A kaleidoscope of genres ranging from traditional folk melodies to electrifying contemporary beats, Mumbai’s yearly calendars are saturated with music festivals. Whether under open skies at our beloved racecourse to solid stadiums, our music festivals promise a great time often always converging with some lip-smacking delicacies! So put on your sequined skirt, clink your cans of beer, and be ready to groove well into the night!
1. Gin Explorers Club
Open green space, colourful booths pouring bottomless gin, live music, and of course a plethora of flavorsome delicacies. They serve a broad collection of homegrown and global gins where you can treat yourself to delicious gin-infused cocktails and even opt for tasting sessions. Carrying the soul of a music festival at its core, make sure you stay for the amazing lineup of performances, and DJ sets. This biggest gin festival in the world is held sometime between December and February.
2. Bacardi Weekender
Bacardi NH7 Weekender is the biggest multi-genre festival in the country. From October to December, the Weekender travels through major cities of India offering an amazing cocktail consisting of diverse music sets, stand-up comedy, flea markets, arcades, and booths offering amazing foods. Frequented by artists from all around the world (we are talking The Lumineers and Ezra Collective!), this music festival is truly a consolidation of a concert and a carnival!
3. Lollapalooza India
Performers like Imagine Dragons, The Strokes, and AP Dhillon have so far graced the stages of Lollapalooza. The 2024 edition featured equally big names like Sting, the Jonas Brothers, Halsey, and Lauv. A global music festival, they not only present a curation of celebrated artists but offer an equally impressive food culture.
4. Sunburn Music Festival
An extension of Asia’s biggest music festival, Sunburn Music Festival Mumbai promises an equally exciting time if not more. For those who love electronic music, this high-energy event is a haven with incredible performances by leading local and global DJs and musicians, such as Above & Beyond and Yellow Claw. The event is usually hosted in December, around New Year.
5. Spoken Festival Mumbai
Asia’s biggest festival for spoken word, music, comedy, drama, and poetry, Spoken Festival Mumbai lasts a jam-packed two days. You can participate in interactive panel discussions, polish your craft in several workshops offered, and support the festival’s dedication to gender diversity and environmental sustainability. The festival usually occurs in January.
6. Zomaland
You may have heard of Zomato’s Zomaland as a tantalising food festival, but did you know it pairs its tempting selection of food with thrilling performances? A multi-city festival, it transports you to a world of carnival activities and immersive encounters. Held during winter months, enjoy outstanding food from more than four hundred restaurants, and groove to live music by a diverse set.