Sur Jahan is an annual World Peace Music Festival organised by Contact Base, with the the motto “Music for Peace, Music for All.” Since 2011, it has been a beloved non-ticketed festival in Kolkata, welcoming music lovers to immerse themselves in world music, cultural diversity, and the joy of human connection. Sur Jahan is more than a music festival—it is a celebration of the values that define Kolkata, the City of Joy: openness, creativity, cosmopolitanism, and respect for diversity. By bringing global musical traditions to local audiences, and creating shared spaces for dialogue and co-creation, Sur Jahan nurtures a culture of peace, harmony, and mutual understanding. A hallmark of Sur Jahan is its commitment to plurality and cultural diversity. Till date, world music bands from 34 countries have performed at the festival. Each edition blends evening concerts with daytime interactive workshops, where audiences experience traditional acoustic instruments, folk vocabularies, and songs performed in diverse mother tongues and vernacular languages—reflecting the true spirit of World Music.
Sur Jahan 2026 – The 13th Edition
The 2026 edition will be celebrated in three vibrant venues:
- Kolkata: 23–25 January 2026
- Bannabagram Baul Ashram: 27–28 January 2026
- IIT Kharagpur: 31 January–1 February 2026
This year’s festival will feature world music bands from Latvia, Denmark, Hungary, and Spain, along with the Baul–Fakir musicians of Bengal, urban folk artists from Kolkata, and 1–2 national bands. Significantly, 75% of the international musicians performing in 2026 are women, reflecting our commitment to gender equality, women’s artistic leadership, and inclusive cultural spaces.
● Event Summary
| Title | Sur Jahan | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place | INDIA | ||
| Start Date | 2026-01-23 | End Date | 2026-01-25 |
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