Maharashtra’s rising influence in global pop culture—driven by Marathi artists performing internationally and digital creators redefining storytelling—will take center stage with the launch of RADA 2026, the state’s first-ever Marathi pop culture festival. Presented by BhaDiPa (Bharatiya Digital Party), the two-day event will be held on March 28 and 29, 2026, at The Orchid Hotel in Pune.
Positioned as a celebration of Marathi pop culture “of, for, and by the Marathi youth,” RADA will bring together leading artists, comedians, creators, and panelists from across the Marathi entertainment ecosystem. The festival will feature large-scale performances, conversations, and showcases of emerging talent, bringing together the Marathi internet community in a physical space for the first time.
The event arrives at a time when regional content from Maharashtra is making global waves and the state’s live entertainment sector is expanding beyond Mumbai. Organisers expect around 6,000 attendees across both days of the inaugural edition.
Line-up of digital creators and performers
The debut edition will feature a line-up of artists and creators who have helped bring Marathi content and culture to global audiences.
Among them is Prajakta Koli, popularly known as MostlySane, one of India’s most prominent digital personalities. After achieving critical and commercial success with her Marathi debut film Krantijyoti Vidhyalay Marathi Madhyam, Koli will interact with audiences at the festival, sharing her perspective on representing Marathi culture on the global stage.
Digital creator Neel Salekar, widely known as Just Neel Things, will present a performance blending his comedic storytelling with art forms such as shayari and poetry. Salekar, who has more than two million followers online, was among the early breakout creators to build a niche through comedic and collaboration-driven content.
Actor and creator Shubham Jadhav, one of Salekar’s frequent collaborators, will also appear at the festival, bringing his comedic style and on-screen persona to the stage. With more than 200,000 followers, Jadhav represents the festival’s focus on showcasing rising talent alongside established names.
YouTuber, music producer, and reel creator Yashraj Mukhate will also perform at the event, bringing his distinctive genre-blending musical style to the stage.
Folk singer and actor Nagesh Morvekar, whose song Dolby Walya from the film Jaudya Na Balasaheb became widely popular across Maharashtra and beyond, will also perform. His appearance is expected to bridge traditional folk music with younger audiences.
Singer and creator Sai Godbole, known for performing songs in multiple accents on social media, will also be part of the festival line-up.
Spotlight on Marathi hip-hop
With regional hip-hop gaining prominence, the festival will also highlight some of the leading Marathi hip-hop artists.
The line-up includes the duo Shreyas X Vedang. Shreyas Sagvekar gained global attention when his track Taambdi Chaamdi became a club hit internationally. He will perform alongside his long-time collaborator and producer Vedang.
Rapper Srushti Tawade, who rose to prominence through Hustle 2.0 and is signed to Warner Music India, will bring her distinctive rap style and poetry to the stage. Known for blending humour with sharp storytelling, Tawade has built a strong following for her expressive performances.
Producer and rapper Year Down (YD) will also perform at the festival. With more than seven million listeners and the 2024 hit track Yeda Yung with YUNG DSA, YD is expected to bring a high-energy performance to the Pune event.
Platform for established and emerging talent
Organisers say the festival aims not only to celebrate established artists but also to provide a platform for emerging voices in Marathi pop culture. By bringing creators, musicians, and storytellers onto the same main stage, the event seeks to showcase the breadth of the Marathi digital and cultural movement.
Speaking about the festival, Sarang Sathaye, Co-Founder, BhaDiPa, said, “Marathi artists and creators are building a very interesting repertoire beyond India. From Kratex and Shreyas having a global breakthrough to our stand-up comics selling shows internationally, it has been exciting to see Marathi pop culture creating its own niche. But we never had a stage that celebrates this success together out loud. RADA is that stage, a perfect way to bring the audience together and forge a path for the future of pop culture rooted in Maharashtra. And what better place than in Maharashtra’s cultural capital, Pune?”
Paula McGlynn, Co-founder, BhaDiPa, added, “Maharashtra is blessed with creators and artists who are breaking barriers and revamping how this innovative, dynamic culture looks and sounds. These sporadic bursts of talent made the world sit up and take notice. And RADA is bringing these talents to be celebrated together, providing them a mainstream stage. The festival was born out of the belief that, as much as the celebration of the past is important, the future must be celebrated with the same zeal. It is not just for the Marathi audience but a platform to discover what the Marathi youth is creating, opening Maharashtra’s vibrant pop-culture scene to the world like never before.”
A milestone for Marathi pop culture
RADA marks a milestone for Marathi pop culture, bringing together creators, artists, and storytellers in a large-scale festival format for the first time. Organisers describe the event as both a celebration of current achievements and a launchpad for emerging talent shaping the future of Marathi culture.
Tickets for the festival are available through BookMyShow.
