The annual festival of music organised by Saptak from the 1st to 13th of January every year, is a musical feast that is the delight of any music connoisseur. This celebration of music is quite a unique experience in itself. The evening’s performance always begins with an emerging talent. With several luminaries in the audience, this is a grand stage for the young performer. As the evening progresses, some of the most renowned performers in Indian classical music take the stage.

Month: January  |  City: Ahmedabad  |  Genre: Instrumental|   No of Days: 13 days |  Website: Sapthak Festival of Dance

Psychedelic hues of red, yellow, green lights illuminating nooks and corners of intricately carved the Sun Temple of Modhera, during dark and breezy nights of January, create a Chiaroscuro effect of time and space! The Sun Temple of Modhera is a masterpiece of the Golden Age of the Solanki Empire, which hosts the annual Dance Festival and flaunts the glory and splendor of that era. The Modhera Dance Festival which is also prevalently known as the Uttarardh Mahotsav or Modhera Utsav is one of the most famous celebrations of art, music, dance, and culture, in this part of the country.

Month: January|   City: Ahmedabad  |  Genre: Dance |   No of Days: 2 days |  Website: Modhera Dance Festival 

The magical performances, star lit skies at the backdrop of the temple reminds you of the glorious cultural heritage, immortalized so skillfully in Odisha’s Temple Architecture.This year enjoy the enthralling performances from 14th – 16th January at the Mukteshwar Temple. The Mukteswar Dance Festival organized by Odisha Tourism is one of the Marquee events of the Temple City.

Month: January|   City: Odissa  |  Genre: Instrumental|   No of Days: 3 days |  Website: Mukteswar Dance Festival 

The Hyderabad Tyagaraja Aradhana Music Festival (HTAMF) is a five-day annual Carnatic music festival held in Hyderabad, Telangana. The festival is organized by the Sanskriti Foundation and takes place at Shilparamam in Madhapur.

Month: January|   City: Hyderabad   |  Genre: Mixed  |   No of Days: 5 days |  Website: Hyderabad Tyagaraja Aradhana Music Festival

Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar Sangeet Samaroha is a prestigious Indian classical music festival held in Goa.It celebrates the legacy of legendary vocalist Kesarbai Kerkar with soulful performances by top artists. Organized by the Kala Academy, it draws music lovers from across the country. The festival upholds and promotes India’s rich heritage of Hindustani classical music.

Month: January|    City: Goa  |  Genre: Mixed  |    No of Days: 3 days      |      Website: Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar Sangeet Samaroha

Hampi, the jewel of Karnataka and the pride of India is an enduring ode to the grandeur of India’s heritage. The stones and boulders of Hampi have a million stories to tell, a million symphonies to enthral you and transport you into the grand era of the Vijayanagara Empire. There is no better time to savour the nuances of Hampi and bask in its exquisite art in stone than during the Hampi Utsava. The magnificent stone structures of Hampi erupt in a blaze of colour, dance, and music, every year during the much anticipated Hampi Utsava.

Month: January|    City: Hampi  |  Genre: Mixed  |    No of Days: 9 days      |      Website: Hampi Dance Festival

The Khajuraho Dance Festival (Khajuraho Nritya Samaroh), inaugurated in 1975 by the Madhya Pradesh Kala Parishad, is a vibrant week-long celebration of Indian classical dance held annually from 20–26 February in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. Mirroring the exquisite temple carvings of dancers and deities, the festival features world-class performances in open-air auditoriums set against the luminous Chitragupta and Vishvanatha Temples Audiences enjoy a kaleidoscope of classical dance styles—including Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Kathakali, and increasingly modern Indian dance 

Month: February  |  City: Khajuraho  |  Genre: Dance  |   No of Days: 7 days  |   Website: Khajuraho Dance Festival

Konark Dance & Music Festival started in the year 1986 at Konark Natya Mandap by its Founder-Director Padmashree Guru Gangadhar Pradhan. In a sense it can be called the harbinger of the contemporary festivals of Orissa. The sole aim behind this festival is to bring in many artistes into its cultural family and creating of international cultural amity and brotherhood. This festival has established its own unique identity in the sense that eminent artistes of national and international repute participate and perform Odissi, Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniattam and other classical, folk & tribal dances/music of our country on the enchanting stage of the Natyashala in the monumental Sun Temple, Konark. The stage and the atmosphere is magnified by the spiritual and aesthetic flavor, in the natural ambience of casuarinas and cashew trees. This festival is held every year from 19th to 23rd February.

