If you're the type that gets upset because your favourite band never plays in India, you might want to rethink your disappointment. Indian live music is abundant, featuring performances by Manganiyars at desert forts in Rajasthan, a bluesy band from Shillong at heritage studios in Mumbai, and the sound of Berlin house resonating across solar-powered fields in Bengaluru. Music events in India are not just limited to your favourite international artist, and there is so much to explore!
The true music fans could really enjoy the quick trip to little towns and cities in India instead, as they are used to long-haul flights following performers across the world. These events feature prominent performances by local artists, but they also extend a warm welcome to international acts. Anyway, neither the Indian nor the foreign performers will become famous overnight, and the real thrill is in unearthing the underground talents whose names you'll be able to bring up at cocktail parties for weeks after the program ends.
Hornbill Music Festival, Nagaland
The Naga Heritage Village in Kisama is the site of both the annual state-sponsored Hornbill Festival and the annual Hornbill Music Festival. The Cultural and Tourism Department of Nagaland organises events where all the indigenous communities in the northeastern state can come together to showcase their traditional art forms, including dances, music, and rituals. The event takes its name from the hornbill, a sacred bird in indigenous cultures and an important figure in local legends; the bird appears in many of the artefacts on display, including ceremonial masks, woven tapestries, and sculptures.
Indigenous performers such as the Tetseo Sisters, Alobo Naga, and the Nagaland Madrigal Singers are shown alongside foreign acts such as Japan’s Drum Tao and Yosuke Irie, Wales’ Mari Mathias and Gareth Bonello, and Peru’s Estampas del Perú. Theatres, traditional morungs, and open courtyards all work together to host the performances. Not only will there be musical performances, but there will also be artisan booths, floral displays, and tribal games, allowing the festival to serve as a showcase for the cultural traditions of Nagaland. This live music concert is a must-visit!
When: December 1-10, 2025
Echoes of Earth, Karnataka
Bengaluru's Echoes of Earth has proudly proclaimed itself as India's "greenest music festival," a claim it more than lives up to since its 2016 debut. Solar power powers the festival, which does away with single-use plastic and builds its stages out of recycled materials like metal, wood, and electronics. The festival infuses its entire design language with its spirit of ecological ingenuity, creating massive art pieces from outmoded, repurposed materials. Past lineups have featured acts from all over the world, playing everything from Malian desert blues and Berlin house to local jazz and funk bands.
As a platform for emerging musicians to perform for an appreciative audience, showcasing acts not typically featured at India's mainstream music festivals. The grounds, the music, the presentations, and the workshops are all shaped by the yearly ecological theme, which is based on a different topic each time (the most recent being the impact of changing seasons in 2024). This is an interesting concept and maybe one of the more interesting music events in India!
When: December 13-14, 2025
Madras Music Season, Tamil Nadu
The Madras Music Season, also known locally as Margazhi, originated as an auxiliary to the All India Music Conference in 1927 and has grown into a nine-week festival. Thousands of artists and fans from all across India and its diaspora descend upon Chennai for the annual sabhas, transforming the city into a global music mecca. The daily Kutcheri performances in performance spaces throughout Mylapore, Triplicane, and George Town showcase Carnatic music, which is performed by both seasoned musicians and youthful prodigies.
However, the schedule has swiftly expanded to include dance recitals and theatre, while parallel innovations such as livestreams to audiences outside of Chennai and open mic nights have helped to revitalise a tradition that has been criticised for being overly exclusive. The festival is appealing not only onstage but also offstage, as attendees may sneak off to warm rasam, bondas, and filter coffee at the sabha-run canteens in between performances. One of the most thrilling ways to experience Chennai at its finest, the festival is perfect for both newcomers and longtime devotees.
When: December 16, 2025 – January 14, 2026
Mahindra Blues Festival, Maharashtra
The 70-year-old Mehboob Studios in Bandra transforms into a downtown Chicago soundstage for one weekend every February. The Mahindra Blues Festival has evolved into Asia's premier blues event over the past thirteen years, attracting renowned guitarists, harmonica players, and singers with deep, raspy voices to Mumbai. While some attendees are ardent fans who can identify every riff in the band's repertoire, others are simply seeking their first exposure to live music on a large screen.
Audience members leave the stage between acts to peruse the food vendors and single malts, transforming the once-formal music hall into a more lived-in backlot thanks to the venue's former soundstages and courtyards. The festival has opened its doors to many more acts than just those from outside the country. Ipriti Kharbangar, from the Meghalayan band Soulmate, and Kanchan Daniel & the Beards are just two examples of the many homegrown artists that the festival has continuously nurtured into some of the country's biggest blues performers. The Band Hunt has also discovered Indian musicians, who now share billing with international stars.
When: February 14-15, 2026
We know you’re also waiting for your favourite international artists- so mark your calendars!
Music events in India in 2025
- The K-Town Festival is a full-on Korean music and celebration extravaganza, where Bang Yedam, Super Junior-D&E, and Taemin will make their India debuts.
- The prog-rock icon Steven Wilson is touring extensively in India as part of his Overview Tour, which delves deeply into his solo discography and features immersive visuals.
- With a taste of nostalgia for the mid-2000s in the form of R&B hooks and club songs, Akon is returning to India for his tour.
- Passenger is the first time the British singer-songwriter has performed in India, and it features his personal folk-pop.
- Following his successful demonstrations in Delhi, rapper Travis Scott is delivering an explosive one-night-only performance in Mumbai.
- Rolling Loud India 2025 is coming to Mumbai! The largest hip-hop festival in the world is making its first appearance in India, featuring performances by local crews and international rap superstars.
- Grammy and Oscar winner Jon Batiste's Maestro Tour takes him to Delhi for a keyboard performance of jazz and soul.
- With Martin Garrix as the headliner, we can hardly wait for India's premier electronic dance music- Sunburn, which is now blooming in Mumbai and features high-profile DJs and impressive mainstage fireworks.
Upcoming concerts in India in 2026
- Lollapalooza: Once again, the world-renowned festival has assembled an eclectic roster that spans musical styles, this time including Fuji Kaze and Playboi Carti.
- Dream Theatre’s 40-year commemorative tour: In honour of the legendary prog metal band Dream Theatre's 40th anniversary, they are currently touring India.
- Catch John Mayer performing live: Legendary guitarist and singer-songwriter John Mayer will make his first-ever appearance in India early next year. His songs include Gravity, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, and Daughters, among many others. On January 22, at Mumbai's Mahalaxmi Racecourse, the show will take place, and it is promoted and produced by BookMyShow Live.
Want more details about Lolla 2026? Here's all you need to know: