Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival Returns To Delhi From March 6–8

The Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival, one of Delhi’s longest-running classical music events, is set to take place from March 6 to 8, 2026 at the Open Air Arena of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra in New Delhi and, as always, entry will be free for audiences.

Founded in 1947 by Sumitra Charat Ram with a mission to present Indian classical music with respect for tradition, the festival has become an important platform for both established maestros and emerging artists, prioritising musical lineage and depth over scale.

The three-day event will feature a mix of vocal and instrumental performances. The opening night includes Carnatic vocalist Ramanna Balachandran, Hindustani singer Siddharth Belmannu and sarod player Tejendra Narayan Majumdar. Day two showcases vocal traditions with artists like Sawani Shende and flautist Shashank Subramaniam, along with a guru-shishya presentation from Sajan Mishra and his son Swaransh representing the Banaras gharana. The festival will conclude with shehnai player Lokesh Anand, vocalist Shashwati Mandal, and a duet by sitarist Ustad Shahid Parvez and tabla maestro Pt Anindo Chatterjee.

Over the decades, the festival has hosted legends such as Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, Bismillah Khan, M. S. Subbulakshmi and Siddheshwari Devi, many of whom were recipients of India’s highest civilian honours.