Seedhe Maut to headline India Rising gaming festival ahead of Esports World Cup

MUMBAI: The beat is about to drop on India’s gaming scene. In a move that further blurs the lines between esports, music and digital culture, Seedhe Maut has been announced as the headline act for the upcoming India Rising: Road to EWC festival in Mumbai.

The live performance will take place on 4 July at the JioWorld Convention Centre as part of the gaming and entertainment festival launched by JioBLAST and the Esports Foundation in the lead-up to the Esports World Cup 2026.

With the addition of Seedhe Maut, the event is positioning itself as more than just an esports competition. Organisers are building it as a broader youth entertainment platform that combines competitive gaming, creator culture, music and immersive fan experiences under one roof.

The festival will feature live competitions across Chess, VALORANT and MOBA Legends: 5v5!, alongside creator showcases, gaming zones, cosplay attractions and community activities. Seedhe Maut’s performance will serve as the entertainment centrepiece of the event.

Commenting on the announcement, JioBLAST chief executive officer Charlie Cowdrey said, “Gaming today sits at the intersection of competition, creators, music and digital culture. India Rising: Road to EWC has been designed as more than just an esports tournament, it is a platform built around how young audiences engage with entertainment today. Seedhe Maut represents a strong voice within India’s youth culture ecosystem, and bringing them into India Rising: Road to EWC helps us create a more immersive and culturally relevant live experience for gaming fans.”

Speaking about joining the festival, Seedhe Maut said, “Gaming, livestream culture and music audiences overlap more than ever today, and that energy is something we connect with strongly. We’re excited to be a part of the India Rising: Road to EWC Gaming Festival and perform in front of the crowd that lives and breathes this culture.”

Beyond music and gaming, the event will also host the India Rising: Road to EWC Chess LAN Finale. The competition will see Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi face Dutch Grandmaster Benjamin Bok for a coveted place at the Esports World Cup Chess competition later this year.

Organisers say India Rising: Road to EWC is intended to evolve into a long-term platform linked to the Esports World Cup ecosystem, creating pathways for Indian players, creators and gaming communities while bringing esports closer to mainstream youth culture.

As gaming increasingly becomes a convergence point for competition, content and entertainment, the Mumbai festival aims to showcase exactly how those worlds can come together, with high-stakes matches on screen and high-energy performances on stage.