Your July guide to the best art and cultural events in India
From Lucky Ali and Jasmine Sandlas to thought-provoking exhibitions across the country, here's everything worth adding to your July calendar.
July has brought in monsoon showers, but India's cultural calendar shows no signs of slowing down. Across Mumbai and New Delhi, the month is packed with concerts, immersive dining experiences, and contemporary art exhibitions, with something for everyone. Whether you are planning a midweek evening out or a weekend gallery hop, there is plenty to discover.
Music lovers can revisit timeless hits by Lucky Ali, celebrate the songs of Ed Sheeran and Coldplay in a candlelit setting, or catch Jasmine Sandlas on her Dream Girl India Tour. Meanwhile, galleries across Mumbai and Delhi continue to spotlight emerging voices and established artists through exhibitions that explore memory, identity, play and the fleeting nature of everyday life.
Here are the events to bookmark this July.
Candlelight: Ed Sheeran and Coldplay
The globally popular Candlelight concert series brings together the music of Ed Sheeran and Coldplay in an intimate, candlelit setting. Performed by a live string ensemble, the evening reimagines beloved hits like Perfect, Photograph, Yellow and Fix You, offering a fresh take on some of pop's most enduring songs.
When: July 10
Where: St Andrews Auditorium, Mumbai
Lucky Ali Live
Few voices evoke nostalgia quite like Lucky Ali's. The singer-songwriter returns to Mumbai with a concert featuring timeless favourites including O Sanam, Safarnama, and Ek Pal Ka Jeena, alongside stories and moments that have made his live performances a deeply personal experience for fans across generations.
When: July 11
Where: Shanmukhananda Hall, Mumbai
Dream Girl India Tour by Jasmine Sandlas
Punjabi singer Jasmine Sandlas brings her Dream Girl India Tour to Mumbai with an energetic set that blends Punjabi folk influences with contemporary pop and hip hop. Known for tracks like Illegal Weapon and Shararat, Sandlas is expected to deliver a performance packed with crowd favourites and high-octane energy.
When: July 18
Where: Dome SVP Stadium, Mumbai
Candlelight Singalong Dinner
For those looking to pair good food with live music, Lyla's Candlelight Singalong Dinner offers an atmospheric midweek escape. Guests can enjoy signature dishes including whipped cheese with hot honey and truffle, wontons in chilli oil, Singaporean laksa curry, and more, while musicians perform familiar classics and contemporary favourites.
When: Every Wednesday and Thursday
Where: Lyla, BKC, Mumbai
Ephemeral
Hosted at Art Musings, Ephemeral explores ideas of impermanence and transformation through contemporary artistic practices. Bringing together artists Ajat Dhandre and Krishnendu Porel, the exhibition reflects on fleeting moments, changing landscapes, and a reminder of the simpler world that is no more.
When: Until July 31
Where: Art Musings, Mumbai
Dream Girl
Dream Girl, the inaugural exhibition at Gallery Maxima, marks Maithili Chaturvedi's debut solo exhibition, bringing together a series of oil paintings on velvet inspired by the women who have shaped the visual language of Hindi cinema. The exhibition reimagines figures including Hema Malini, Rekha, Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Helen, Zeenat Aman, Parveen Babi and Dimple Kapadia through paintings that navigate the spaces between glamour and vulnerability, fantasy and reality, spectacle and intimacy.
When: Until August 1
Where: Gallery Maxima, Mumbai
Overland, There's Shorter Time to Dream
This group exhibition brings together contemporary works that shed light on migration, displacement, movement, and the shifting nature of personal and collective memory. A collection of the works of 16 artists, it explores how landscapes and lived experiences shape the stories we tell ourselves.
When: July 7 to July 25
Where: Latitude 28, New Delhi
Paper and Play
Paper and Play celebrates paper as both a material and a medium for experimentation. Featuring works that blur the boundaries between craft, design and contemporary art, the exhibition highlights the versatility of paper through installations, sculptures and playful visual interventions.
When: Until August 22
Where: Gallery XXL, New Delhi
Lead image: Getty Images
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