IIT-M’s Saarang 2026 to begin on January 8

The 52nd edition of Saarang 2026, the annual cultural festival of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M), will begin on Thursday.

“The theme of this edition of the festival is ‘Beyond Realms’. This year’s edition, for the first time will feature ‘Nova Experience Zone’, which is a relaxed, open access space inspired by early-2000s pop culture,” said Ratnam Sai Sankalp, cultural affairs secretary (literature), IIT-M on Tuesday in Chennai.

The five-day festival will also see the return of the Saarang Parade and the revival of the Saarang General Championship (GC) where colleges participate across multiple events.

Addressing media persons, V. Kamakoti, the institute’s director, said that Padma Shri Awardee Sri Thota Tharani will be the chief guest. “There will be a classical night on January 8, which will feature Vijayalakshmi and Krishnan Lalgudi, followed by Prasanna Ramaswamy on guitar. There will also be a showcase of folk artforms such as mayilattam also,” he said.

The festival will also feature ‘Meraki’s AdZone’ which will offer carnival rides, interactive installations and street performances. This time IIT Madras Model United Nations will also be held.

In an effort to give back to the community, Saarang 2026 launched ‘Kalaa’ aimed at uplifting custodians of traditional art. “The campaign partnered with grassroots organisations and NGOs to strengthen digital outreach, conduct awareness sessions in local schools on ancient South Indian art forms, and create on-campus marketplaces for handmade products. The campaign has raised over ₹20,000,” said Grisha Shetty, core, sponsorship and public relations, Saarang 2026, IIT-M. The institute expects about 80,000 student participants.

The shows will feature Choreo Night where colleges from across India compete for the first place of ₹1.2 lakh prize. The second night, in a first, will feature Hip-Hop X EDM Night with DJs Angemi and Viola, followed by Brodha V. On the third night, Rock Night, Avial band will take the stage with Skrat as the opening act. On the final day, Pop Night, Sid Sriram will perform with an opening act by India’s first pop girl group, Wish.

Saarang’s World Fest also returns featuring free daytime concerts showcasing contemporary jazz from Italy, alternative hip-hop from Denmark, and progressive metal from Finland. Further, the Spotlight Lecture Series will feature G.V. Prakash, Sivaangi Krishnakumar, Kala Master and Khareshma Ravichandran among others throwing light on their crafts.

The Hindu is the media partner for Saarang 2026.