Mumbai, Feb 05: The India Art Festival (IAF) was officially launched and flagged off in Mumbai at the Nehru Centre, Worli, on January 30, 2026, ushering in three vibrant days of contemporary Indian art from January 30 to February 1, 2026. The 3-day event was inaugurated by a star-studded group of guests which included Bhajan Samrat Shri. Anup Jalota, Maharani Priti Devi of Kutch, Gujarat, and Shri. Ravi Mandlik. The launch of the art exhibit reaffirmed its position as one of India’s most inclusive and dynamic platforms for contemporary art. Marking its 14th edition in Mumbai and the 37th nationwide, the festival once again brought together regions, traditions, and generations through a rich and immersive artistic showcase. The show will be open to the public from 11am onwards.
A key highlight of this edition is the participation of 45 art galleries, artists’ studios, and collectives, alongside 550 artists, showcasing over 4,500 artworks across 150 booths. The event opened with a special preview on January 30 for art lovers and collectors, setting the stage for three days of vibrant engagement. With enthusiastic public footfall over the weekend, the festival reaffirmed its role as a dynamic platform where emerging and established voices come together, making contemporary art accessible and deeply rooted in India’s diverse cultural landscape.
Founded in 2008 by the Indian Contemporary Art Journal, the India Art Festival was conceived to create visibility and opportunities for artists from rural and semi-urban regions. Over the years, it has evolved into a nationwide movement that bridges emerging talent with collectors and connoisseurs across India’s major cultural hubs, including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
“India Art Festival was envisioned as a democratic platform where artists could connect directly with audiences. What began as a space for underrepresented voices has grown into a national art movement that celebrates India’s vast creative diversity. This year, the event saw a strong presence of returning artists and galleries, with over 150 repeat participants including more than 30 established galleries and 120 artists whose continued association has shaped the festival’s evolving identity,” says Rajendra Patil, Director, India Art Festival.
The Mumbai 2026 edition continues IAF’s acclaimed dual-pavilion format, dividing the exhibition into two distinct sections—one dedicated to leading art galleries and the other to the Artist’s Pavilion, which showcases independent artists. Participating galleries include several long-standing exhibitors from Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and other Indian cities, along with international participants from Singapore, Dubai, and Zurich (Switzerland), as well as Udaipur, Santiniketan, Hyderabad, Goa, Nagpur, and Pune.
The Artist’s Pavilion will highlight a strong lineup of independent practitioners—many of them repeat participants—offering a dynamic snapshot of contemporary creativity across mediums and styles. The pavilion features artists such as Om Thadkar, Anjali Prabhakar, Rajeev Rai, Kaveta Sachdev, Praveena Parepalli, Danashri Wazalwar, Ashok Rathod, Kanchan Mahante, Shubhangi Jangade, M. Narayan, Shobhita Hariharan, Anil Vergese, Arul Murugan, Ria Das, Seema Gupta, Mahesh Soundatte, Ruta Inamdar, Yuvraj Patil, Deepa Nath, Piyali Sarkar, Dev Mehta, Rahat Kazmi, Vinit Kumar, Anna Kurian, Rupali Mansinghka, Lekshmi Sukumaran, Anjum Shah, Chandni Gulati Aggarwal, Uma Krishnamoorthy, among hundreds more.
Gallery presentations will feature an impressive mix of modern masters and contemporary voices, including works by M. F. Husain, Krishen Khanna, Jogen Chowdhury, Akbar Padamsee, Anjolie Ela Menon, Paresh Maity, Manu Parekh, Atul Dodiya, T. Vaikuntam, Lalu Prasad Shaw, Madhavi Parekh, Laxma Goud, Jatin Das, and several others, offering collectors a rare opportunity to view iconic and emerging practices side by side.
IAF Mumbai 2026 will present a wide spectrum of paintings, sculptures, photography, and prints, encompassing traditional, figurative, abstract, surreal, and experimental forms. Artistic themes span spirituality, nature, social narratives, and evolving interpretations of Indian identity, with several artists unveiling new bodies of work created exclusively for this edition.
Beyond being an exhibition, the India Art Festival functions as a vibrant art marketplace, enabling direct interaction between artists, galleries, collectors, institutions, and first-time buyers. By removing conventional barriers and encouraging transparent engagement, IAF has fostered a loyal community that values the festival as a space for discovery, dialogue, and cultural exchange.
As it returns to Mumbai in 2026, the India Art Festival reaffirms its role as a catalyst in India’s evolving art ecosystem, continuing its legacy of inclusivity and creative exchange.
Established in 2008, the India Art Festival stands today as one of India’s leading contemporary art fair platforms. By integrating independent artists, mid-level galleries, and art institutions within a single democratic framework, IAF has redefined the country’s art fair model—creating an accessible and inclusive ecosystem that celebrates artistic talent from all walks of life.