India Biennale 2026: Delhi to showcase contemporary art, architecture and design from December 4

The second edition of India Biennale will open in the national capital on December 4 with focus on contemporary art architecture design and cultural exchange across the citys historic monuments museums galleries public spaces and cultural institutionsTouted to become the centre of a flagship celebration of contemporary art the biennale by the Ministry of Culture will aim to create a citywide platform for creative expression dialogue and discoveryThe India Biennale builds upon the success of India Pavilion at the 61st Venice Art Biennale 2026 and the inaugural edition of the India Art Architecture and Design Biennale IAADB in 2023Centred at Purana Qila the biennale will extend across Delhis historic and cultural landscape including the Red Fort Qutub Minar Humayuns Tomb Safdarjung Tomb Lodhi Garden Mehrauli the National Gallery of Modern Art the National Museum and Lalit Kala Akademi creating a dialogue between the citys architectural and historical legacy and contemporary creative practices the ministry said in a statementThe second edition is guided by the curatorial theme Tat Tvam Asi You Are That Reconnecting in an Age of DistractionThe exhibition has invited artists architects and designers to make works which slow the eye return the body to the city and restore what haste has worn thin across the cityThe works will be created across all mediums including the handmade and the digital the ancient craft and the immersive new medium as well as digital and newmedia art that will be instruments of encounter technology turned back toward attention presence and wonderToday the country is taking pride forward with the spirit of pride in heritage The stronger Bharat emerges in the field of art architecture and design the more it will benefit the entire humanity Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a statementSpanning over 108 days the exhibition will feature presentations by institutions such as Bihar Museum Kiran Nadar Museum of Art Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre NMACC Serendipity Arts Devi Art Foundation Gujral Foundation Abheraj Baldota Foundation DRONAH Foundation and the Public Arts Trust of India alongside a wider network of participating organisations and practitionersSome of the notable presentations include DAGs Anant A Rare 18th Century Mahabharata Scroll Devi Art Foundations The Infinite Circle and Gujral Foundations A Woven Line of Control at Purana Qila and The Eternal Fold at Lodhi GardenNMACC will present Kingdom of Earth while Bihar Museum will showcase The Sacred Waters Chhath Puja and Pind Daan at Purana QilaSerendipity Arts will present the installation The Charpai Project and HakchangPolang performance at Purana QilaThe India Biennale 2026 is a proud moment for us and a powerful expression of Indias cultural confidence It brings together the strength of our diversity the energy of our creative communities and the many ways in which art and culture shape how India engages with the world I invite artists architects designers and visitors from India and across the globe to join us experience the Biennale and make it their own Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said in a statementThe programme also features presentations that explore the relationship between contemporary artistic practice cultural memory and historic settingsThe biennales engagement with Delhis urban and architectural heritage will be further reflected in projects such as Shehr Mehrauli Where Memory Meets Water by the CulturalResource Conservation Initiative CRCI which extends across the Mehrauli Archaeological Park and its surrounding historic precinctsDRONAH Foundation in association with the National Institute of Urban Affairs NIUA and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts IGNCA will present Our Cities Speak across multiple sites including Qutub Minar Mehrauli Feroz Shah Kotla and India Habitat CentreAt Qutub Minar Varanasi the Timeless an exhibition by artist Paresh Maity and designer Ritu Beri will bring their creative interpretations of Varanasi into dialogue with one of Delhis most significant historic landmarksTogether these projects reflect the Biennales expansive understanding of creative practice bringing art architecture design craft material culture and cultural memory into a shared public arena By situating contemporary creative expression within historic monuments institutional spaces gardens and urban precincts the programme encourages audiences to move between disciplines and venues discovering different perspectives on Indias past present and possible futures the ministry saidIn a firstofitskind initiative the ministry will introduce the India Biennale Pass to bring together participating monuments museums and cultural institutions across Delhi through an integrated access systemFrom December 4 to March 21 entry to participating monuments and cultural institutions will be facilitated through the India Biennale Pass replacing the regular individual entry ticketing system at these venues for the duration of the biennaleThe visitors will be able to access the biennale with one day pass for Rs 100 threeday pass for Rs 200 week pass for Rs 400 season pass for Rs 3000 and premium pass for Rs 10000The premium pass will include additional benefits such as parking guided walkthroughs and volunteer supportThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever