The Millenium City Builds Its Cultural Calendar as Gurugram Festival Returns For Season 3

Gurugram, October 15, 2026: While a city may grow through business, buildings, and ambition, its soul is forged by the art it embraces and the traditions it keeps alive. Driven by this belief, the Gurugram Festival returns for its third edition from November 27-29, at Epicentre, Apparel House, Gurugram.
Building on two celebrated years, the three-day festival aims to make the arts a visible, accessible part of daily life in one of India’s most dynamic urban hubs by bringing together classical music, dance, literature, and creative heritage to bridge generations, cultivate new audiences, and extend the experience of art far beyond the stage.
Building a cultural tradition, one edition at a time
For the Gurugram Festival, its third edition marks another step towards creating a sustainable platform for artistic excellence, cultural exchange and community engagement. Through performances, workshops, masterclasses and conversations, the festival aims to make the arts more accessible while creating opportunities for audiences to engage more deeply with artists and their craft.
Speaking about the upcoming edition, Vikram Dutta, Founder of Gurugram Festival, said, “The Gurugram Festival was founded on the belief that a city’s identity is shaped as much by its cultural life as by its economic and urban growth. The warmth and engagement over our first two editions have inspired us to continue expanding this platform.”
“With Season 3, we want to celebrate the masters who have devoted their lives to India's artistic traditions while opening doors for younger talent to find an audience. We hope the festival serves as a shared space where people gather to discover, learn, and experience the arts and where culture becomes an enduring part of Gurugram’s story”, he added.
A cultural gathering for an evolving city
The Gurugram Festival reflects a clear philosophy: a city’s progress is measured not only by what it builds, but also by the cultural experiences it offers its residents. As Gurugram continues to evolve, the festival enriches civic life by uniting artists and audiences in an atmosphere of discovery, participation, and dialogue. Season 3 builds on the festival's foundational years, bringing classical traditions into the city's everyday conversation while creating new access points for younger generations.
Honouring maestros and creating space for the next generation
The 2026 festival opens on 27 November with a special tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, celebrating the enduring legacy of a cultural icon whose music and vision continue to inspire.  A major highlight of Season 3 is the launch of the Young Master Series, a dedicated platform spotlighting emerging classical talent alongside legendary practitioners, ensuring India's rich artistic traditions remain vibrant and connected to future generations.
Festival highlights & featured line-up
•    Celebrated Maestros & Artists: Featuring Padma Shri Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar, Padma Shri Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya, and Taal Yogi Suresh Talwalkar, alongside Pandit Debojyoti Bose, Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Priyadarshini Govind, Pandit Vinod Lele, Pandit Harish Tiwari, Mehtab Ali Niazi, Sneha Chatterjee, and accompanying artist Pandit Dharamnath Mishra.
•    Vocal & Instrumental Duets: Performances by the Kashyap Bandhu (Dr. Prabhakar Kashyap and Dr. Diwakar Kashyap), Vinay Mishra, Hrishikesh Mazumder, Isshan Ghosh, Amaan Hussain, Sarwar Hussain Khan, and Jotirmoy Roy.
•    Literature & Ideas: Featuring author Santosh Desai, expanding the festival beyond performance into cross-disciplinary dialogue and cultural exchange.
•    Interactive Engagement: A comprehensive schedule of live performances, workshops, masterclasses, and outreach initiatives designed to move art beyond a single venue and into the community.
As the Gurugram Festival prepares to welcome audiences for its third season, its larger aspiration remains clear: to help create a city where ambition and creativity coexist, where heritage finds new relevance, and where the arts have a place in the everyday life of the community.