Upcoming Music Festivals on Our Radar in January and February 2026

After the Christmas and New Year’s break, festival season is back in full swing in the coming weeks, bringing in top Indian and international artists as well as experiences that move beyond music performances. Whether it’s the continued resurgence of concerts in Manipur, the 25th edition of Ruhaniyat in multiple cities, a rock and metal-focused edition of GIFLIF in Bhopal, or reggae at Goa Sunsplash, there’s likely something for everyone. While the likes of Magnetic Fields Nomads, and Kala Ghoda Arts Festival are also slated for this period, they are yet to announce their lineups and additional details. In the meantime, here’s a quick roundup of what’s coming up.

Udaipur Tales International Storytelling Festival  

Jan. 9 to Jan. 11, 2026

Park Exotica Resort, Udaipur

Focused on music, theater, talks, and of course, performances, the Udaipur Tales International Storytelling Festival takes place near the Fateh Sagar Lake and features music by the likes of Aanchal Shrivastava (with Sufi and qawwali), actor, VJ, and musician Meiyang Chang performing with his band, as well as inmates from Udaipur’s Central Jail performing and narrating stories.

Get tickets here.

Imphal Indie Music Festival

Jan. 10 and Jan. 11, 2026

Wahyum Eco Resort, Imphal East

A wholly homegrown effort by Manipur’s music community, the Imphal Indie Music Festival is bringing in favorites like Imphal Talkies, Meewakching, The Dirty Strikes, and more across two days. The lineup also includes Arunachal singer-songwriter Takar Nabam, Mumbai-based Manipur-origin instrumental act Sei Hek, experimental rock act Atingkok, indie-folk act Saelum, and DJ-producer Create Nusanz.

Get tickets here.

Jaipur Music Stage at Jaipur Literature Festival

Jan. 15 to Jan. 17, 2026

Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur

Taking place as an evening program as part of the Jaipur Literature Festival, Jaipur Music Stage has often hosted top acts, and this year’s edition adds even more diversity. U.K.-based sarod artist Soumik Datta brings his Travellers set and shares the lineup billing with Bengaluru folk-fusion act Vasu Dixit Collective on Jan. 15, 2026, while day two on Jan. 16 brings in rock acts like Parvaaz, Raman Negi and Jaipur’s own folk-fusion duo Yugm. Jaipur Music Stage closes on Jan. 17 with sets by Nepali act Gauley Bhai and fusion metallers Thaikkudam Bridge.

Get tickets here.

Kantha Festival at BLR Hubba

Jan. 16 to Jan. 25, 2026

Freedom Park & Various Venues, Bengaluru

The annual music festival as part of BLR Hubba returns with an international headliner in prog guitarist Marty Friedman performing (with support from folk-metallers The Down Troddence and Manipuri act Ereimang) on Jan. 18, 2026 but there’s a lot more programmed across 10 days. From Mumbai artist Sudan to a Battle of the Bands contest to The Aahvaan Project, Indian Ocean, Kaushiki Chakraborty and Shantanu Moitra’s Pankh performance, there’s something for everyone.

Get info here.

Bloom In Green

Jan. 16 to Jan. 18, 2026

Canterbury Castles, near Nandi Hills, Karnataka

The sixth edition of Bloom In Green festival moves slightly closer to Bengaluru, taking place near the verdant Nandi Hills with as many workshops as performances for attendees. The music lineup includes U.K. act Hang Massive, Australian electronic artist Merkaba, Indian DJ-producer Calm Chor, Marathi hip-hop artist Shreyas, Mumbai rock act Daira and more. Workshops at the festival explore everything from augmented reality to meditative photography, yoga, dance, contact improv and more.

Get tickets here.

Goa Sunsplash

Jan. 17 and 18, 2026

Thalassa Beach Boutique Resort, Goa

Celebrating a decade in the running, Goa Sunsplash is bringing reggae, dancehall, dub and ska, among other genres, like few other curated lineups in the country. Artists like Luciano Messenjah, British reggae veteran and activist Macka B, O.B.F. Soundsystem, plus regulars like BFR Soundsystem, Reggae Rajahs, 10,000 Lions Soundsystem also perform, alongside rapper J Queen, fusion act Prem Joshua & Band and more.  

Get tickets here.

GIFLIF Indiestaan Musical Experience

Jan. 18, 2026

MPT DDX Drive In Cinema, Bhopal

Also celebrating a decade in action is GIFLIF, which has put together its heaviest lineup yet for its annual Indiestaan music festival in Bhopal. This time, New Delhi folk-metallers Bloodywood, Solan-origin prog artist Sutej Singh, and New Delhi rock band Leading Drops will perform for a compact but power-packed edition.  

