NEW DELHI: The Lodhi Art Festival will return from 1 to 28 February 2026 to mark ten years of India’s first public art district, transforming Lodhi Colony in New Delhi once again into an open-air canvas of murals, performances and participatory art.
Organised by the St+art India Foundation in collaboration with Asian Paints, the anniversary edition is curated around the theme Dilate All Art Spaces, reimagining art not as a confined venue but as a living ecosystem shaped by everyday urban movement and shared experience.
What began in 2015 with three murals has evolved into a landmark public art initiative, with more than 65 large-scale works created by over 100 Indian and international artists between 2016 and 2019. The district has since become a cultural magnet, attracting locals, tourists and global figures alike, while inspiring similar art districts in cities including Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Goa and Coimbatore.
The 2026 edition will introduce six new murals by artists from across the world, including JuMu, Pener, Raissa Pardini in collaboration with the late Hanif Kureshi, Elian Chali, Svabhu Kohli with Ram Sangchoju, and a collective work by Suso33, Tarini Sethi and Ishaan Bharat.
Beyond static works, the festival will feature mobile and immersive installations such as the Cycle Rickshaw Project, which turns everyday rickshaws into moving artworks, and a large inflatable floral installation by Nicolas Barrome Forgues inspired by Asian Paints’ Colour of the Year.
The opening weekend will host Elevation, a site-responsive French performance presented with the French Institute in India and the Alliance Française network, exploring balance and motion through contemporary choreography.
A series of panel discussions, guided walks and workshops will run throughout the month, addressing themes ranging from accessibility and ecology to the future of public art.
Asian Paints MD AND CEO Amit Syngle, said the decade-long journey demonstrated how colour and creativity can shape inclusive urban spaces and foster deeper community connection.
Founders of the St+art India Foundation added that the district’s growth reflected long-term collaboration between artists, residents, institutions and government partners, with a focus on deepening engagement rather than simple expansion.
The festival continues to receive support from the ministry of urban development, central public works department, new delhi municipal council and the Swachh Bharat Mission.