NEW DELHI (India): The Ministry of Tribal Affairs of the Government of India will host a series of events from March 2 to 24, 2026, to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of tribal communities across the country.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, India’s Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram said that the series of five events would not only celebrate tribal heritage but also create avenues for economic empowerment and greater national recognition of indigenous art forms. The five events are the Tribes Art Fest, the Living Roots Festival – The Soundscapes of Tribal India, the Bharat Tribes Fest, the Tribal Business Conclave and the CSR Summit. He said the initiative aims to provide a vibrant platform for tribal people to showcase their skills, creativity and traditional knowledge systems. Oram formally unveiled the logos of the Tribes Art Fest, the Living Roots Festival and the Bharat Tribes Fest.
Also present were Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uike, Tribal Affairs Secretary Ranjana Chopra, Joint Secretary Anant Prakash Pandey and TRIFED Managing Director M. Raja Murugan.
Here are the details of the events:
Tribal Arts Festival
TAF will be held from March 2 to 13, 2026, at the Travancore Palace in New Delhi. It will bring together over 70 eminent tribal artists and showcase nearly 1,000 artworks spanning 30 distinct tribal art forms from across the country. Conceived as a national platform for India’s tribal visual traditions, TAF will feature walkthroughs, live painting demonstrations, illustrated talks, mentorship workshops, participatory sessions and panel discussions bringing together artists, curators, designers and collectors. TAF seeks to enhance visibility, dignity and sustainable livelihood opportunities while positioning tribal art as a vital component of India’s creative economy.
Living Roots Festival
The Living Roots Festival – the Soundscapes of Tribal India will be held from March 13 to 15, 2026, at two venues – Bikaner House and India Gate. It will celebrate India’s living tribal music traditions to reposition tribal music as a contemporary, respected and economically viable cultural force. The segment at Bikaner House to be held from 1.30 pm to 5 pm will feature keynote addresses, immersive showcases, panel discussions on preservation and innovation, and focus sessions on intellectual property rights, ownership and ethical collaboration. The segment at India Gate to be held from 5 pm to 9.15 pm will feature 15 performances representing diverse regions and traditions.
Bharat Tribes Fest
The Bharat Tribes Fest will be held from March 18 to 30, 2026, at the Sunder Nursery in New Delhi. It will be a national marketplace and cultural platform, with participation of more than 1,000 tribal artisans, Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs), tribal chefs and cultural troupes, showcasing art, craft and cuisine across more than 200 stalls. The highlights include the Signature Pavilion featuring high-end tribal products and the launch of the Ministry’s “RISA” brand aimed at positioning tribal fashion and crafts in premium and global markets. An International Pavilion will host indigenous artisans from countries such as Australia, Fiji and Vietnam, fostering global tribal synergy. There will also be a Tribal Food Court that will have cuisine from 21 states, live demonstrations and cultural performances in the evening from multiple states. The Fest is designed to enable direct market access and improve income realization for tribal producers.
Tribal Business Conclave
The Tribal Business Conclave will be held along with the Bharat Tribes Fest. It will be a 14-day conclave structured to promote tribal entrepreneurship and integrate tribal enterprises into domestic and global value chains. The conclave will host sessions on forest-based food value chains, sustainable textiles and handicrafts, ethical luxury positioning, innovation and technology integration, skilling and employment pathways, intellectual property protection and ethical commercialization of traditional knowledge, and community-led tourism models. It is expected to facilitate buyer-seller linkages, catalyze partnerships and generate actionable recommendations to strengthen tribal economic ecosystems.
CSR Summit
A one-day National CSR Summit will be held on March 24, 2026, at the Sunder Nursery in New Delhi. It will bring together corporate leaders, CSR heads, implementation partners and State Tribal Welfare Departments. The summit aims to present priority sectors requiring gap-filling CSR support, recognize corporate partners contributing to tribal development and facilitate structured collaborations aligned with national priorities. Ongoing CSR-funded initiatives include substantial investments by public sector undertakings towards digital education, health and hygiene interventions for girl students, and capacity development programs across multiple states.
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