The great weather of this month is not the only thing that will cheer you. We have a list of all the arts and cultural festivals that will make February your favourite month of the year. 

New Delhi World Book Fair

25^th February – 5^th March 2023 | New Delhi

The New Delhi World Book Fair, India’s second oldest book fair, is a major event in the publishing world. It is back for its 31^st edition, aiming to encourage production of good literature in Indian languages. Opening a gateway for the publishing and intellectual world of South Asia, the fair is expected to have visitors from around 70 countries across the world.

Commemorating 75 years of India’s Independence, this year’s theme is “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”. The festival, to be held from 25^th February till 5^th March, will feature conferences, discussions, cultural and literary programs, seminars, workshops, and an opportunity for visitors to promote titles or engage in co-publication arrangements.

For more information, click here. 

Jazz Weekender

25^th - 26^th February, 2023 | Dellhi

Get ready to experience the Jazz Weekender once again, this time for its winter edition. National and international artists will be taking to the stage to give an unforgettable experience. Their inaugural edition was a sell-out with a line-up featuring names such as Boi Akih, Pakshee, Tribemama Marykali, and others. The two-day festival will be held at 1AQ in Mehrauli, New Delhi, on 25 and 26 February, 2023. 

For more information, click here. 

Shoonya – Festival of Nothingness

24^th – 26^th February, 2023 | Kunkhet Valley, Uttarakhand

Shoonya is a travelling arts and wellness festival that has curated activities such as sound healing, Zumba sessions, drum circles, mandala making, and yoga. Launched in 2018, it is held in picturesque and serene destinations, amidst untouched nature. This festival, that focuses on the discovery of inner contentment, serves meals prepared by a farm-to-plate community kitchen. The festival will be held from 24 till 26 February, 2023 in Kunkhet Valley, Uttarakhand.

For more information, click here.

GIFLIF Indiestaan Music Festival

18^th – 19^th February, 2023 | Bhopal

The Great Indian Film and Literature Festival, or the GIFLIF Indiestaan Music Festival, that started in 2015, is Asia’s first film and literature festival. Scheduled for 18-19 February, 2023, the festival features plays, film screening, talks, music concerts, poetry competitions and recitals, book discussions, and storytelling sessions. It aims to promote diversity and richness of Indian indie music.

Organised by White Walls Media, this multi-city, youth festival will be held in Bhopal and provide a platform for artists to showcase their work with the world. The artist line-up for this year’s festival includes Lucky Ali, Thaikkudam Bridge, Anand Bhaskar Collective, Bombay Bandook, Kavish Seth, and The Western Ghats.

For more information, click here.

Pratibimb

16^th – 19^th February, 2023 | Mumbai 

Initiated in 1987, Pratibimb is the annual cultural festival of Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute in Mumbai. The four-day event, scheduled to be held from 16^th till 19^th February, 2023, will include intercollegiate dance, music and drama competitions, workshops, quizzes, treasure hunts, and talks by celebrities. Over the years, the festival has seen popular personalities like actor Nana Patekar, singer Neha Kakkar, musician Ritviz, and more. 

For more information, click here.

The Ishara International Puppet Festival

14^th – 20^th February, 2023 | Delhi

Started in 2001, the Ishara International Puppet Festival is counted among Asia’s largest puppet festivals. It aims to increase awareness and appreciation among the public about various forms of local and international puppetry. Organised by Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust and produced by Teamwork Arts, the festival showcases both traditional and modern kinds of the theatre with rod and string, and mixed performances of dance, theatre and music.

The festival has seen award-winning puppetry productions, and several educational workshops by over 160 companies from Brazil, Sweden, Spain, Turkey and other countries. This year, the event will be held from 14 to 20 February, 2023 in Delhi, during which time the Tagore Theatre Society in Chandigarh will have a parallel four-day festival featuring a selection of the productions staged in Delhi.

For more information, click here.

India Art Fair

9^th - 12^th February, 2023 | Dellhi

All set to paint its magic again, the India Art Fair has become a pilgrimage for art enthusiasts from across the nation. This annual event brings together art lovers, artists, connoisseurs, institutions, and collectors to celebrate art. It provides a platform to new and veteran talent to present their work, and network. With the aim to increase an audience for arts, it supports educative and professional development opportunities, and works with galleries, established artists, foundations, national museums and charities. Presenting a blend of cutting-edge contemporary visual art, with modern masters and vernacular artistic traditions, the India Art Fair will be held from 9 to 12 February, 2023 in Delhi. The art world comes to India for the Art Fair, including gallery delegations from the UK supported by the British Council and international cultural counterparts.

For more information, click here.

