NEW DELHI (India): The Tribes Arts Fest (TAF) 2026, which will showcase indigenous art traditions from across India, will be held in New Delhi from March 2.
The festival, to be hosted by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs of the Government of India, will be held at Travancore House. It will feature more than 70 tribal artists and over 1,000 artworks representing nearly 30 indigenous art traditions. The event intends to strengthen recognition of tribal art and culture while creating opportunities for identity, dignity and economic empowerment for tribal communities.
The festival will be open to the public from March 3 to March 13. It is being held in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA). The event seeks to build an ecosystem that connects tribal artists with national and global platforms, expand market opportunities, enhance visibility and reinforce economic resilience for participating artists.
Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oram said the festival embodies the vision of preserving, promoting and mainstreaming tribal art within India’s cultural and creative economy. He said the activities planned will help artists gain recognition and access broader audiences and markets.
The exhibition will feature major tribal art forms such as Warli, Dokra, Bhil, Bodo, Koya and Pithora. Renowned tribal artists expected to participate include Japani Shyam, Rajesh Chaitya Vangad, Sudha Kumari, Lado Bai, Kingson Swargiary and Thorrem Venumadhavarao.
Visitors can attend walkthroughs, mentorship workshops for tribal art students, panel discussions, illustrated talks, live demonstrations, participatory workshops and daily cultural performances. The program will include thematic panel discussions on “Tribal Art Revival and Sustainable Futures”, “Tribal Art in Contemporary Spaces”, and “Livelihoods and Market Linkages”. These discussions are expected to feature artists, curators, designers, collectors and institutional representatives to explore connections between heritage and contemporary markets.
Special programming will spotlight tribal women artists through participatory sessions and a live, women-led painting demonstration, highlighting the role of women in the tribal cultural ecosystem. The festival will conclude on March 13 with a ceremony honoring excellence and contributions to tribal art.
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