{"id":15666,"date":"2026-06-04T10:00:50","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T17:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mpmgarts.com\/media\/?page_id=15666"},"modified":"2026-06-04T10:10:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T17:10:10","slug":"16th-annual-indian-summer-festival","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mpmgarts.com\/media\/campaigns\/16th-annual-indian-summer-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"16th Annual Indian Summer Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PRESS RELEASE<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

In a Fractured World, Indian Summer Festival Responds with Art:
\nA Defiant Celebration of Collective Possibility
\n\u2014 Ragas for a Ruptured World \u2014<\/em> <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

16th Edition includes Vancouver debuts of internationally acclaimed comedian Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa and genre-blending Punjabi singer and composer Rashmeet Kaur
\n<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

VANCOUVER, BC<\/b> \u2013 <\/span>Indian Summer Festival <\/b>presents its 16th annual celebration of South Asian arts, bringing together more than 90 Canadian and international artists across a lineup of evocative mixed programming, including comedy, live music, theatre, literature, and interdisciplinary exchange, from <\/span>July 9-19, 2026 at various venues across Vancouver, Burnaby, and Surrey. <\/b>Curated by Indian Summer Festival Executive Artistic Director Am Johal, the festival’s 2026 theme Ragas for a Ruptured World is a call to artistic expression, creative defiance, and collective meaning in an increasingly fractured world.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are currently living through a moment of profound upheaval\u2014politically, spiritually, collectively,” says Johal. “Art is not a luxury in times like these; it offers a vital lifeline for new openings and potent solidarities. Our festival theme of Ragas for a Ruptured World is an invitation for artists to improvise and think otherwise to the closures of thought on offer today.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The festival will feature two mainstage performances at the Vancouver Playhouse, including the Vancouver debut of Sri Lankan comedian <\/span>Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa, <\/b>who opens the festival with his razor sharp, irreverent comedy as part of his international tour <\/span>Paradise Gothic Tour<\/span><\/i>, and of Indian singer and composer <\/span>Rashmeet Kaur<\/b>, who will perform her genre-defying blend of folk, Sufi, hip-hop, and R&B influences as part of her first-ever North American tour.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additional highlights include an evening in conversation with Academy Award-nominated filmmaker, writer, and activist <\/span>Julian Brave NoiseCat<\/b>, acclaimed for his feature documentary <\/span>Sugarcane<\/span><\/i> and lauded memoir, <\/span>We Survived the Night<\/span><\/i>; a special presentation with Vancouver\u2019s own <\/span>Tarun Nayar<\/b> of <\/span>Modern Biology<\/b>, who will transform plant bioelectricity into live, improvised sound amongst the lush surroundings of VanDusen Botanical Garden; a literary exchange between authors <\/span>Sonora Jha<\/b> and <\/span>Minelle Mahtani<\/b>; a world premiere solo performance from celebrated actor and playwright <\/span>Anita Majumdar<\/b>; and a special comedy performance from one of the year\u2019s youngest internationally touring comedians, <\/span>Abby Govindan<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur 2026 festival theme Ragas for a Ruptured World is an assertion, actually. A proposal of where art can live, and what kind of creative expression demands attention in the zeitgeist as we collectively navigate global political and ecological crises,\u201d says <\/span>Laura June Albert, Executive Managing Director.<\/span> \u201cAs a festival at the intersection of art and ideas, we actively position both discursive and aesthetic practices as critical in resourcing us forward.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A variety of free programming will also be offered throughout the festival, including the <\/span>Gong Library, <\/b>an immersive collection of gongs, chimes, and other instruments from around the world at Ocean Artworks Pavilion; two video works (<\/span>Inclination<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>Forgiveness<\/span><\/i>) by <\/span>Farheen Haq<\/b>, co-presented by Grunt Gallery at its Mt. Pleasant Community Art Screen (intersection at Kingsway and W Broadway); the interdisciplinary exhibition <\/span>Keerat Kaur: If Gardens Could Dream<\/i><\/b> at the Surrey Art Gallery; <\/span>Apna Mela<\/b>, a joyful, intergenerational event taking over Surrey\u2019s Strawberry Hill Park, produced by <\/span>Gen Connect<\/b>; and a closing event featuring poetry and live music called <\/span>Rishta<\/span><\/i>, in the heart of Vancouver\u2019s Punjabi Market, curated by <\/span>Ruby Singh<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Indian Summer Festival\u2019s 2026 Festival Lineup (Ticketed):<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Opening Night!: Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa
\n<\/i><\/b>July 9 <\/b>at 7pm at Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton Street), co-presented with PuSh Festival<\/span><\/p>\n

The festival opens with a dynamic night of comedy and music headlined by Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa, making his Vancouver debut as part of his international <\/span>Paradise Gothic Tour<\/span><\/i>. Known for his sharp, darkly funny takes on immigration, spirituality, and late-stage capitalism, Rajapaksa brings a fearless new hour that is both subversive and deeply human. Rajapaksa is joined by acclaimed Canadian comedian Charlie Demers and a live performance by interdisciplinary artist Piu, blending raga-inspired vocals with experimental electronic sound.<\/span><\/p>\n

Julian Brave NoiseCat: We Survived the Night
\n<\/i><\/b>July 10 <\/b>at 7pm<\/span> at Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright St)<\/span><\/p>\n

Celebrated writer, documentary filmmaker and journalist Julian Brave NoiseCat presents his acclaimed debut, a national bestseller and one of 2025\u2019s most lauded nonfiction works. Blending memoir, history, and reportage, the book offers a powerful exploration of Indigenous life and intergenerational reckoning. NoiseCat will be joined in conversation by Indian Summer Festival Executive Artistic Director Am Johal, with a book signing to follow.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sacred Sounds, New Worlds: Rashmeet Kaur
\n<\/i><\/b>July 11 <\/b>at<\/span> 7pm at Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton St)<\/span><\/p>\n

Punjabi singer and composer Rashmeet Kaur makes her Vancouver debut with a genre-blurring performance that fuses folk, Sufi, hip-hop, and R&B influences. Opening the evening, Asad Khan\u2019s Sammah Project offers an immersive, electronically inflected exploration of devotional and classical traditions. Together, they present a powerful meditation on sound, identity, and diasporic expression.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tiffin Talks
\n<\/i><\/b>July 12 <\/b>at 12pm, 3pm & 6pm<\/span> at Ocean Artworks Pavilion (1531 Johnston St)<\/span><\/p>\n

Tiffin Talks is a dialogue series that brings together diverse thought leaders, artists, innovators, and change makers across disciplines. Panelists gather to exchange knowledge, share projects and ideas, then join the audience for a nourishing meal. 2026 Tiffin Talks include:<\/span><\/p>\n