Studio Potters’ Market

9^th – 12^th February, 2023 | Mumbai

An annual event at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Mumbai, the Studio Potters’ Market not only serves as a medium to encourage this craft, but also provides ceramic artists a platform to converse, collaborate and interact with visitors. Over 40 contemporary studio potters, from across India, will showcase their unique work from 9^th till 12^th February, 2023.  Additionally, visitors can try their hand at the potter’s wheel, paint ceramics, take part in live demonstrations, and witness an artist create a life-sized sculpture. 

For more information, click here.

Pandit Durgalal Festival

5^th February 2023 | Mumbai

The festival is conducted to commemorate the legacy of Pandit Durgalal, the doyen of the Jaipur gharana of Kathak, and started by his disciple Uma Dogra over three decades ago as part of the Samved Society for Performing Arts.

Over the years, the festival has seen performances by artists from the fields of Indian classical vocal, instrumental, and dance such as Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, and Sonal Mansingh, among others.

For more information, click here.

Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival

3^rd – 7^th February, 2023 | Lucknow

The Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival, an annual five-day festival, celebrates the culturally-rich Awadh region, as well as the entire country. The festival has a new theme every year that explores an aspect of Lucknow, and defines its visual aesthetics and performances. The theme this year is Raqs-o-Mausiqi, which means, “time of music, pleasure, and comfort.” 

Taking place from 3 to 7 February, 2023, the festival features film screenings, discussions, workshops, walking tours, food stalls, book launches, exhibitions, cultural performances, and heritage walks. With such a wide range of art offerings, it also has a handicrafts exhibition and sale showcasing products made by artisans from across the country.

Artists this year will include Shinjini Kulkarni, Irfan Zuberi, Pt. Anindo Chatterjee, Muzaffar Ali, and Atul Tiwari.

For more information, click here. 

Sur Jahan

3^rd – 5^th February, 2023 | Kolkata

Started in 2011, this three-day festival is organised by Banglanatak dot com and has the motto, “Music for Peace, Music for All”. It is a non-ticketed festival that has seen over 50 performing groups from 32 countries in its previous editions. 

The line-up this year includes artists from Egypt, Northern Ireland, and India, among other places. The festival will take place from 3 till 5 February, 2023 in Kolkata.

For more information, click here.

Tata Steel Bhubaneswar Literary Meet

3^rd – 5^th February, 2023 | Bhubaneshwar

The Tata Steel Bhubaneswar Literary Meet features plays, talks, workshops, discussions, film screenings, book launches, dance recitals, and music performances to celebrate Odisha’s literature and cultural pursuits such as music, dance, and theatre. Launched in 2016, the three-day festival will take place from 3 till 5 February, 2023 in Bhubaneshwar.

Previous editions of the festival saw personalities like Mark Tully, Kiran Nagarkar, William Dalrymple, Ruskin Bond, Yashodhara Mishra, Nandan Nilekani, and Rahul Bose, among others.

For more information, click here.

Pune Design Festival

3^rd – 4^th February 2023 | Pune

Launched in 2006 by the Association of Designers of India, the Pune Design Festival aims to bring together individuals, who have influenced the design ecosystem globally, for engaging and stimulating networking sessions, discussions, quizzes, debates, case studies, and workshops. Scheduled to be held on 3 and 4 February, 2023, the theme this year is NXT25 that explores the futurist agenda for design over the next 25 years, for India and the world.

The event will have studio visits, an awards ceremony, and see eminent speakers from the industry discuss the theme that is focussed around design industry’s increasing engagement with advancements in emerging technologies, social landscape, and climate change. It will also shed light on how this engagement can and will leave a lasting impact on the society and people’s consciousness, especially over the next 25 years.

For more information, click here.

Mumbai Dance Season

19^th January – 10^th February, 2023 | Mumbai

A celebration of dance, the Mumbai Dance Season is almost a month-long event that takes place across several locations in Mumbai. The festival was started in 2018 by the National Centre for Performing Arts as a community initiative aimed to foster camaraderie among the city’s thriving dance community. With this year’s opening act curated by Manipuri dancer Latasana Devi and Kathak dancer Ranjana Phadke, the festival will include both paid and free events. It will have lectures, workshops, demonstrations, and performances by classical dance experts, teachers, young choreographers, and institutions.

For more information, click here. 

Mumbai Urban Art Festival

22^nd December, 2022 – 22^nd February, 2023 | Mumbai

The Mumbai Urban Art Festival (MUAF) is a two-month long event that takes place across different venues in Mumbai, showcasing murals, exhibitions, and installations. It is organised by St+art India Foundation, with Asian Paints, to encourage discussions on pressing issues with regard to future cities. The festival provides a platform for the public to move away from merely observing to actively engaging and experiencing the art and stories brought forth by over 60 national and international artists.

The line-up this year includes artists from Mumbai, Argentina, the Netherlands, and Nepal, among other places. Visitors need to register online to attend the festival, entry for which is free. However, guided walks and workshops have a nominal fee.

