Kolkata, May 22: Candid Communication officially unveiled and announced the dates of its much-anticipated signature event, London Mahotsav 2026, at a grand curtain raiser press conference in Kolkata. The 3rd edition of the UK’s largest Indian–Bengali cultural carnival will be held on 27th & 28th June 2026 at the prestigious Sattavis Patidar Hall, Wembley, London, and will be inaugurated on 27th June by the Mayor of Brent along with several eminent dignitaries from India and the United Kingdom.
The dignitaries present at the curtain raiser press conference included Arindam Sil, Renowned Director; Sidhu of Cactus; Soumitra of Bhoomi; Anjana Basu, Renowned Actress; Raya Bhattacharya, Renowned Elocutionist; and Sayantan Das Adhikari, Organiser of London Mahotsav and Founder-Director of Candid Communication India & UK.
Recognised as a vibrant global platform celebrating the spirit and heritage of India and Bengal on an international stage, London Mahotsav has emerged as one of the most awaited cultural carnivals for Bengalis and multicultural audiences residing across the United Kingdom. Organised by Candid Communication UK, the festival is expected to witness over 3,500 visitors across the two-day extravaganza showcasing music, literature, fashion, entrepreneurship, business, art, theatre and cuisine.
One of the major attractions of London Mahotsav 2026 will be its grand musical segment featuring some of Bengal’s most celebrated artistes including Shrabani Sen, Renowned Singer; Rupankar Bagchi, Renowned Singer & Composer; Poushali Banerjee, Renowned Folk Singer; Soumitra of Bhoomi; Sidhu of Cactus; and singer Tathagata Sengupta who would present a tribute RD Burman. The performances are expected to offer audiences in London an immersive experience of Bengal’s contemporary and folk musical heritage.
Adding a grand culinary attraction to the festival, Aminia will present a spectacular Food Utsav bringing the authentic flavours of Kolkata to London. Aminia will bring its signature Mutton Biryani, Chicken Biryani and Firni through a first-of-its-kind initiative at any global Bengali festival. To preserve the authenticity of the experience, Aminia’s select chefs will travel from Kolkata along with specially sourced spices, ingredients, utensils and traditional biryani containers. The culinary celebration will also witness the presence of Aminia owners Kabir Azhar and Asher Ather. The grand food experience will be further elevated by Kolkata’s iconic heritage sweet brand Hindustan Sweets.
The festival will also host a special Food Talk session featuring internationally acclaimed celebrity chef Asma Khan from the UK alongside renowned food influencer and vlogger Indrajit Lahiri, popularly known as Foodka. They will be joined by Aminia’s Kabir Azhar and Asher Ather. The session will celebrate Bengal’s culinary heritage and evolving food culture through engaging conversations and experiences.
Another major highlight of the festival will be its theatre segment featuring the unique dramatic presentation “Prothom Partha”, where for the very first time in the United Kingdom, renowned actors Kaushik Sen and Debshankar Haldar will perform together on stage. They will be joined by actor Arindam Sil, Anjana Basu and Raya Bhattacharya, making it one of the most anticipated theatrical attractions of the festival.
Sports lovers will also witness a nostalgic celebration through a special segment titled “Banglar Derby”, a talk show reminiscing the golden era of football from the 1970s and 1980s. The session will feature former footballers Prasanta Banerjee and Manas Bhattacharya representing Mohun Bagan, while former footballers Bhaskar Ganguly and Chima Okorie will represent East Bengal. Renowned Journalist Gautam Bhattacharya will host the special session, taking audiences through memorable stories and emotions associated with Bengal’s football legacy.
Adding a unique dimension to this year’s edition is Matrimaa, a one-of-a-kind beauty pageant for mothers curated by Tuhinaa Pandey. The grand finale of the pageant will be organised at London Mahotsav 2026, where contestants will travel all the way from Kolkata to London to participate in the prestigious showcase.
The festival will also feature a grand exhibition segment showcasing renowned brands and enterprises. Visitors will get to experience celebrated brands like the iconic apparel label Suta and the famous saree brand B.N Ghanty from Asansol, along with several other fashion, lifestyle brands like Priyontor.
London Mahotsav 2026 is organised by Candid Communication UK and powered by Jac Olivol. SBI UK joins as the UK Banking Partner, while Lykstage comes on board as the Goodwill Partner. Associate Partners for this edition include Vicco, Top-Op Foods and Weikfield. Other sponsors associated with the event include Gouris Foundation, Goodace Hospital, Shree Balaji, Truefield, Care Knight, Priyontor.
The festival also has Friends FM as Radio Partner, Daily Hunt as Digital Media Partner, Mind n Matter as Social Media Partner, Bong Junction as the UK Charity Partner and Barefoot Holidays & Events as the travel partner and The Magic Memories, Desidera Eight 55 as event associates.
Speaking on the occasion, Sayantan Das Adhikari, Founder Director Candid Communication said, “London Mahotsav has grown into a global celebration of Bengali culture and identity. With every edition, our aim is to create a stronger cultural bridge between Kolkata and the UK while giving audiences an unforgettable experience of Bengal on an international stage.”