The Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival (SSMFL), presented by Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, will return from 6 March to 8 March 2026 at the SBKK Open Air Arena, 1, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi, continuing a legacy that has shaped India’s classical music culture for over seven decades.
Founded in 1947 by Smt. Sumitra Charat Ram at a pivotal moment in India’s post-Independence cultural evolution, the festival was conceived with a clear mandate: to present Indian classical music with dignity, discipline and depth. That founding philosophy — honouring tradition while allowing it to speak to the present — continues to define the character of the festival. Over the years, SSMFL has become a benchmark of artistic integrity, hosting musicians who have defined eras and shaped the grammar of Indian classical music.
The festival draws a multi-generational audience of rasikas, students, scholars, musicians, cultural journalists, diplomats and patrons of the arts. Many attendees return annually for its carefully curated programming, established artistic lineages and serious presentation of music.
Festival Programme
The opening day on Friday, 6 March, will feature a blend of tradition and emerging excellence with performances by Ramana Balachandhran, a Carnatic musician; Siddhartha Belmannu, a Hindustani vocalist; and sarod exponent Tejendra Narayan Majumdar.
Day two will focus on voice, lineage and legacy, with performances by vocalist Sawani Shende and flautist Shashank Subramanyam. A special guru–shishya presentation by Sajan Mishra and his son Swaransh will reflect the living transmission of the Banaras Gharana.
On Sunday, 8 March, the festival will open with a special morning session at 10:00 am featuring vocalist Madhup Mudgal and sarod maestro Biswajit Roy Chowdhury, presenting select compositions in morning ragas. The concluding evening session will feature Lokesh Anand on the shehnai, vocalist Shashwati Mandal, and a recital by Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan accompanied by Pt. Anindo Chatterjee.
The 2026 edition presents a balanced programme, bringing together established masters and promising younger artists, fostering dialogue across generations and traditions.
Over the decades, the Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival has featured leading figures of Indian classical music, including Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, Bismillah Khan, M.S. Subbulakshmi and Siddheshwari Devi, many of whom were recipients of India’s highest civilian and cultural honours. Their participation has contributed to the festival’s reputation as a significant platform within India’s classical music ecosystem.
Organisers note that the festival’s distinction lies in its curatorial discipline rather than scale. Its programming reflects stylistic diversity across various forms and gharanas of Indian classical music, positioning it as a national cultural platform rooted in artistic rigour and intergenerational collaboration.
The 2026 edition underscores the continuity of classical music traditions sustained through dedicated leadership and transmission across generations, reaffirming the festival’s enduring role as a custodian of India’s rich musical heritage.
The three-day gathering is expected to once again bring together artists and audiences in a shared celebration of India’s classical music tradition.
Festival Details:
Dates & Time: Friday, 6 March to Sunday, 8 March 2026 – 6:00 pm onwards; Special Morning Session on Sunday, 8 March – 10:00 am onwards
Venue: Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, 1, Copernicus Marg, Mandi House, New Delhi – 110001
The festival reaffirms New Delhi’s position as a significant hub for the sustained celebration and preservation of India’s classical music traditions.
