October slot, Jodhpur RIFF transforms Mehrangarh Fort into a playground for folk traditions from across the world, including Bhutan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Syria, Switzerland, Portugal, the UK, Poland, Finland, Spain, Canada and Colombia, besides India. This year features Lakha Khan on the 27-string Sindhi sarangi and Syrian saxophonist Basel Rajoub, and devotional singer Mahesaram Meghwal, among many others.
Trivia: UNESCO recognises Jodhpur RIFF as a ‘people’s platform for creativity and sustainable development’, one of only a handful of such designations worldwide.
Pushkar Fair
When: October 30-November 5
Where: Pushkar, Rajasthan
Each November, Pushkar fair, also called the Pushkar camel fair or locally as Kartik Mela or Pushkar ka Mela, turns into a carnival of colour, trade and spectacle in the town of Pushkar near Ajmer in Rajasthan. Beyond livestock deals, cultural events and competitions such as dances, tug of war between women’s teams as well as men’s, ‘matka phod’, ‘longest moustache’ and ‘bridal competition’ are the main draws for this fair which attracts thousands of tourists.
Trivia: At its peak, the fair once drew more than 50,000 camels, horses and cattle, making it one of the largest livestock gatherings in the world.
India Art Fair
When: November 1-2
Where: Hyderabad
For the first time, India Art Fair makes a November appearance in Hyderabad with its ‘EDI+IONS’ format, a compact showcase of 11 galleries and three design studios at RMZ The Loft, a landmark venue in the city’s emerging cultural quarter and financial business district. It previews the much larger Delhi edition from February 5 to 8, 2026. This year’s ‘Talks Programme’ will build on these conversations to explore ‘What Makes Art Happen’, inviting creators and catalysts of art to reflect on historical and contemporary challenges, and unpack how art continually rises to meet the questions of our time. For more information, follow indiaartfair.in.
Trivia: Since its founding in 2008, IAF has hosted over 500 galleries and 1,000 artists, an archive of South Asia’s contemporary art boom.
Hornbill Festival
When: December 1-10
Where: Kisama, Nagaland
Every December, Nagaland’s ‘festival of festivals’ gathers all 17 Naga tribes to showcase song, dance and craft in Kisama heritage village, about 12 km from the state capital Kohima. Organised by the Nagaland government to showcase the state’s rich and traditional cultural heritage, this year’s 26th edition will also feature adventure sports and literature alongside traditional rituals.
Trivia: The hornbill bird, after which the festival is named, is sacred in Naga folklore and symbolises strength and unity.
Comic Con India
When: December 5-7
Where: Delhi
December once again brings India’s largest pop-culture gathering to NSIC Exhibition Grounds in Okhla. In its previous edition, stand-up comedians like Ashish Solanki, Ravi Gupta and Rohan Joshi along with musical performances by artistes such as singer Panther and rapper Fotty Seven added more energy to the experience. This year too, visitors can expect sprawling cosplay, comics, gaming zones and live comedy sets.
Trivia: In 2011, Delhi hosted India’s very first Comic Con, with barely a few thousand fans. Today, the event attracts over 50,000 visitors in a single weekend.
Kochi-Muziris Biennale
When: December 12, 2025-March 31, 2026
Where: Kochi
Kochi’s waterfront once again becomes the canvas for South Asia’s largest contemporary art exhibition. Under the curatorship of artist Nikhil Chopra, For the Time Being will spread across 110 days of installations, workshops and performances. The international exhibition, alongside a diverse programme of talks, performances, workshops, and film screenings, as well as key verticals including Students’ Biennale, Invitations, Art By Children and the Residency Programme, will take place across various sites in Kochi.
Trivia: The biennale takes its name from Muziris, an ancient port city once central to spice trade routes, linking Kerala to Rome, Egypt and beyond.
Sunburn Festival
When: December 19-21
Where: Mumbai
Returning in December but shifting location, Asia’s biggest EDM festival moves from Goa to Mumbai for the first time. With new stages and production design, expect a city-scale party with international DJs and a vast fan base. In the previous edition, Swedish DJ and EDM legend Alesso made a comeback to Goa, along with KSHMR, ARGY and Skrillex. You can check out BookMyShow or Sunburn’s social media handles for more information on the festival.
Trivia: Sunburn’s first edition in 2007 drew fewer than 5,000 people. Today it attracts over 300,000 across its multiple events.
Jaipur Literature Festival
When: January 15-19, 2026
Where: Jaipur
Back in the pink city’s winter, JLF transforms Hotel Clarks Amer into a buzzing forum of debate, poetry and performance. Last year’s edition brought together an extraordinary line-up, Kal Penn, David Hare, Venki Ramakrishnan, David Nicholls, Stephen Greenblatt, Ila Arun, Huma Qureshi, Prajakta Kohli, Anand Gandhi, Malini Awasthi, Kailash Kher, Kailash Satyarthi, Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, Matt Preston, Manav Kaul, Shashi Tharoor, Imtiaz Ali, and Javed Akhtar, and this year promises even more voices, stories, and experiences. The programme highlights will be announced shortly; for more information, visit jaipurliteraturefestival.org.
Trivia: JLF has been described as the “greatest literary show on Earth”, a phrase first coined by The Guardian that the festival now proudly embraces.
Lollapalooza India
When: January 24-25, 2026
Where: Mumbai
Mumbai once again hosts the Indian edition of this global festival brand, featuring four stages and over 20 hours of live music. From Imagine Dragons and The Strokes sharing the stage with AP Dhillon and DIVINE in 2023, to Sting, OneRepublic, Jonas Brothers and Prabh Deep in 2024 and Green Day and Shawn Mendes’ India debut in 2025, Lollapalooza India has turned talent into global currency. This year’s highlight is Passenger, joining a line-up that mixes global stars with Indian talent.
Trivia: Lollapalooza was founded in 1991 by Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell as a farewell tour, it has since grown into one of the world’s most recognisable festival franchises.
