For the first time, productions by transgender communities, sex workers, senior citizens, and other underrepresented groups will be featured.
Photo: PIB
The National School of Drama (NSD) will organise the 25th edition of Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) 2026, the world’s largest international theatre festival, from 27 January to 20 February 2026, staged across 40 locations nationwide, along with at least one production from a country in each of the seven continents, reinforcing the festival’s global outreach and cultural resonance.
For the first time, productions by transgender communities, sex workers, senior citizens, and other underrepresented groups will be featured.
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A total of 277 Indian productions, including 136 selected plays and invited productions, along with 12 international productions, will be presented during the festival. These productions encompass performances in 228 Indian and foreign languages and dialects, making Bharat Rang Mahotsav the largest theatre festival in the world in terms of linguistic diversity.
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The selected plays emerged from a rigorous screening process of 817 national and 34 international applications. In addition, the festival will feature 19 university productions and 14 local productions across various centres.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Bharat Gupt, Vice Chairman, NSD, said: “The Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2026 stands as an epitome of the democratisation and universalisation of theatre—not only in its intent but also in its scale. The festival reflects India’s ethos of a shared creative continuum through the inclusion of diverse languages, genres and theatrical expressions from different communities and age groups.”
This edition significantly expands its linguistic and cultural canvas with performances in Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tulu, Urdu, Sanskrit, Tai Khamti, Nyishi, alongside almost all major Indian languages and several tribal and endangered languages.
For the first time, several new centres have been added, including Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu, Aizawl (Mizoram), Tura (Meghalaya), Nagaon (Assam), Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) and Rohtak (Haryana).
Highlighting the spirit of the festival, NSD Director Chittaranjan Tripathy stated, “The 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav is a Mahakumbh of theatre — of the people, by the people and for the people. It is an all-inclusive, non-elitist international theatre festival where languages, regions, aesthetics and ideologies converge through diverse theatrical forms.”
He further added: “It is a matter of pride that the festival reaches some of the farthest corners of the country, offering access to theatre in regions where such opportunities are extremely limited. BRM also provides a platform to underrepresented languages with rich oral and written traditions.”
BRM 2026 will present a wide array of curated and allied theatre festivals, including Adirang Mahotsav (tribal theatre, dance and crafts), Jashne Bachpan (children’s theatre), Bal Sangam (folk dance and drama by children), Poorvottar Natya Samaroh (North-Eastern theatre), Puppet Theatre Festival, Dance Drama Festival, Classical Sanskrit Drama Festival, and a Micro Drama Festival.
The festival will also commemorate eminent historical figures such as Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Lok Mata Ahilya Bai and Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, while paying tribute to theatre stalwarts Ratan Thiyam, Daya Prakash Sinha, Bansi Kaul and Alok Chatterjee. A special seminar honouring Ebrahim Alkazi will be organised at the NSD Delhi campus. A unique theatrical performance written and performed by a cancer survivor and NSD alumnus will also be staged.
Folk art performances, street theatre, seminars, master classes and workshops will form an integral part of the festival. The Advitiya segment, led by the NSD Students’ Union, will organise interactive sessions and Nukkad Natak performances at the NSD campus.
The festival will feature the Theatre Bazaar, promoting newly written plays, with selected works to be awarded and published. Under the ‘Shruti’ initiative, 17 books will be launched. Notably, 33 productions directed by women will be showcased.
Special performances honouring freedom fighters, social reformers and eminent theatre exponents will also be presented. Special counters showcasing India’s diverse culinary traditions and traditional handicrafts will add to the cultural experience of the festival.
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