Ruhaniyat 2026 Brings “Songs Of the Soul” Back To Bengaluru

The iconic Ruhaniyat – The All India Sufi & Mystic Music Festival returned to Bengaluru on 24 January 2026, offering audiences an evening of soulful and spiritually resonant music that spanned continents and centuries. The 25th edition of the festival, held at the Jayamahal Palace Hotel, reaffirmed its place as one of the country’s most cherished cultural events, drawing music lovers with its blend of mysticism, tradition and universal harmony.

Organised by Mumbai-based Banyan Tree Events and supported by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Ruhaniyat 2026 continued its long-standing mission of celebrating music as a medium of inner peace. The festival’s tagline, “Seeking the Divine,” reflects its enduring focus on spiritual and mystical traditions across the world.

This year’s edition brought together a rich tapestry of musical forms from India and abroad. Audiences were treated to performances ranging from traditional Baul music, symbolising the wandering minstrels of Bengal, to Spanish mystical compositions, African kora strings and songs, and soulful Qawwali that closed the evening on an energetic, uplifting note.

Among the performers were Uttam Das Baul, representing the deep Baul worldview of spiritual love and devotion; Eva Serrano from Spain, whose pieces drew on centuries-old Iberian mystical music; and Dawda Jobarteh, whose mastery of the West African kora introduced audiences to a mesmerizing sonic tradition. The lineup also included revered Indian artists such as Hemant Chauhan & Group and Mir Mukhtiyar Ali & Group, bringing forward interpretations of Gujarat’s mystic legacy and Kabir panthic traditions.

A special highlight of the festival was the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam segment , an artistic collaboration designed to embody the ancient Indian ideal of “the world as one family.” This global fusion brought Indian, Spanish and African artists together on the same stage, creating a musical dialogue that blurred cultural boundaries and celebrated shared spiritual themes.

The special 25th anniversary edition also paid tribute to artists who have been part of the festival’s journey from its early years. Performers such as Parvathy Baul — a practitioner of the Bengali Baul tradition known for infusing music with anarchic mysticism  and stalwarts like Kachra Khan and the Warasi Brothers, returned as part of the festival’s tribute to its legacy.

Since its inception in 2001, Ruhaniyat has grown into one of India’s most respected platforms for mystic and Sufi music, presenting sufi qawwals, Kabir panthis, bauls and other traditional musicians from India and around the globe. The festival has been hosted across major Indian cities and celebrated for preserving rare art forms, introducing audiences to lesser-known musical traditions while promoting intercultural dialogue.

Festival organisers emphasised that the Bengaluru edition was more than a musical concert , it was a reminder of art’s power to heal, inspire and build unity in times of social uncertainty. In a world grappling with division and strife, Ruhaniyat’s programming sought to offer solace and reaffirm shared human values through the universal language of music.

Tickets for the festival were made available through BookMyShow, and the event drew a diverse audience of music aficionados and spiritual seekers alike, underscoring Bengaluru’s growing reputation as a vibrant hub for cultural celebrations.

Ruhaniyat 2026 once again demonstrated that while trends in music and entertainment may come and go, the timeless resonance of soulful tradition and mystic expression continues to captivate audiences across generations.