Pune: 72nd Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav To Be Held At Fergusson College From January 13 To 17, 2027
The 72nd Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav will be held from January 13 to 17, 2027 at the Fergusson College ground in Pune, moving from its usual December slot.
Photo: Himanshu Rane / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pune, 29th October 2026: The 72nd Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav, Pune’s best-known Hindustani classical music festival, will be held from January 13 to 17, 2027 at the Fergusson College ground in Shivajinagar. This is a change from the usual December schedule, and it is the first time the festival will be held at Fergusson College.
The dates and venue were announced by Shrinivas Joshi, executive president of the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, which organises the festival every year.
Sawai Gandharva 2027 at a glance
- Edition: 72nd Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav
- Dates: Wednesday, January 13 to Sunday, January 17, 2027 (five days)
- Venue: Fergusson College ground, Shivajinagar, Pune
- Organiser: Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, with support from the Deccan Education Society
- Artists and schedule: Not announced yet
- Tickets: Not announced yet
Why the festival moved from December to January
The festival is traditionally held in December. According to reports, the Fergusson College ground is already booked in December for the Pune Book Festival, so the organisers moved Sawai Gandharva to mid-January. The Deccan Education Society, which runs Fergusson College, agreed to support the event after discussions with the organisers.
The organisers have said the central location in Shivajinagar should be convenient for audiences, as it is well connected by road and by the Pune Metro.
A new venue after Mukund Nagar
The festival has moved several times in its long history. It began at Renuka Swaroop Prashala and was later held for around 35 years at the New English School grounds in Ramanbaug. From 2019, it was held at the Maharashtriya Mandal sports complex in Mukund Nagar, which also hosted the 71st edition from December 10 to 14, 2025.
About the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav
The festival was started in 1953 by Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi in memory of his guru, the Kirana gharana vocalist Sawai Gandharva. After Pandit Bhimsen Joshi’s death in 2011, it was renamed the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav in his honour.
Over seven decades, it has become one of India’s most respected classical music festivals. Leading vocalists and instrumentalists perform every year, and a debut at Sawai Gandharva is often seen as a milestone for young artists. By tradition, the festival closes with a recording of Sawai Gandharva’s guru, Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, singing in Raag Bhairavi.
What we know about tickets and the line-up
The organisers have said the full programme will be announced later. Season passes and daily tickets are usually released a few weeks before the festival. We will update this article once the artist line-up, schedule and ticket details are officially announced.
Tip: Buy passes only through the official channels announced by the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, and be careful of unofficial resellers on social media.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Sawai Gandharva 2027?
The 72nd Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav will be held from January 13 to 17, 2027.
Where will Sawai Gandharva be held this time?
At the Fergusson College ground in Shivajinagar, Pune. This is the first time the festival will be held there.
Why is Sawai Gandharva not in December this year?
The Fergusson College ground is booked for the Pune Book Festival in December, so the festival was moved to January.
Has the artist list been announced?
Not yet. The organisers will announce the line-up and schedule closer to the festival.
