Mumbai, also known as Bombay or the City of Dreams, is the entertainment and financial hub of the country. Located along the shore of the Arabian Sea, this city is bustling with life. High on energy, Mumbai is, locally, often termed as the ‘city that never sleeps’. One of the friendliest cities, Mumbai is popular among tourists from across the globe who come to visit the many sites reflective of colonial architecture, grand structures, the beautiful sea front, shopping destinations, popular restaurants, and of course, experience the charm of Bollywood – an Indian movie industry. This capital city of Maharashtra, with its fast-paced life, is bound to daze and amaze. 

Festivals

After the pull of Bollywood and the amazing beaches, it is the many arts and cultural festivals held in this city, every month, that draw travellers from near and far. The many events are reflective of the diverse and inclusive nature of Mumbai where people from across the country come to fulfil their dreams.

Pratibimb Marathi Natya Utsav

5^th – 7^th May, 2023 

The Pratibimb Marathi Natya Utsav sees readings, talks, plays, and discussions by Marathi theatre artistes and experts. The annual Marathi theatre festival celebrates the vibrant tradition of theatre in Maharashtra, that is known for its thought-provoking themes. The three-day event is organised by the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) and this year’s line-up will be a mix of popular, as well as experimental plays. It will be held in Mumbai from 5 to 7 May, 2023 across several venues at the NCPA.

For more information, click here.

Cinema4Screen Film Festival

21^st - 22^nd April, 2023

Cinema4Screen is an annual film festival that started in 2021. Movies, documentaries, music videos, and animations across genres are showcased at the festival. The works have to be of maximum one hour in duration. This two-day festival, which serves the creative fraternity, is scheduled to take place on 21 to 22 April, 2023. In addition to awards, it will also have masterclasses and workshops on filmmaking.

For more information, click here.

Wench Film Festival

10^th – 20^th March, 2023

The Wench Film Festival (WFF) aims to reclaim the original meaning of the word wench, which means, “a young woman” as opposed to the derogatory connotation attached to it. It is India’s first film festival celebrating works by women, including women of colour; LGBTQ+; and non-binary individuals. The event features film screenings, discussions, and professional development opportunities for women and non-binary storytellers to present their work. The festival also has a separate category for movies by male filmmakers with a central female plot.

The current edition of the festival will feature a parallel section called Reprise, which will showcase select films across genres. The Festival will be held virtually from 10^th till 20^th March, 2023, and in-person between 17^th and 19^th March, 2023 in Mumbai.

For more information, click here.

Ladies First Street Art

8^th March, 2023

Organised by graffiti artist collective, Wicked Broz, Ladies First Street Art is a multi-city festival that was launched in 2019. It aims to promote the work of female street artists; featuring workshops, film screenings, talks, and performances on street art. The event also sees dance and hip-hop, which are synonymous with global street art culture. Scheduled for 8 March, 2023, the festival will take place in Mumbai and Delhi.

For more information, click here.

Pratibimb

16^th – 19^th February, 2023

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.

Govandi Arts Festival

15^th - 19^th February, 2023

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.

Mahindra Blues Festival

11^th - 12^th February, 2023

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.

Studio Potters’ Market

9^th – 12^th February, 2023

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

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 field 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.

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival

4^th - 12^th February, 2023

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. 

Lollapalooza

28^th - 29^th January, 2023

Setting the bar for live music, this multi-genre fest is finally making its debut in India on 28 and 29 January, 2023. Lollapalooza, popular in eight countries globally, is all about alternative lifestyle, music, and culture. With the first edition coming to Mumbai, the festival will feature over 40 artists across four stages.

Celebrating inclusivity and promising unique experience with its music, the line-up includes names like AP Dhillon, Diplo, Zhu, Prateek Kuhad, The Yellow Diary, Greta Van Fleet, and more.

For more information, click here.

Mumbai Dance Season

19^th January – 10^th February, 2023

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, the festival will include both paid and free events. It will include 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

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.

Citi-NCPA Aadi Anant Music Festival: From Here to Eternity

10^th December, 2022 - 8^th January, 2023

Rooted in Indian culture is the guru-shishya tradition, which literally translates to teacher and disciple. The Festival celebrates this concept, at the same time encouraging innovation, resulting in music that rejuvenates and redefines traditions. This multi-city, classical music festival, will take place from 10 December, 2022 to 8 January, 2023, in Mumbai. Some of the names performing this year include Zakir Hussain, Ambi Subramaniam, and Shankar Mahadevan, amongst others.

For more information, click here.

TCS Ruhaniyat

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

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.

Travel tips

Here are some travel tips one should know before visiting Mumbai

• Mumbai has a hot and humid climate, with heavy rainfall in monsoons. Make travel arrangements accordingly
• While Marathi is the local language, Hindi and English are also widely spoken
• There might be many instances where Bombay is still used. Do not get confused since it is the former name of the city
• The airport has two terminals which are located at a distance from each other. Be sure to note which one you are arriving at or departing from
• Traffic in Mumbai is unpredictable. Take it into account when commuting locally

How to reach

By air: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the primary airport for Mumbai. It has two terminals, Domestic or Terminal 1; and International or Terminal 2, which serves both domestic and international flights. The terminals are located about 5 km from each other. IndiGo operates more than 100 daily, non-stop flights between Mumbai and other key locations in India and abroad.

By train: The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is the most popular station in Mumbai. It connects Mumbai to the rest of the country.

By bus: Mumbai is well-connected with neighbouring cities via the expressways and National Highways. Tourists can either drive down, hire a taxi, or use the bus service.

Travelling within the city

You can explore Mumbai using public transport like the bus, train, and metro. Additionally, auto-rickshaws, self-drive rental vehicles, and taxis – local, private, and app-based – are popular modes of transport in the city.

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.