Bharat Mandapam To Host India-Africa Dance & Music Festival Featuring 165 Artists

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) is set to host the India–Africa Dance & Music Festival 2026 on May 23 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, bringing together nearly 165 artists from India and across the African continent for a large-scale cultural showcase celebrating artistic exchange and global collaboration.

The festival will feature a specially curated 90-minute production blending Indian classical and folk traditions with African indigenous music and dance forms, creating a shared stage for cross-cultural storytelling through performance.

Organised by ICCR, the autonomous body under the Ministry of External Affairs responsible for promoting India’s cultural relations globally, the event forms part of India’s broader cultural diplomacy initiatives aimed at strengthening ties with African nations through the arts.

The programme is expected to include a diverse range of performances, from Indian classical dance and regional folk expressions to traditional African rhythms, movement traditions, and collaborative ensemble acts involving artists from both regions.

The event will be held at Bharat Mandapam, the international convention and exhibition centre at Pragati Maidan, which has emerged as a major venue for diplomatic, cultural, and international gatherings since opening in 2023.

The festival also reflects the growing cultural engagement between India and Africa, complementing ongoing cooperation across trade, education, and people-to-people exchanges. By bringing traditional art forms from both regions onto one platform, the event aims to highlight shared histories, creative dialogue, and contemporary partnerships.

The India–Africa Dance & Music Festival 2026 will be open to the public with free entry.