The second edition of Sangamam Thaala Utsav 2026, a two-day cultural festival celebrating India’s diverse traditions of rhythm, music, dance and performing arts, concluded successfully at the Prestige Centre for Performing Arts (PCPA), Bengaluru, attracting more than 4,500 attendees over two days.
The festival was inaugurated by renowned playback singer and actress Vasundhara Das in the presence of Kumari Shibulal, Founder – SFPI, S. D. Shibulal, Co-founder – SFPI and Co-founder and former CEO of Infosys, and Manjula Senthil, Program Director – Sangamam.
Organised by the Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives (SFPI) through its cultural platform Sangamam, the festival was held on July 11 and 12, 2026. It brought together 161 artists from across India, offering audiences an immersive experience of the country’s classical, folk and contemporary art forms through performances, workshops, exhibitions and interactive cultural experiences.
Designed as a platform to preserve, promote and celebrate India’s artistic heritage, Sangamam Thaala Utsav featured four ticketed performances, two masterclasses, six interactive workshops, seven pop-up performances, 10 art stalls, curated food stalls, a puppet installation and an interactive digital art experience. Three headline performances featuring Siddharth Belmannu, Laya Lavanya and Thaikkudam Bridge were completely sold out, reflecting growing audience interest in immersive cultural experiences.
Speaking on the successful conclusion of the festival, Kumari Shibulal, Founder – SFPI, said, “It is immensely gratifying to see Sangamam Thaala Utsav grow into a vibrant platform that celebrates India’s artistic diversity while bringing together artists, audiences and cultural enthusiasts from across the country. Our vision has always been to preserve and promote India’s rich artistic traditions and create meaningful opportunities for future generations to experience them. The overwhelming response this year encourages us to continue strengthening this cultural movement.”
Manjula Senthil, Program Director – Sangamam, added, “The response to every performance, workshop and masterclass has been extremely encouraging. It was wonderful to see audiences actively engage with artists, explore different art forms and experience Indian culture in an interactive manner. We are delighted that visitors have expressed a strong desire for many more such festivals, and we look forward to returning with an even bigger edition next year.”
The festival attracted participants not only from Bengaluru but also from several cities across India and overseas, including Singapore. Artists representing different regions of the country, including rural areas, participated in the event, reinforcing Sangamam’s vision of making traditional arts accessible to wider audiences.
As part of the celebrations, Sangamam organised three lucky draws during each of its four ticketed performances. Prizes included a Meal for Two at Simmer by Lilac, Bengaluru, two-night stays at Rae by Tamara Guruvayur or Kumbakonam, and a grand prize comprising a two-night luxury stay at Tamara Kodaikanal or Tamara Coorg.
Building on the success of the 2026 edition, Sangamam announced that the third edition of Sangamam Thaala Utsav will be held on July 10 and 11, 2027, at the Prestige Centre for Performing Arts (PCPA), Bengaluru.