For more information, click here.

Kochi-Muziris Biennale

12^th December, 2022 - 10^th April, 2023 | Kochi

One of South Asia’s biggest contemporary art festivals, Kochi-Muziris Biennale will feature 80 artists and collectives, and over 45 new commissions. Curated by Singaporean-Indian contemporary artist Shubigi Rao, this edition is titled, In Our Veins Flow Ink and Fire. Starting 12 December, 2022, the event will go on till 10 April, 2023, and showcase exhibits across multiple venues, including repurposed heritage properties, near Fort Kochi.

With an aim to be the centre for artistic engagement in the country, the event seeks to introduce contemporary, international visual art theory and practice to India. The Biennale will host conversation forums, concerts, screenings, and more, to encourage discussions amongst artists, cultural practitioners, curators, and the public. This year, the Biennale spotlights Chennai Photo Biennale and the Ffotogallery Wales with Communities of Choice for the British Council’s India/UK Together Season of Culture.

Artists whose works have been part of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale over the years, include Anish Kapoor, Jitish Kallat, Ranbir Kaleka, Sudarshan Shetty, and Anita Dube. 

For more information, click here.

TCS Ruhaniyat

26^th November, 2022 – 12^th February, 2023 | Mumbai

Featuring performances by Sufi saints and mystics, the music festival was started by Banyan Tree Events in 2001. Since then, TCS Ruhaniyat has seen artists from Turkey, Egypt, Belgium, Bulgaria, and Iran, including India and other nations. The festival sees shabad singers, fakirs, Bauls, qawwals, Warkaris, Kabirpanthis, and zikir-jari singers and folk exponents. While the festival has been held across cities in India, this year it will take place in Mumbai from 26 November, 2022 to 12 February, 2023

For more information, click here. 

Pickle Factory Season

11^th November, 2022 – 28^th February, 2023 | Kolkata

Featuring classical and contemporary dances, types of theatre, and performance arts, among others, the Pickle Factory Season takes place every two years. It is spread across four months with a different focus for each month. For the current edition, the themes include ‘Spaces for Community’ for November, which will take place in open fields; the December instalment titled, ‘Spaces for Dialogue’ will happen in educational institutes; January will be focused on ‘Spaces for Practice’ which will see performances in studios, workspaces, rehearsal rooms, and cultural houses; and ‘Spaces for Performance’ for February will be held across different places such as an auditorium and a central neighbourhood in the city.

Visitors can expect performances, flash mobs, exhibitions, workshops, interaction with artists, art displays, seminars, and more. These will be focused on repurposing spaces for the performing arts, and green thinking through art spaces. The festival aims to explore and redefine the relationship between physical movement and physical space, and befittingly the venues include television studios, abandoned and defunct single-screen cinemas, rooftops, public streets, and gardens, to name a few. Organised by the Pickle Factory Dance Foundation, it will be held from 11 November, 2022 till 28 February, 2023 in Kolkata.

For more information, click here.

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival

4^th – 12^th February, 2023 | Mumbai

Started in 1999, the festival is a first-of-its-kind street art festival held annually in and around Kala Ghoda, a heritage precinct in south Mumbai. The nine-day multi-cultural festival showcases and promotes talent across genres in the fields of visual art, literature, heritage, comedy, dance, film, music, theatre, and food. The festival will have exhibitions, performances, workshops, events for children, concerts, and shopping stalls. It aims to increase access to, and encourage arts, crafts and cultural heritage in the country. It will be held in Mumbai from 4 to 12 February, 2023.

For more information, click here.

Mahindra Blues Festival

11^th – 12^th February, 2023 | Mumbai

One of the largest blues festivals in Asia, the Mahindra Blues Festival will take place on 11 and 12 February, 2023, in Mumbai. With multiple music stages and world-class food options, this annual festival’s line-up this year will have names like Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal, and Ivan Singh, amongst others.

For more information, click here.

Govandi Arts Festival

15^th – 19^th February, 2023 | Mumbai

The Govandi Arts Festival will showcase the talent of emerging artists from Govandi, Mumbai, who will be mentored by professionals across fields such as photography, music, filmmaking, and theatre. It aims to encourage neighbourhood-level change with the use of arts and culture as a medium. Part of the British Council’s ‘India/UK Together, a Season of Culture’, the festival will be held between 15 and 19 February, 2023. To provide access and exposure to the emerging talent from this marginalised community, the festival will have art exhibitions, music performances, workshops, film screenings, panel discussions, and a lantern parade.

For more information, click here.

Picture credits: Boxout.fm

To know about more such festivals and events, visit Festivals From India, your one-stop shop for all arts and culture festivals in India, made possible by the British Council.