Serendipity Arts Festival 2026

Details

The Serendipity Arts Festival returns for its 11th edition from December 13 to 20, 2026, in Panjim, Goa. Continuing its long-standing curator-led approach, the 2026 edition brings together a tightly selected group of practitioners whose practices are deeply rooted in inquiry, experimentation, and collaboration, reinforcing the Festival’s commitment to building programming through strong curatorial voices.

At the heart of the Festival lies its curatorial framework, one that does not treat disciplines as fixed boundaries, but as porous, evolving conversations. Each year, curators are invited not only to present work, but to shape thought, provoke dialogue, and build intersections across artistic forms. The 2026 edition reflects this ethos through a considered roster of curators across visual arts, craft, culinary arts, music, dance, accessibility, and special projects.

The Visual Arts programme will be led by Latika Gupta and Sheba Chhachhi, whose practices bring together rigorous art historical inquiry and politically engaged, lens-based work.

In Craft, Kshitij Jalori and Sudheer Rajbhar bring distinct yet complementary perspectives - bridging design innovation with grassroots material practices.

The Culinary Arts vertical will be curated by Anisha Rachel Oommen, Goya, expanding the discourse on food beyond consumption into a cultural and critical framework.

Music at the Festival will be shaped by Aruna Sairam and Ankur Tewari, bringing together classical depth and contemporary soundscapes.

The Dance programme, curated by Ashley Lobo and Surjit Nongmeikapam, will explore the body as a site of both discipline and disruption.

The Theatre programme will be curated by Mahesh Dattani and Anuradha Kapur, two leading voices in contemporary theatre whose practices bring together artistic rigour, critical inquiry, and a deep engagement with the social and cultural landscape.

Accessibility, an integral and evolving focus of the Festival, will once again be led by Salil Chaturvedi, ensuring inclusivity is embedded as a foundational approach.

Finally, Special Projects, curated by Sreyansi Singh and Padmini Chettur, will act as a connective thread—bringing together cross-disciplinary explorations that push the boundaries of how art is encountered.

Together, this curatorial cohort reflects a shift towards a more deliberate, research-led approach where each discipline informs and expands the other. The Festival’s programming emerges not as a collection of independent showcases, but as an interconnected ecosystem of ideas, practices, and conversations.

As it enters its 11th year, the Serendipity Arts Festival continues to evolve as a space where disciplines converge, audiences engage critically, and new cultural narratives take shape. Through exhibitions, performances, workshops, and interactive experiences, Serendipity Arts continues to push creative boundaries in the 2026 edition, promising a Festival that is more introspective, more interconnected, and deeply anchored in curatorial thought, reinforcing its role as a transformative platform for the arts and culture.