Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival Returns To Delhi With 70+ Years Of Legacy

The prestigious Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival (SSMFL) is set to return to New Delhi from 6–8 March 2026, bringing with it a rich legacy of Indian classical music that spans more than 70 years.

Presented by Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, the festival will take place at the institution’s open-air arena on Copernicus Marg and continues to be one of the country’s most respected platforms for classical music. Originally founded in 1947 by Smt. Sumitra Charat Ram, the festival was conceived at a defining moment in India’s cultural history, with a mission to showcase Indian classical traditions with dignity, depth and artistic integrity, values that continue to shape its programming today.

Across three evenings, the 2026 edition blends established maestros with emerging talent, reflecting both the breadth and evolving energy of India’s classical music traditions. The programme includes performances by Carnatic and Hindustani artists, iconic instrumentalists, and collaborative presentations that embody lineage and innovation. Highlights include rising Carnatic musician Ramana Balachandhran, Hindustani vocalist Siddhartha Belmannu, sarod exponent Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, and a rare guru-shishya recital by Sajan Mishra and Swaransh Mishra. The festival will also feature eminent artists such as Madhup Mudgal, Biswajit Roy Chowdhury, Shashwati Mandal and legendary instrumental pairing Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan with Pt. Anindo Chatterjee.

A special morning session on 8 March will highlight morning ragas, while the final evening promises an immersive culmination of vocal and instrumental brilliance.

Over the decades, the festival has hosted luminaries who have shaped the contours of Indian classical music, including maestros such as Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Bismillah Khan, and M.S. Subbulakshmi, underscoring its importance as both a cultural touchstone and a bridge between generations of artists and audiences.

The Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival remains a cornerstone of India’s cultural calendar, reinforcing New Delhi’s role as a hub for the preservation and celebration of classical music. Entry to the event is free, making it accessible to music lovers, scholars, students and cultural patrons alike.