Since 2002, Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts has brought people together annually at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay to experience the many expressions of Indian arts and culture. Today, the festival is a shared space for discovery, connection and celebration shaped by generations of artists, audiences and communities.

As we mark the milestone 25th edition of the festival from 20 – 29 Nov 2026, we celebrate everything that has brought us here, while looking forward with renewed confidence and purpose. Indian arts have always drawn from tradition while continually evolving and finding new forms of expression. That spirit lies at the heart of Kalaa Utsavam: bringing together leading artists and emerging voices, cherished traditions and bold new expressions in a festival that is artistically ambitious, culturally relevant and welcoming to all.

Headlining this edition is Sachin–Jigar, one of India’s most influential music duos, making their Singapore debut with a night of Bollywood hits. Our celebration of contemporary Indian culture continues with Biswa Kalyan Rath’s incisive standup comedy, Malayalam singer-songwriter Job Kurian’s soulful, genre-blending music and an electrifying DJ experience by Dialled In, spotlighting the energy of South Asian electronic music and club culture.

The festival also offers fresh encounters with India’s artistic and philosophical traditions. Aakash Odedra Company’s acclaimed Songs of the Bulbul reimagines Sufi philosophy through contemporary dance and striking visual storytelling. In Ether to Earth, Ashwath Narayanan and Praveen Sparsh revisit Muthuswami Dikshitar’s Pancha Bhoota Kritis through an immersive musical journey that pays tribute to the five elements of earth, water, fire, air and space. Together, these works remind us that tradition is not static, but a living source of discovery and reinvention.

Singapore artists and stories remain firmly at the centre of the festival. HuM Theatre returns with their celebrated work Rafta Rafta, while Bharathaa Arts draws upon the progressive ideals of Subramania Bharati in bharatanatyam dance production Indru Pudhidhai Pirandhom – Today We Are Born Anew. TerryandtheCuz explores love and heartbreak through contemporary Tamil popular culture in coming-of-age cabaret Kaadhal Tholvigal – The Failed Romances, and Rishi Budhrani brings a distinctly Singaporean perspective to identity and belonging in interactive dramedy Bedok to Bollywood.

The Brahmastra Ensemble marks a decade of original music with an immersive concert and a new album by Niranjan Pandian. Mahogany Journal’s A Very Mahogany Wedding is a staged dramatic reading that looks beyond the spectacle of a South Asian wedding to uncover its emotional complexities. For younger audiences, Grace Kalaiselvi’s Paati’s Spice Kitchen transforms the familiar Indian family kitchen into a playful exploration of food, memory and intergenerational bonds.

For an even more immersive festival experience, audiences can also take part through bharatanatyam workshops by SIFAS, including sessions for the general public and for parents and children. Masterclasses by Aakash Odedra and Dialled In offer practitioners opportunities to deepen their craft and encounter new creative approaches.

Kalaa Utsavam extends beyond our paid performances. Our public spaces will come alive with a diverse line-up of free music, dance and community programmes throughout the festival.

As Kalaa Utsavam looks ahead, nurturing younger audiences and supporting the next generation of Singapore artists remain central to our work. We want the festival to be a place where new relationships with Indian arts begin, traditions are encountered afresh and artists feel empowered to take creative risks.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Principal Sponsor Malabar Gold & Diamonds. Whether you have journeyed with us over the years or are joining us for the first time, I warmly invite everyone to celebrate this milestone. Come for a performance, take part in a workshop, enjoy our free programmes or simply soak in the festival atmosphere. We look forward to welcoming you at Esplanade.

V M Sai Akileshwar
Producer
The Esplanade Co Ltd