CultureCon 2026, in partnership with NCPA Mumbai, returns on 6 & 7 August 2026 as the gathering where India's creative industry gets organised.

Now in its fourth edition, CultureCon brings together working artists, designers, writers, filmmakers, creative entrepreneurs, practitioners, students, employers, funders, commissioners, policymakers and cultural institutions for two days dedicated to strengthening India's creative economy. It is where the people making creative work meet the people who commission it, fund it, hire for it and shape the policies and systems that support it.

Built around the belief that creative careers deserve the same rigour as any other profession, CultureCon examines what actually makes the sector work — from creative practice and the realities of building sustainable careers to pricing, skill development, investment, infrastructure and policy. Every session is curated against a simple standard: if it doesn't change what you do next, who you work with next, or how your career or business moves forward, it doesn't make the programme.

This year's edition features 30+ speakers, mentors and practitioners, including keynote addresses by Sanjoy Roy of Teamwork Arts and Dr. Ashish Kulkarni of the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, alongside conversations with leaders from across the creative and cultural sectors. Through keynotes, masterclasses, workshops, mentorship lab, reverse pitches, infrastructure audits, networking mixers and more, delegates don't simply hear from experts. They exchange knowledge, build relationships and leave with practical tools they can apply to their work.

Some of the most important conversations at CultureCon happen after the sessions end. The CultureCon Networking Mixers create dedicated space for everyone to continue the conversations started on stage, exchange ideas, discover collaborators and build professional relationships. This year we have two very special performances at the networking event.

• Networking Mixer on 6 August- Roshan Abbas' 'Don't Worry, Ho Jayega'. Click here for tickets.
• Networking Mixer on 7 August- Rang Birangi Lavani performance by B Spot Prodcutions. Click here for tickets.

In collaboration with the NCPA, CultureCon 2026 is made possible through a growing ecosystem of partners, Royal Enfield Social Mission and Parijat Foundation as Culture Partners; CRISIL Limited and Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai as Knowledge Partners; Access For ALL as Accessibility Partner; Crux Talks, AVID Learning and All About Music as Session Partners; QTP as Production Partner; The Other Circle as PR Partner; Great State Aleworks as Pouring Partner; and Asia Society and Some Good Gigs as Outreach Partners.

The CultureCon 2026 schedule is now live, making it easier than ever to plan your two days across sessions, mentorship opportunities and networking events. If you're travelling to Mumbai, our Mumbai City Guide has everything you need to make the most of your visit. 

To know about other festivals happening across the country click here.