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KalaYatra 2026 Dance Festival Begins Jan 13, Curated by Sonal Mansingh

The Festival of New Choreographies, KalaYatra 2026, curated by Padma Vibhushan Sonal Mansingh, is set to begin on January 13th in New Delhi. The event, presented by the Delhi Government in collaboration with cultural institutions, will feature ten new compositions showcasing the evolution of traditional dance forms. Officials and artists emphasize the festival's role in nurturing a new generation while anchoring presentations in Bharatiya values. The festival will be held over several days at Kamani Auditorium, featuring classical dance forms from seven different Indian states.

Key Points: KalaYatra 2026: Festival of New Choreographies in Delhi

  • Celebrates traditional Indian dance & Sanatan history
  • Features ten new choreographic compositions
  • Aims to nurture new generation of artists
  • Collaboration between Delhi Govt. & cultural institutions
2 min read

KalaYatra 2026 to kickstart from January 13, Padma Vibhushan Sonal Mansingh expresses excitement

Padma Vibhushan Sonal Mansingh curates KalaYatra 2026, a dance festival celebrating traditional Indian dance with new compositions from Jan 13 in Delhi.

"This tradition is thousands of years old, and it deserves to continue for thousands more. - Sonal Mansingh"

New Delhi, January 6

Festival of New Choreographies, KalaYatra 2026, which is curated by Padma Vibhushan Sonal Mansingh, is all set to kickstart from January 13.

On Tuesday, a pre-event meet was held in Delhi, where Sonal Mansingh shared what audience can expect from the dance festival.

Presented by the Department of Art, Culture & Language, Government of Delhi, NCT, in collaboration with the Centre for Indian Classical Dances (Shri Kamakhya Kalapeeth) and Sonal Mansingh, the festival celebrates traditional Indian dances, Sanatan history, and the enduring civilisational value of Bharat through contemporary choreographic expression rooted in tradition.

The Curtain Raiser was also attended by K Mahesh, Secretary (Art, Culture & Languages), Government of Delhi, NCT, and senior officials of the Delhi Government. A distinguished panel of Gurus, choreographers, and cultural leaders representing diverse dance traditions of India also addressed the gathering.

The speakers reflected on the relevance of new choreographies in traditional dance forms, the responsibility of Gurus in shaping cultural consciousness, and the importance of platforms that nurture artistic innovation while remaining anchored in Bharatiya values.

Speaking to media, Sonal Mansingh said, "There will be presentations of ten new compositions. Through this, I want to highlight that traditional dances remain vibrant and relevant. They are evolving, moving forward, and actively nurturing a new generation of artists. This tradition is thousands of years old, and it deserves to continue for thousands more."

She further emphasised that Festival of New Choreographies 2026 is envisioned as a space where young and senior artistes alike engage deeply with India's cultural inheritance, presenting narratives that speak both to timeless values and contemporary society.

"Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta ji, Minister of Culture, Kapil Mishra ji, are absolutely dedicated and committed to make Delhi a global center for the promotion of culture, and it is in this spirit that our government has collaborated with Sonal Mansingh ji to have these classical dance forms from seven different states represented in this festival," said K Mahesh, Secretary (Art, Culture & Languages), Government of Delhi, NCT.

The Festival of New Choreographies - KalaYatra 2026 will be held on January 13th, 14th, 15th & 28th, 29th opening every evening at 6:30 PM at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
Finally, some positive cultural news. Our dance forms are our identity. Blending tradition with new choreographies is the perfect way to keep them alive for the youth. Jai Hind!
R
Rohit P
Great initiative, but I hope the ticket prices are reasonable. Often these elite cultural events become inaccessible to the common public. Art should be for everyone.
S
Sarah B
As someone new to Indian culture, this sounds fascinating. It's impressive how ancient art forms are being presented in a contemporary context. Would love to learn more.
K
Karthik V
Representation from seven states! That's the real Bharat. Our diversity in dance, from Bharatanatyam to Kathak to Manipuri, is our strength. Proud moment.
M
Meera T
My daughter is learning Odissi. Such festivals are so important for young artists to see the pinnacle of the art form and get inspired. Thank you for organizing this.

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