KaniFest 26' – A Curious Creative Carnival

KaniFest 26' – A Curious Creative Carnival

KaniFest 2026 is a community-led, artist-centric, non-profit creative festival taking place from 17 to 30 October 2026 at KaniHome in Zakura, Srinagar, Kashmir. The two-week gathering brings together artists, craftspeople, designers, musicians, writers, filmmakers, researchers, educators, students and other creative practitioners.

The festival explores the connections between nature, intelligence and creative practice, using live arts, conversations and hands-on making to encourage experimentation, collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Rooted in Kashmir’s cultural heritage and traditions of craftsmanship, KaniFest creates a space where traditional skills meet contemporary ideas.

Festival Highlights

• Musical Baithaks: Intimate musical gatherings featuring regional and contemporary sounds.

• Craft Workshops: Hands-on opportunities to explore making, materials and traditional craft practices.

• Community Talks: Conversations among artists, researchers, educators and creative thinkers.

• Live Arts and Creative Practice: Activities that encourage artistic experimentation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

• Film, Photography and Visual Arts: Creative perspectives across different visual and storytelling forms.

• Nature and Technology: Explorations of how the natural world, intelligence and contemporary creative tools influence artistic practice.

The programme includes sunset music gatherings featuring Gaekhir Republik, Moze and Ali Saifuddin, alongside projection mapping by creative technologists based at KaniHome.

KaniFest is the first invitation to a year-long creative programme at the Kani Creative Centre, intended to grow Kashmir’s creative community and support future collaborations.

Event Details

• Dates: 17–30 October 2026

• Venue: KaniHome, Zakura, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir

• Organizer: KaniHome

• Category: Multiarts / Arts and Crafts / Design / Music / Heritage / Visual Arts

• Format: In-person

• Entry: Free; advance registration is available through the official festival website.

KaniFest offers an opportunity to experience Kashmir’s creative culture through shared learning, artistic exchange and community-led activities.