Get tickets here.

Rural Festival

Jan. 23 and Jan. 24, 2026

BudXLoft, Anjuna, Goa

Promising an unhurried start to the new year, Japan-origin Rural Festival sets up at BudXLoft in Anjuna for an intimate gathering that aims to deliver an experience rather than just performances. At its first-ever edition in Goa, Rural Festival takes place across two days and three stages, including Japanese artists like Gonno, Occa, Atsushi, Dr. Nishimura and Thailand’s Sunju Hargun, U.K. origin veteran DJ Jane Fitz, among others.

Get tickets here.

Ruhaniyat

Jan. 24, 2026 (Bengaluru), Jan. 26 (Hyderabad), Feb. 7 (Chennai), Feb. 14 (Pune)

Various Venues

Described as a “mystic music festival,” Ruhaniyat is now hosting its 25th edition across four cities starting Jan. 24, 2026, in Bengaluru before traveling to Hyderabad, Chennai and Pune. The lineup in Bengaluru includes Baul artist Uttam Das Baul, Spanish artist Eva Serrano, Gambian artist Dawda Jobarteh, Rajasthani vocalist Mir Mukhtiyar Ali, while the Pune edition on Feb. 14, 2026, brings in Parvathy Baul, Warsi Brothers and more.

Get tickets here.

Lollapalooza India

Jan. 24 and Jan. 25, 2026

Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Mumbai

The fourth edition of Lollapalooza India features a heavy-hitter lineup comprising international stars like Playboi Carti and Linkin Park making their debut in the country, plus long-awaited artists like LANY, Sammy Virji, R&B artist Kehlani, Yungblud, Japanese singer-songwriter and pianist Fujii Kaze, synth band The Midnight, and several more across four stages.

Get tickets here.

SulaFest

Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 2026

Sula Vineyards, Nashik

After its comeback edition in 2025, there’s a more India-focused lineup in store at the upcoming SulaFest 2026, held at Sula Vineyards in Nashik. While festival favorite and Italian DJ-producer Gaudi will be returning, the likes of electronic music veterans Nucleya, Midival Punditz, Karsh Kale and more perform alongside hip-hop/pop hitmaker King, rock band The Yellow Diary, folk-rockers Swarathma, electronica artist and drummer Dark Circle Factory, Rajasthani folk-fusion artist Kutle Khan, Mumbai rock band Daira and more across two days.  

Get tickets here.

Sacred Spirit Festival

Feb. 13 to Feb. 15, 2026

Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

A mainstay folk and fusion festival that brings artists from across India as well as around the globe, Sacred Spirit Festival will host artist such as Chinese act Silk and Bamboo, sarangi artist Sabir Khan’s tribute to tabla legend Zakir Hussain, Iranian percussionist Naghib Shanbehzadeh teaming up with Indian artists including Rajasthani act Mustafa Rehman Ensemble, violinist-composer Ambi Subramaniam collaborating with his Arabic counterpart Zied Zouari and more.

Get info here.

Mahindra Blues Festival

Feb. 14 and 15, 2026

Mehboob Studios, Mumbai

The Mahindra Blues Festival is back with familiar and stalwart names in the blues world. Multi-Grammy nominee and blues powerhouse vocalist Shemekia Copeland, American guitar great Eric Gales, and British guitarist Matt Schofield will all return to the festival after several years, performing at Mumbai’s Mehboob Studios. Joining them is India’s favorite instrumental blues act, Blackstratblues, with bandleader Warren Mendonsa making his way down from New Zealand.

Get tickets here.

Bandland

Feb. 14 and 15, 2026

NICE Grounds, Bengaluru

With U.K. act Muse and American band Train as headliners, it’s a dose of early 2000s rock and pop at the upcoming edition of Bandland festival. Australian prog band Karnivool and the comeback of Mumbai’s beloved hardcore unit Scribe also mark the third edition of Bandland festival. Bengaluru-based rock/heavy metal act Girish and The Chronicles, American pop-punk band Pinkshift, Welsh band James And The Cold Gun, Los Angeles act The Sophs and New York rock act The Thing are also on the lineup.

Get tickets here.

Riders Music Festival

Feb. 21 and 22, 2026

The Great India Place, Noida

Red FM’s Riders Music Festival was launched in 2016, and a decade on, the gathering of bikers and music lovers is evolving with the times. The lineup this year includes rap heavyweights like Seedhe Maut, shapeshifting artist Chaar Diwaari, electronic artist Nucleya, singer-composer Papon, singer-songwriter Bharat Chauhan, New Delhi band Level Six, and standup comedian Harsh Gujral performing across two days.

Get tickets here.