11th edition to be held at Moscow’s Gostiny Dvor from August 20–23; over 700 performers and a new BRICS business platform to bring culture and commerce together
NEW DELHI, August 13, 2026: The 11th International India Day Festival will be held at the historic Gostiny Dvor in the heart of Moscow from August 20 to 23, bringing together culture, business and people-to-people engagement on one of the largest platforms celebrating India in Russia.
Announcing the festival at a special media interaction at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia (FCC) in New Delhi, India Day founder Sammy Manoj Kotwani said the 2026 edition would mark an important expansion of the festival — from a celebration of Indian culture into a broader platform supporting India-Russia business cooperation and international dialogue.
“India and Russia share a relationship built not only between governments, but between people. India Day is our effort to strengthen that foundation and create new connections through culture, business, tourism, education and direct interaction between our societies,” Kotwani said.
The four-day festival will be held under the theme “Unity of Cultures – Friendship of Peoples” and will bring together artists, cultural groups, entrepreneurs, institutions and representatives from India, Russia, BRICS, CIS and other countries.
The New Delhi media interaction was hosted and moderated by author and media professional Prof. S.S. Dogra.
Dr. Elena Remizova, Head of the Representative Office of Rossotrudnichestvo in India and the Russian House in New Delhi, also participated in the interaction, presenting a Russian institutional perspective on the importance of cultural, educational and people-to-people cooperation between India and Russia.
BRICS Forum Brings Business to India Day
One of the major additions to India Day 2026 will be a BRICS business forum, introducing a dedicated economic and institutional dimension to the festival.
The forum is expected to bring together representatives of government, regional administrations, business associations, financial institutions, investors, entrepreneurs and corporate leaders.
Discussions will focus on areas including India-Russia trade and investment, regional cooperation, financial mechanisms, technology and innovation, logistics, tourism, entrepreneurship and new opportunities for business collaboration.
Kotwani said the objective is to use the goodwill generated through decades of India-Russia friendship to facilitate practical commercial and institutional partnerships.
“Culture creates trust, and trust creates opportunities. We want India Day to become a place where relationships that begin through cultural engagement can also develop into business, investment and long-term partnerships,” he said.
More Than 700 Performers Expected in Moscow
The scale of Russian participation demonstrates the growing reach of Indian culture across the country.
Organisers have received more than 750 applications and nominations from artists, performers and cultural groups from across the Russian Federation — from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok.
More than 700 performers from Russia, India, BRICS and CIS countries are expected to participate during the four-day festival.
India Day 2026 will feature more than 20 thematic zones, presenting Indian culture and contemporary India to Russian and international visitors.
The programme will include an Indian bazaar with more than 120 stalls, Indian regional cuisine, yoga, Ayurveda and wellness activities, Bollywood and classical dance, handicrafts, culinary demonstrations, mehndi, cultural workshops, children’s activities, traditional games and an Indian wedding celebration.
The festival is designed as an immersive experience in which visitors can not only watch performances but also experience Indian traditions, food, wellness, arts and lifestyle directly.
Parade of International Unity on August 22
Another highlight will be the “Parade of International Unity” on August 22, bringing together participants representing different regions of Russia, Indian states, BRICS and CIS countries and other international communities.
Participants will showcase national, regional and traditional costumes in a colourful expression of cultural diversity and friendship.
The initiative reflects the festival’s message of unity and resonates with the Indian philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” — “The World Is One Family.”
“Every country and every region should be proud of its identity. At the same time, we can walk together. That is the message we want Moscow to see through this parade,” Kotwani said.
Russian-Language Book Launched in New Delhi
The press interaction also witnessed the launch of Prof. S.S. Dogra’s Russian-language motivational book, Udachi Vaam, adding a literary dimension to the India-Russia cultural dialogue.
The book carries a message of optimism and goodwill and reflects the role that literature, media and creative expression can play alongside traditional diplomacy in strengthening mutual understanding.
Eleven Years of People-to-People Diplomacy
Over its 11 editions, India Day has developed from a cultural gathering into a major platform connecting Russian audiences directly with Indian traditions and contemporary culture.
Indian classical and folk dance, Bollywood, yoga, Ayurveda, cuisine, textiles, handicrafts and other traditions have developed a significant following among Russian communities.
“Governments build strategic partnerships, but people give those partnerships permanence. When Russian families practise yoga, enjoy Indian food, learn Indian dance or bring their children to experience our traditions, India becomes more than a country they know — it becomes a culture they feel connected to,” Kotwani said.
India Day 2026 seeks to build on that connection by bringing culture, commerce and international cooperation onto a common platform, while creating greater opportunities for Indian businesses, cultural organisations, artists and institutions to engage directly with Russia.
India Day 2026 will be held from August 20 to 23, 2026, at Gostiny Dvor, Moscow. Entry is free. Registered visitors will also be able to receive a complimentary festival gift.
About India Day
India Day is an annual international festival in Moscow dedicated to promoting Indian culture and strengthening friendship and people-to-people relations between India and Russia. The festival brings together cultural organisations, artists, businesses, institutions and communities through performances, exhibitions, cuisine, wellness, educational activities, business dialogue and public diplomacy.
