WORLD MUSIC WEEKEND 2026
A Weekend-long Musical Celebration
At the intersection of tradition, experimentation, and global exchange, World Music Weekend 2026 explores how music travels across cultures, geographies, and histories.
Music is rarely static; it is a living site of adaptation and dialogue. This three-day festival is rooted in Bengaluru’s unique identity as a cultural crucible—a meeting point where traditional Indian music and international influences have collided and coexisted for decades.
Through a curated blend of multilingual performances, music appreciation sessions, vinyl-based experiences, and intimate in-gallery engagements, we gather artists and music selectors working across classical, folk, jazz, and pop to examine how musical traditions are inherited, transformed, and reimagined for a globalised world.
Day 1
Friday | June 19, 2026 | 06:00 PM
Raaja’s Sonic Universe:
Illaiyaraaja Listening Session by Goutham Iyengar and Sakré
A closer look at the textures, arrangements, and musical imagination that define Ilaiyaraaja’s iconic soundscapes.
Language: English
Venue: Performance Theatre
Day 2
Saturday | June 20, 2026 | 04:00 PM
Harmonium in Indian Classical Music
Lec-dem by Dr. Ravindra Katoti
An intimate in-gallery baithak exploring the harmonium’s journey from a Western invention to a beloved instrument in Indian classical music.
Language: English / Hindi
Venue: Living Traditions Gallery
Museum Tickets Required
Saturday | June 20, 2026 | 06:00 PM
Global Folk Harmonies:
Choral Performance by Folk and Tonic
A multilingual choral performance celebrating folk traditions from around the world through song, harmony, and collective expression.
Language: Multiple Languages
Venue: Performance Theatre
Day 2 and 3
Saturday and Sunday | June 20th and 21st, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Foreign Exchange:
Records between India and the World, Listening Station by Ram’s Musique
A curated vinyl listening station featuring cross-cultural collaborations, global influences, and musical conversations between India and the world.
Language: Multiple Languages
Venue: Reaching out Gallery
Museum Tickets Required
Day 3
Sunday | June 21, 2026 | 04:00 PM
Contemporary Jazz in an Indian Context
Music Appreciation Session by Aman Mahajan
A beginner-friendly, interactive session exploring applications of Indian music principles to Jazz based on Aman’s project ‘Refuge’.
Language: English
Venue: Performance Theatre
Sunday | June 21, 2026 | 06:00 PM
Biddu Jaisa Koi:
How a Bangalore Musician Crafted Indian Pop
Exploring the life, music, and lasting influence of Biddu, one of the key architects of Indian pop music.
Language: English / Kannada
Venue: Storm Drum Area