- Hindustan Zinc & SEHER brings a unique fusion of national and global sounds as the Vedanta Udaipur World Music Festival wraps its electrifying Day 1, with two more days of magic to come.
- Kailash Kher & Kailasa Live close Day 1 with soulful folk-Sufi energy in Zinc City -Udaipur; festival saw 9 Grader Nord’s a unique Norwegian-Tamil folkrock fusion and Sofiane Saidi’s global rhythms.
Udaipur : The Vedanta Udaipur World Music Festival 2026 opened on a vibrant note as Day 1 brought together Indian and international artists at Gandhi Ground, marking the beginning of the festival’s landmark 10-year celebrations. Supported by Hindustan Zinc and conceptualized and produced by SEHER in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, the festival once again transformed Udaipur into a global stage for cultural exchange through music.
The evening at Gandhi Ground unfolded with a dynamic mix of sounds and traditions. The performances began with the Rajasthani Folk Orchestra, whose powerful rhythms and traditional melodies celebrated the region’s rich musical heritage and set the tone for the night.
International flavours soon took over the stage as 9 Grader Nord from Norway delivered their distinctive blend of Norwegian and Tamil folk rock, creating a unique cross-cultural soundscape that resonated strongly with the audience. This was followed by Sofiane Saidi from Algeria, who mesmerized the audience with his soulful performance. He brought the house down with his unique blend of global rhythms to the festival’s opening night.
One of the most awaited performances of the evening came from Kailash Kher and Kailasa Live, whose soul-stirring vocals and powerful compositions rooted in folk and Sufi traditions captivated the audience. The high-energy set brought together devotion, emotion, and musical intensity, bringing Day 1 of the festival to a memorable close.
Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc, said: “Music and culture uniquely unite diverse voices into one harmonious rhythm. Day 1 beautifully showcased this through global sounds blending with Rajasthani folk music. At Hindustan Zinc and Vedanta, we champion music, art, and culture by empowering young talent to grow and shine. This reflects our commitment to transform Zinc City – Udaipur into a global cultural capital, celebrating creativity and passion. We’re proud to see this evolve into a premier global music event, uniting international talents to captivate Udaipur’s audience.”
Reflecting on the opening day, Sanjeev Bhargava, Founder, SEHER, said, “The opening day of the festival sets the rhythm for what lies ahead. Bringing together artists from different parts of the world on one stage is at the heart of what the Vedanta Udaipur World Music Festival represents. Day One reminded us why this matters, it created a space for genuine cultural exchange, shared emotion, and the simple joy of experiencing music together.”
Hindustan Zinc remains steadfast is preserving and promoting Indian culture via music’s universal appeal, powering events like the Vedanta Udaipur World Music Festival, Srajan – The Spark (India’s global art showcase), and Smritiyan (tribute to tabla maestro Late Pandit Chatur Lal, Oscar&BAFTA honoree).The company also combats rural malnutrition in the annualVedanta Zinc
City HalfMarathon, touted as India’s most beautiful, where Udaipur saw 7,000+ runners wind past Fatehsagar Lake and the cities iconic landscapes. With a strong opening day complete, the Vedanta Udaipur World Music Festival 2026 shifts focus to tomorrow’s meditative morning performances at Manji Ka Ghat (9:00 AM onwards), followed by romantic vibes at Fateh Sagar Paal (3:30 PM onwards) promising more unforgettable music and cross-cultural fusion.
