Pune, Mar 12: NODWIN Gaming, a leader in new-age youth entertainment, gaming, and esports, has partnered with ICONiQ White as the Title Sponsor and Mastercard as the ‘Powered By’ Sponsor for NH7 Weekender 2026, reinforcing the festival’s stature as one of India’s most influential live music platforms.
Scheduled from March 13 to March 15, 2026, at Mahalakshmi Lawns, Pune, the upcoming edition of India’s happiest music festival brings together music, culture, and two globally recognized brands that resonate strongly with today’s youth. The 2026 edition will feature a genre-spanning lineup including Talwiinder, Prateek Kuhad, Aditya Gadhvi, Raftaar x Kr$na, Faheem Abdullah, Aditya Rikhari, KING, Indian Ocean, Nucleya & Friends, and many more. The festival will also feature a vibrant comedy lineup, with performers such as Aaditya Kulshreshth, Rahul Subramanian, Varun Thakur, Rohan Joshi, and Urooj Ashfaq adding plenty of laughs to the weekend.
Representing the portfolio of Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited, India’s largest domestic spirits company by volume in India, ICONiQ White has built strong resonance with a new generation that values individuality, confidence, and self-expression. This association with NH7 Weekender reflects a shared cultural ethos rooted in originality and community.
As Title Sponsor, ICONiQ White will curate a social and experiential hub designed to be the festival’s heartbeat. Conceptualized as a space to pause and reset amid the high-energy festival environment, the zone will invite festival-goers to reconnect with art, community, and the experience of being fully present. This partnership further cements ICONiQ White’s commitment to live music and culture-forward platforms.
Alok Gupta, Managing Director, Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited, said,
“Today’s generation creates the culture they consume. ICONiQ White is designed for this audience, celebrating individuality and bold self-expression – values that have defined NH7 Weekender since its inception. This partnership is all about being present in the spaces where our consumers discover new voices and create unforgettable memories. We look forward to fuelling these shared experiences and inviting everyone to ‘Be ICONiQ’ this March.”
Mastercard joins as the ‘Powered By’ Sponsor, bringing its global legacy of supporting music and entertainment experiences. The association aligns with Mastercard’s long-standing philosophy of transforming transactions into meaningful, priceless moments.
For NH7 Weekender 2026, an HDFC Bank Mastercard Credit Card presale was held, followed by a Mastercard presale. These exclusive access windows and curated cardholder benefits reinforce Mastercard’s commitment to seamless live entertainment experiences while strengthening its footprint in India’s fast-growing live events economy.
Lavani Agarwal, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, South Asia at Mastercard, said,
“NH7 Weekender captures the spirit of creativity, inclusivity, and self-expression—values that sit at the heart of Mastercard. Built on a legacy of enabling priceless experiences, we are thrilled to connect even more deeply with youth and Gen Z through exclusive presales and unique, on-ground engagements. As India’s live entertainment scene accelerates, Mastercard remains committed to creating culturally resonant, effortless, and unforgettable connections.”
The partnerships come at a pivotal time for India’s live events industry. According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s whitepaper, the organized live events segment grew by 15% in 2024, generating an estimated incremental INR 13 billion in revenue. The report outlines India’s ambition to be among the world’s top five live entertainment destinations by 2030.
As one of the country’s most recognized multi-genre festivals, NH7 Weekender continues to contribute meaningfully to tourism, hospitality, local employment, and the broader cultural economy.
Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and MD of NODWIN Gaming, said,
“We are pleased to welcome ICONiQ White and Mastercard as partners for the 2026 edition of NH7 Weekender. What began as a platform to spotlight independent talent has grown into one of India’s most recognised cultural properties, shaping the way live music is experienced in the country. As the sector enters a phase of accelerated growth and global attention, it becomes essential to build partnerships that enhance the audience journey while contributing to sustainable expansion. Together, these collaborations strengthen what Weekender stands for and help us take the festival into its next chapter.”
In the lead-up to the festival, the Road to Weekender campaign will unfold across Mumbai and Pune, extending the Weekender experience beyond the main event through interactive, community-led engagements. Designed to build anticipation ahead of ICONiQ White NH7 Weekender 2026, the campaign will feature social, game-led engagements inspired by party culture, with select participants winning passes to the festival and the opportunity to take part in exclusive on-ground experiences during the festival weekend.
Tickets are available on District by Zomato app, the festival’s official ticketing partner. The festival is a Nodwin IP, curated by Big Bad Wolf, with Exceed Entertainment as the revenue partner and EVA Live as the event partner.
