In a landmark moment for Indian music on the global cultural stage, Carnegie Hall has announced its first-ever Indian Music Festival, set to debut in 2027. The three-day annual festival, scheduled from May 21 to 23, 2027, has been made possible through a $10 million philanthropic gift from Indo-American philanthropist Ila Paliwal, her husband Dinesh Paliwal, and the Ila and Dinesh Paliwal Foundation.
The festival will bring together world-class musicians from India, offering New York audiences an immersive exploration of India’s classical music traditions alongside its contemporary musical voices. For Indian artists, the initiative represents a rare and prestigious opportunity to perform at one of the world’s most iconic cultural institutions.
According to Carnegie Hall, the Indian Music Festival will be an annual event, with performances supported by the Paliwal family’s endowment. As part of the festival programming, select Indian artists will also be recognised with the Carnegie Hall Fellow Award, with their work highlighted across the Hall’s broader artistic initiatives.
The announcement marks a significant milestone in Carnegie Hall’s engagement with Indian music and culture, reflecting a growing recognition of India’s rich and diverse musical heritage within global cultural discourse.
Reflecting her longstanding commitment to music and philanthropy, Ila Paliwal—who is a New York–based, award-winning vocalist, composer, songwriter, producer and philanthropist—has also been recommended to join the board of Carnegie Hall. The recommendation is expected to be taken up at the board’s upcoming meeting on February 25.
The Ila and Dinesh Paliwal Foundation supports charitable initiatives across education, arts and culture, stewardship, and climate action. Speaking about the new festival, Illa Paliwal said, “I am delighted to see plans for Carnegie Hall’s new Indian Music Festival coming to life and am deeply honoured and looking forward to joining the board,” as she signed off.
With the launch of this festival, Carnegie Hall is set to establish a permanent and prominent platform for Indian music in New York’s cultural calendar, further strengthening cross-cultural dialogue through the arts.
