Darbar Festival

The life blood of Darbar is our annual Darbar Festival. It is what we are known for by audiences and artists alike.  Held in London every autumn reaching audience figures of about 10,000, the festival is a celebration of some of the best musicians of Indian classical music from across the world.  

The Darbar Festival is an open invitation to all to experience visionary curation across a range of classical genres – Hindustani (North Indian), Carnatic (South Indian) as well as India’s oldest form of music, dhrupad. Whether you are an aficionado of Indian classical music or a newcomer, there is so much on offer including different styles of music schools, traditions from different regions and instruments, some of which are rarely now played. In adherence to Hindustani (North Indian) time theory, artists perform different ragas (melodic frameworks) at specific times of day to maximise how the body attunes and benefits from the sound vibrations. We elevate this time-honoured art form through showcasing a diversity of talent at some of London’s most iconic venues. This is Indian classical music at its most authentic and unapologetic. 

As well as performances, we create spaces for audiences to learn more about this art form, engage directly with artists through talks and demonstrations and explore wellbeing practices linked to sound and movement such as yoga, pranayama (breathwork) and sound baths.   

The best Indian music relies on improvisation and expertise and…(the Darbar Festival)…now an established festival, provided both. There were events throughout the day, so ragas could be performed at the appropriate times.

The Guardian 

We promote, programme and champion under-represented Indian classical music and musicians, reaching audiences underserved by publicly funded art and culture. We strive to continually innovate and improve audience engagement methods at our annual Darbar Festival in London, our Culture Festival in Leicester as well as year-round programming in both cities, where we work with partners to raise awareness and increase access to this art form. We also partner with arts organisations and festivals around the world where we can showcase Indian classical music to the widest possible audiences. 

Recognising the importance of wellbeing in a post-pandemic world, we strive to introduce newcomers to the holistic benefits of Indian classical music and traditions through short lunchtime concerts and wellbeing practices.