With just weeks to go before its fourth edition, CultureCon 2026, in collaboration with the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), is set to bring together more than 40+ artists and creative sector leaders from across the creative industries together under one roof to nurture collaborations, dialogues, ideas and systems that run India’s creative economy, and imagine a new future for it. CultureCon is where India’s creative industry gets organised. Taking place on 6-7 August in Mumbai, the multidisciplinary conference, presented by Art X Company and Festivals From India, will convene artists, entrepreneurs, cultural practitioners, students, educators and industry leaders to shape the future of cultural work, careers, and capital.
Each session curated at CultureCon is designed to leave attendees with a promise – a finding, a commitment, an output that will actually bring about a meaningful change. The formats range from Fishbowls, Data Interventions, Masterclasses, Mentorship Labs, Debates, Teach the Room Moments, Reverse Pitches, Pecha Kuchas. The conference does not feature a single panel discussion.
Here is the programme schedule: https://www.instagram.com/p/DbLBbTXilRu/?igsh=MXN1MzFqMjJpZzVrbA%3D%3D
The programme will see Dipti Rao (DGM – Auditorium Operations, Prestige Centre for Performing Arts), Meghana (Head of Inclusion, Museum of Art & Photography), Farzana Cama Balpande (Head, BookAChange by BookMyShow Foundation), Menaka Rodriguez (Executive Director, India Foundation for the Arts), Karsh Kale (Artist & Musician), Bidisha Dey (Executive Director, Eicher Group Foundation), Jahnavi Phalkey (Director – Science Gallery Bengaluru), Neha Mathews (Head of Business Development & Partnerships, Yuvaa), Natasha Sharma (Co-founder & Curator, Govandi Arts Festival), Karn Shah (Influencer, Creator and Founder – Pawsitivve Future) and Manali Patil (Partner, Tinnuts). They join an already announced line-up featuring Roshan Abbas, Sanjoy Roy, Vijay Subramaniam, Ashish Kulkarni, Bruce Guthrie, Tess Joseph, Rashmi Dhanwani, and several others from across India’s creative ecosystem.
Over two days, conversations will examine the future of India’s creative economy through the lens of creative careers, business and entrepreneurship, arts and cultural infrastructure, accessibility, community building, education, policy and collaboration. The conference will combine keynote sessions, panel discussions, mentoring opportunities, masterclasses, and curated networking experiences to encourage knowledge-sharing and meaningful partnerships to connect ideas, people, and possibilities.
CultureCon 2026 is presented in collaboration with NCPA Mumbai, Royal Enfield Social Mission as Culture Partner; Crisil Limited and Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai as Knowledge Partners; with The Other Circle as PR Partner; QTP as Production Partner; Access For All as Accessibility Partner; Australia Consulate General Mumbai, Avid Learning, Crux Talks and All About Music as Session Partners; and Asia Society and Some Good Gigs as Outreach Partners.