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Jodhpur RIFF turns 20: Mehrangarh's full-moon folk festival brings six continents and 250 Rajasthani musicians together
The 20th Jodhpur RIFF runs until 26 October at Mehrangarh Fort, with more than 250 folk musicians from Rajasthan, first-time acts from Colombia to Estonia and, for the first time, spoken theatre.
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One of India's most beautiful music festivals is in full swing. Jodhpur RIFF, the roots music festival held at the 15th-century Mehrangarh Fort, is celebrating its 20th edition from 22 to 26 October 2026, timed as always to the bright full moon of Sharad Purnima.
The festival at a glance
- Dates: 22 to 26 October 2026
- Venue: Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, with dawn concerts at Jaswant Thada and evening shows in the Zenana Courtyard
- Organiser: Mehrangarh Museum Trust
- Tickets: through the official Jodhpur RIFF website and Live Your City by Fever
Rajasthan at the centre
More than 250 folk musicians from communities including the Manganiyar, Langa, Bhopa, Kalbelia, Meghwal, Meena and Bhil are taking part. That includes around 120 young Langa and Manganiyar performers trained through the museum's Folk Futures programme, plus veterans such as alghoza master Taga Ram Bhil and bhapang player Gafruddin Jogi. Festival director Divya Bhatia has described Rajasthani artists as the festival's guiding force for two decades.
The world comes to Jodhpur
This year's international guest list covers about a dozen countries, including Colombia, Chile, Cabo Verde, Poland, Scotland and Estonia. First-time performers include rapper Dobby, the duo Camila y Silvio, uilleann piper Michael McGoldrick and American singer Martha Redbone with her Roots Project. Other highlights:
- The Book of Queens, which brings together Hindustani vocalist Smita Bellur, French opera singer Camille Bordet and kamaicha maestro Kode Khan Manganiyar.
- Printz Board's Butter Funk Family and Cabo Verdean guitarist Guitare Voginha.
- Brhannala by Adishakti Theatre, the festival's first spoken-theatre production.
Why it matters
Twenty years on, RIFF remains a rare festival where folk musicians are headliners rather than an opening act. Its model of pairing hereditary performers with global artists has helped Manganiyar and Langa musicians build international careers, and the Folk Futures programme is training the next generation to carry it on.
Planning a festival trip this season? See our full list at https://mediamarvels.in/blog/upcoming-concerts-in-india-2026-2027.
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