iWorld
Red FM expands South Side Story to Pune as festival returns to Delhi
Eighth edition adds new city and larger line-up celebrating South Indian culture
MUMBAI: South India’s cultural heartbeat is set to echo a little louder, and this time it will resonate in two cities. Red FM has announced the eighth edition of South Side Story, expanding its flagship cultural festival to Pune for the first time while returning to Delhi with its biggest line-up yet, reflecting the growing appetite for regional, experience-led live entertainment.
The festival will take place in Pune on 22 August 2026 at Messe Global Laxmi Lawns, before returning to Delhi on 29 and 30 August 2026 at the KD Jadhav Wrestling Stadium.
What began as a music-focused event has evolved into one of North India’s largest celebrations of South Indian culture, blending music, cinema, literature, food, art and traditional performances into a multi-dimensional cultural experience.
The Delhi edition will feature a diverse line-up spanning classical, folk, indie rock, rap and contemporary music. Thaikkudam Bridge returns for its eighth consecutive year, alongside Padma Bhushan awardee Shobana, who will headline with a special performance. The festival will also welcome Aksomaniac for the first time, with performances by Raghu Dixit, Karthik, Baby Jean, Avial, Sooraj Santhosh, Arya Dhayal and Masala Coffee.
For its debut in Pune, audiences can expect performances by Shobana, Karthik, Avial, The Raghu Dixit Project and Tribemama Marykali, marking the festival’s first expansion beyond the National Capital Region.
Beyond music, the organisers have broadened the festival’s cultural canvas through partnerships across literature, cinema, design and food. The literary programme will be curated with Oxford Bookstore, Kunzum Books, DC Books and the Kerala Literature Festival, while the cinema segment will be presented in collaboration with the India Habitat Centre, showcasing South India’s cinematic heritage and contemporary storytelling.
Visitors can also explore installations by Neytt, returning after gaining international attention at the Met Gala, alongside Rouka, while food partners including Mahabelly, South Side Habits, Draavin Canteen, Naivedyam and Bili Hu will showcase regional cuisines. The festival will also feature Kalaripayattu performances and an Onam Sadhya featuring a traditional 20-dish South Indian feast.
The expansion comes as India’s live entertainment industry continues to witness strong momentum, with audiences increasingly gravitating towards immersive, culturally rooted experiences. Against that backdrop, South Side Story has steadily grown into one of the country’s most distinctive cultural properties, underscoring Red FM’s strategy of building large-scale platforms that celebrate regional identity while bringing diverse communities together through music, food, cinema and the arts.
