Soundscapes of India 2026 to bring 150 artists to global music stage

New Delhi: India’s musical mosaic is getting a global stage. The third edition of Soundscapes of India (SOI) 2026, an initiative of Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (IPRS) curated by MusiConnect India, will take place from 29 to 31 August 2026 in New Delhi, bringing Indian artists and international music industry stakeholders together.

The showcase is designed to move beyond the conventional music festival format, creating a meeting point for artists, festival programmers, curators, labels, publishers, booking agents, concert promoters, live venues, cultural institutions and other industry stakeholders.

SOI 2026 will feature more than 25 bands and 150 artists, with participants from 20-plus countries and more than 15 Indian states. International acts from Indonesia, Egypt, Nepal and the UK will also participate.

The programme is expected to offer more than 30 international festival pitching opportunities, alongside participation from 25-plus global industry leaders.

The festival will cover a wide spectrum of Indian and contemporary music, including folk and indigenous traditions, classical music, fusion, jazz, rock, hip-hop, electronic, contemporary and experimental sounds. Rather than presenting Indian music through a single lens, the organisers aim to showcase the country’s evolving and varied musical ecosystem.

At the heart of the initiative is the effort to connect artists with international opportunities. SOI will host artist pitching sessions, curated networking meetings, strategic roundtables, country-focused meetings, professional workshops and mentoring sessions.

These interactions are intended to help Indian musicians connect directly with festival programmers, booking agents, labels, publishers and promoters who can influence their international careers.

Speaking about the festival’s vision, IPRS chairman Javed Akhtar said every region of India has its own musical voice and tradition, and SOI provides an opportunity for this creative diversity to be discovered on a larger global stage.

IPRS chief executive officer Rakesh Nigam said the platform is designed to bring Indian artists and the global music industry together, helping musicians gain visibility, build meaningful connections and access opportunities outside the country.

A key focus of this year’s edition is India’s living cultural heritage and indigenous music. SOI aims to give musical traditions that often sit outside mainstream discovery channels a place in contemporary global conversations, while allowing artists and communities to retain the cultural identity at the heart of their work.

The exchange will also work in the opposite direction, with international artists and industry professionals coming to India. This two-way approach is intended to turn SOI into a space for cultural dialogue, market intelligence and longer-term collaborations rather than a one-way showcase.

The organisers describe the festival’s approach through five pillars: discovery, showcase, access, exchange and opportunity. The objective is to move artists from being simply seen and heard towards tangible outcomes such as international bookings, touring opportunities, partnerships and collaborations.

With its third edition, Soundscapes of India is positioning itself as a bridge between India’s vast musical talent pool and the international industry. The larger ambition is clear: not just bringing the world to hear India, but helping Indian music travel further into the world.