Month: February  |  City: Konark  |  Genre: Mixed |   No of Days: 5 days  |   Website: Konark Dance and Music Festival

“Chidambaram Natyanjali” – Festival of Dance at CHIDAMBARAM is known for its serenity and uniqueness of the devotion of the dancers dedicating their “Natya” (Dance) as “Anjali” (Offering) and worship to the Lord of Dance – Lord Nataraja. Natyanjali Festival commences this year and will be held for five days. Dancers from all over the world and from all parts of India representing all classical forms like Bharatha Natyam, Kuchupudi, Mohini Attam, Kathak, Odissi, Gaudiya Nritya and Pung Cholam etc., congregate at Chidambaram and offer their Dance Recitals to Lord Nataraja. The uniqueness of the festival lies in its devotional aspect and thus differs from other dance festivals.

Month: February  |  City: Chidambaram  |  Genre: Dance  |   No of Days: 5 days  |   Website: Chidambaram Natyanjali

Ellora Ajanta International Festival Started in 1985, the Ellora Ajanta International Festival (formerly known), is an age-old tradition in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar that focuses on appraising and appreciating the culture as well as the architecture and monuments of the district.
The festival lasts for three days and is a vibrant blend of activities that entices individuals to visit and take interest and gives them treasured memories in return

Month: February  |  City: Aurangabad  |  Genre: Mixed  |   No of Days: 5 days  |   Website: Ajanta Ellora

The Nishagandhi Dance Festival is a renowned annual cultural event held at the open-air Nishagandhi auditorium near Kanakakkunnu Palace in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Organized by the Kerala Tourism Department, it features a vibrant showcase of classical Indian dance forms like Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, and Kathakali. The festival takes place every January or February and attracts both legendary artists and emerging talents from across the country. A unique highlight is the parallel Kathakali Mela, which offers captivating performances of this traditional art form each night.

Month: February  |  City: Thiruvantapuram  |  Genre: Dance  |   No of Days: 7 days  |   Website:  Nishagandhi Dance Festival

The Sirpur Mahotsav is a vibrant cultural festival held annually in Sirpur, Chhattisgarh, celebrating the region’s rich heritage, art, and music. Organized by the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, the festival brings together classical, folk, and tribal performances from across India. Set against the backdrop of ancient Buddhist ruins and temples, it creates a unique blend of history and art. The event also features handicraft exhibitions, food stalls, and traditional dance forms that reflect the state’s diverse culture. Sirpur Mahotsav attracts tourists, artists, and cultural enthusiasts from all over the country.

Month: February  |  City: Sirpur  |  Genre: Dance  |   No of Days: 3 days  |   Website: Sirpur Mahotsav

The Sammelan has the distinction of being one of the few prestigious festivals which feature all the three branches of Classical music i.e. Gayan (Vocal), Vadan (Instrumental) and Nritya (Dance). This festival provides a magnificent opportunity to performers to showcase their endowments. To come on the stage of Pracheen Kala Kendra denotes beginning of an artist in the panorama of Indian classical music. Every year renowned artists from all over the country come to Chandigarh and participate in this Sammelan which is organized without charging any entry fee/tickets from the audience. The Kendra organizes this festival exclusively for the promotion of classical music.

Month: March  |  City: Chandigarh  |  Genre: Mixed  |   No of Days: 9 days  |   Website: Pracheen Kala Kendra

NCPA Mudra Dance Festival  Mudra is an annual thematic dance festival presented by the NCPA around International Dance Day. The festival features performances centered around specific themes, making it a unique and culturally rich event. Exploring a key element of Indian classical dance, ‘Aharya’, this year, we will celebrate the uniqueness of jewellery, textile and make-up used in classical dance styles across India. The festival will see a mélange of performances, workshops and exhibitions depicting stories from Indian mythologies and folktales across cultures focusing on aharya.

Month: April  |  City: Mumbai  |  Genre: Dance  |   No of Days: 27 days  |   Website:  NCPA Mudra Dance Festival

The Sree Sankara Dance & Music Festival is a biennial event that transforms the banks of Periyar into one spectacular screen of rhythmic brilliance. The festival brings together over 500 artistes and maestros from across the nation. It is also a celebrated platform for Arangettam by young artistes. The 5-day festival commences with the flag hoisting ceremony followed by an official inauguration of the festivities and an ensemble of various classical dance forms of India. Bhumi Pooja is conducted at the venue before the commencement of the festival.

Month: April – December  |  City: Ernakulam |  Genre: Mixed  |   No of Days: 5 days  |   Website: Sree Sankara Dance and Music Festival

Chaitra Parva is a vibrant spring festival celebrated in Odisha during the lunar month of Chaitra (March–April). It combines spiritual rituals, especially worship of Lord Shiva and Goddess Earth, with colorful tribal traditions. The festival is especially prominent in tribal regions like Mayurbhanj, Koraput, and Sundargarh, where people engage in dances, hunting, and community feasts. The highlight is the Mayurbhanj Chhau dance, performed with elaborate masks and martial movements. Chaitra Parva reflects Odisha’s rich blend of devotion, agrarian customs, and folk artistry.

Month: April  |  City: Baripada  |  Genre: Dance  |   No of Days: 3 days  |   Website: Chaitra Parba

A prestigious annual musical camp celebrating its Silver Jubilee, featuring workshops and performances by renowned Carnatic musicians. Karunbithil Shibira is an annual Carnatic music camp held in the peaceful village of Nidle near Dharmasthala, hosted at the ancestral home of renowned violinist Vid. Vittal Ramamurthy. 

Month: May  |  City: Mangalore  |  Genre: Music  |   No of Days: 6 days  |   Website: Karunbithil Shibira

The Virasat Arts & Heritage Festival, colloquially known as Virasat, is an annual cultural celebration held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand since 1995. Organized by the NGO REACH (Rural Entrepreneurship for Art & Cultural Heritage), it is widely regarded as one of Asia’s largest folk‑life and heritage festivals. Spanning around 15 days in October–November, the festival features over 110 performances, including folk and classical music, dance, theatre, poetry, yoga, cinema, vintage car rallies, craft bazaars, and heritage walks Maestros from diverse traditions—like Ravi Shankar, Bhimsen Joshi, Birju Maharaj, Wadali Brothers, and Usha Uthup—have graced its stages, alongside workshops fostering interaction between artists, students, and craftsmen.

Month: October  |  City: Dehradun  |  Genre: Music  |   No of Days: 15 days  |   Website: Virasat Festival

Marking the birth of Guru Padmasambhava, Hemis Festival is not only one of the most important Buddhist celebration in Ladakh but is also the most popular festival amongst tourists. Held in one of the most-visited monasteries in Ladakh, Hemis Gompa, the festival is a two-day event that is celebrated on the 10th day of the fifth month of Tibetan Calendar, which is the month of June/July in Gregorian Calendar.On this popular festival in Ladakh, Cham Dance and other traditional dances are performed in Hemis Monastery on the beats of drums and cymbal and on the tunes of long pipe like Tibetan music instrument. 

Month: June / July  |  City: Ladakh |  Genre: Music  |   No of Days: 2 days  |   Website: Hemis Festival

The Raindrops Festival of Indian Classical Dance, founded in 1991 by Kathak exponent Uma Dogra and organized by her Sam Ved Society for Performing Arts, is Mumbai’s celebrated monsoon‑season showcase held annually in July . Spread over two days, the festival brings together a curated selection of 8–10 emerging and young dancers in multiple classical styles—Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, and occasionally Manipuri—on prestigious stages like SPJIMR or Bhavan’s Centre  Its monsoon-themed name “Raindrops” reflects both the timing during Mumbai’s rains and its purpose: to nourish and showcase budding talent, offering a refreshing artistic renewal . 

Month: July  |  City: Mumbai   |  Genre: Music  |   No of Days: 2 days  |   Website: Raindrops Festival

The Bangalore International Arts Festival (BIAF), organised by the Artists’ Introspective Movement (AIM) since 2008, is a flagship cultural showcase celebrating “harmony through art” by featuring both Indian and international artists  Held at venues like the iconic Chowdiah Memorial Hall and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, the 16th edition took place this year from March 22–30, highlighted by jugalbandis, Carnatic and Hindustani vocal performances, and dance productions such as Pratibodhana and Silapadhikaram The festival commemorated Pandit Kumar Gandharva’s birth centenary, including performances by his grandson Bhuvanesh Komkali and specially themed concerts–alongside a tree-planting drive to promote a “Green Bengaluru” .

Month: July  |  City: Bangalore  |  Genre: Mixed  |   No of Days: 5 days  |   Website: BIAF

The Nrithyabharathi Annual Festival is a vibrant celebration of Indian classical dance that brings together top-tier artists and emerging talents under one roof. Held in Mangalore (and occasionally in varied cities), the festival is organized by the Nrithyabharathi Classical Performing Art School and features distinguished teachers and performers, mainly in Bharatanatyam alongside occasional Carnatic music elements. Spanning multiple days typically in late summer (around August), it showcases solo recitals, group choreographies, and thematic productions aimed at nurturing both seasoned practitioners and new learners . 

Month: August  |  City: Mangalore  |  Genre: Dance  |   No of Days: 10 days  |   Website: Nrithyabharathi Annual Festival

The Chaturprahar Festival is an annual Indian classical music celebration held since 2011 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai, centered on the tradition of performing ragas during their appropriate “prahar” (time of day). The festival typically takes place in September, offering attendees a musical journey from dawn through dusk, exploring the emotional resonance and tonal character of time-specific ragas. Each edition features distinguished stalwarts of Hindustani classical music—such as Kaushiki Chakrabarty, Devaki Pandit, Ulhas Kashalkar, and the Gundecha Brothers—performing in morning, afternoon, evening, and late-night sessions.

Month: August  |  City: Mangalore  |  Genre: Dance  |   No of Days: 10 days  |   Website: Nrithyabharathi Annual Festival

The Ziro Music Festival is a four‑day outdoor indie-music celebration set in the scenic Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, every September Founded in 2012 by Bobby Hano and Anup Kutty, it highlights emerging and regional acts from Northeast India alongside national and international performers . The festival is deeply eco-conscious—stages are crafted from bamboo by the local Apatani tribe, it has a strict zero-plastic policy, and involves community artisans in its sustainable operations  Attendees can enjoy diverse music genres—from folk and indie rock to electronica—while mingling with the Apatani people, exploring local arts, sampling rice beer, camping on-site, and soaking in the lush, misty atmosphere.

Month: September  |  City: Zio  |  Genre: Dance  |   No of Days: 2 days  |   Website: Ziro Festival

Jodhpur RIFF is an annual, international roots music festival, timed to coincide with Sharad Purnima, the brightest full moon of the year in north India. Now in its 17th year, the Festival presents a series of spectacular concerts and events based in and around Mehrangarh Fort, under the aegis of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust. A not-for-profit festival, Jodhpur RIFF aspires to positively impact the livelihood of the traditional performers of Rajasthan.

Month: October |  City: Jodhpur |  Genre: Music  |   No of Days: 6 days  |   Website: Jodhpur RIFF

Utsav (also known as the World Dance Festival Udbhav Utsav) is a prominent international folk dance and music festival held annually in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, since its inception two decades ago . Typically held over 5 to 6 days in late October—past editions ran from October 25 to 29 or similar—it features vibrant performances from both Indian troupes and international groups hailing from countries like the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, Taiwan, and Estonia . The festival often kicks off with a colorful street parade, followed by gala evenings blending classical and contemporary dance on prestigious stages like the Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya auditorium—where attendees repeatedly applaud stellar choreography in rich traditional costumes .

Month: October |  City: Gwalior  |  Genre: Dance  |   No of Days: 6 days  |   Website: Udbhav Utsav

The Parampara Series – National Festival of Music & Dance is a prestigious annual cultural extravaganza organized through their institution, Natya Tarangini . Held each year in New Delhi (Kamani Auditorium or Natya Tarangini’s own venue), it’s a three-day showcase celebrating India’s classical arts—dance styles like Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, and music concerts spanning Hindustani and Carnatic forms. The festival brings together both legendary maestros—such as Pt. Birju Maharaj, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Kishori Amonkar, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Vyjayanthimala Bali—and rising stars, often including international artists, fostering a vibrant guru‑shishya legacy . In recent years, editions have featured stellar performances like Kuchipudi by the Raja Radha Reddy Repertory, Hindustani vocals (Mahesh Kale), Odissi by SRJAN Ensemble, flute recitals (Rakesh Chaurasia), Mohiniyattam (Neena Prasad & group) .

Month: October |  City: New Delhi  |  Genre: Dance  |   No of Days: 3 days  |   Website: Parampara Series

The Mahindra Kabira Festival is a two-day annual celebration in mid-December on the historic ghats of Varanasi, paying tribute to the inclusive and mystical teachings of 15th‑century poet‑saint Kabir. Co-organized by Teamwork Arts and the Mahindra Group since 2016, it blends Hindustani classical, folk traditions, Sufi and fusion music, theatre, heritage walks, boat rides on the Ganges, and literary discussions with scholars such as Purushottam Agrawal and Linda Hess.

Month: November |  City: Varanasi  |  Genre: Music  |   No of Days: 2 days  |   Website: Mahindra Kabira Festival

The Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh is an esteemed annual Indian classical music festival held since 1972 in memory of Pandit Jasraj’s father, Pandit Motiram, and brother, Pandit Maniram. .Currently hosted at the historic Chowmahalla Palace (previously on grounds like Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and CCRT), the festival spans four days from late November to early December, culminating on November 30, the death anniversary of Pandit Motiram .Over its five-decade history, it has seen performances by legends such as Ravi Shankar, Amjad Ali Khan, Bhimsen Joshi, Shivkumar Sharma, Hariprasad Chaurasia, L. Subramaniam, Birju Maharaj, among others, with Pandit Jasraj himself invariably performing on ceremony’s final day.

Month: November |  City: Hyderabad|  Genre: Music  |   No of Days: 4 days  |   Website:  Pandit Motiram Pandit aniram Sangeet Samaroh

The Madras Music Season—also known as the Chennai Music Season—is an annual cultural extravaganza held from mid‑November through mid‑January across Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Celebrated as one of the world’s largest Carnatic and classical arts festivals, it draws enthusiasts, scholars, artists, and global visitors for a deeply spiritual and artistic experience during the Tamil month of Margazhi

Month: November |  City: Hyderabad|  Genre: Music  |   No of Days: 4 days  |   Website: Madras Music Season