CALGARY, Alberta — The Sarb Akal Music Society of Calgary is set to present ICMF 2026 – Indian Classical Music Festival, a three-day celebration of the rich heritage, traditions and contemporary appreciation of Indian classical music, from September 11 to 13, 2026, at the Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary, 206 University Court NW, Calgary, Alberta.
The festival brings together an impressive group of renowned Indian classical musicians and Calgary-based and international artists for three evenings devoted to classical music, instrumental performance and cultural exchange. A current event listing also describes ICMF 2026 as a three-day festival at the Rozsa Centre featuring renowned artists and the preservation and celebration of Indian classical traditions.
The festival is being organized by the Sarb Akal Music Society of Calgary, with the objective of providing Calgary audiences with an opportunity to experience the depth, sophistication and spiritual character of Indian classical music in a professional concert setting.
The three performances are scheduled for Friday, September 11; Saturday, September 12; and Sunday, September 13, 2026, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. each evening. The venue is the Rozsa Centre at the University of Calgary, making the festival part of Calgary’s vibrant cultural and performing-arts landscape.
Distinguished lineup of artists
According to the festival announcement, ICMF 2026 features a distinguished lineup of performers representing different musical traditions and instruments.
The artists named for the festival are:
- Ustad Tari Khan
- Vidushi Arati Ankalikar
- Vidushi Indrani Mukherjee
- Vidushi Debasmita Bhattacharya
- Ustad Akram Khan
- Dr. Rodney Squance
- Sunita Tikare
- Pt. Lokesh Anand
- Pt. Ratish Tagde
- Pt. Hindole Majumdar
- Pt. Apurba Mukherjee
- Pt. Anirban Chakraborty
- Pt. Pankaj Mishra
- Kamaljeet Ahluwalia
- Zaheer Abbas
The presence of established names such as Ustad Tari Khan, Vidushi Arati Ankalikar and other accomplished performers gives the festival a broad artistic profile, bringing together vocal music and several important instrumental traditions associated with the Indian classical music system.
The program also highlights musicians from different generations and musical backgrounds, offering audiences an opportunity to experience the relationship between traditional performance practices and the continuing evolution of classical music.
Three evenings of musical heritage
The three-day format allows the organizers to present a varied program rather than limiting the festival to a single concert. Each evening is expected to provide audiences with a different musical experience while maintaining the central focus on Indian classical traditions.
The festival is particularly significant for Calgary’s multicultural community because Indian classical music has an important place in South Asian cultural heritage. Events of this nature also provide younger generations born or raised in Canada with opportunities to understand and experience artistic traditions connected to their family and cultural backgrounds.
At the same time, the festival is not intended only for the South Asian community. Indian classical music has an established international audience, and ICMF provides an opportunity for Calgary residents from diverse cultural backgrounds to discover its complex melodic, rhythmic and improvisational traditions.
A platform for cultural exchange
The organizers’ decision to stage the festival at the University of Calgary’s Rozsa Centre reflects the importance of presenting traditional music within a professional arts environment.
The festival can also contribute to Calgary’s broader multicultural arts scene by creating a meeting place for musicians, music students, educators, cultural organizations and audiences interested in international music.
Indian classical music is distinguished by its emphasis on melody, rhythm, improvisation and disciplined performance traditions. Unlike many forms of popular music, performances can develop organically on stage, allowing musicians to communicate with one another through established musical structures while also demonstrating individual creativity.
For audiences unfamiliar with the tradition, ICMF 2026 therefore offers more than a series of concerts. It provides an opportunity to experience an art form whose traditions have developed over generations and continue to find audiences around the world.
Strong community and business support
The festival announcement also acknowledges substantial support from businesses, professional organizations, community groups and media partners.
Among the prominent organizations and businesses displayed on the festival promotional material are Calgary Arts Development, Sandeep Dhillon Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, RED FM 106.7, Enova Entertainment, and a wide range of Calgary-area sponsors and community supporters.
The sponsor and supporter listings prominently include:
Home Healthcare / Dr. Sunil Kullar, MD, CCFP; Sit With Yourself; Flex Building Supplies; Appy Bhullar, RE/MAX Real Estate; Bhatia Cloth House – Fabric Store; Eagle Crest Construction; Koh-I-Noor Jewellers & Diamond Centre; Empire Billiards; Sandeep Dhillon Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery; Sikh Centre; Manpreet Johal and Charanjit Johal; and Mantra.
The promotional material also carries a second group of community and media supporters, including SABRANG Radio 94.7 FM, Global Desi, Radio Chaska, BW Times, Advance Auto Parts, and Signs Plus Inc., alongside several other community and business logos.
The festival’s media partnership prominently features RED FM 106.7, while Enova Entertainment is also identified among the event’s supporting organizations.
This broad sponsorship network demonstrates the role of local businesses and community organizations in supporting arts and cultural programming in Calgary.
Organizers and information
The promotional material lists Bhai Harjeet Singh and Rama Khare as the principal contacts for festival information.
For inquiries, the listed telephone numbers are:
Bhai Harjeet Singh — 403-701-1760
Rama Khare — 403-850-8759
Tickets and event information are promoted through QR codes appearing with each of the three festival dates.
Celebrating tradition in a multicultural city
ICMF 2026 comes at a time when Calgary continues to develop as one of Canada’s major multicultural centres. Cultural festivals such as this provide communities with an opportunity to maintain connections with their artistic heritage while introducing that heritage to a wider Canadian audience.
The importance of Indian classical music extends beyond entertainment. Its performance traditions encompass generations of musical knowledge, teacher-student relationships, disciplined practice and an intricate understanding of rhythm and melody. Bringing accomplished performers to Calgary gives local audiences access to a form of music that might otherwise require international travel to experience at this level.
For students and aspiring musicians, the festival can also serve as an inspirational platform, demonstrating the possibilities available through dedication to classical music and the preservation of traditional artistic disciplines.
Invitation to Calgary audiences
With its combination of respected performers, community participation, corporate sponsorship and cultural programming, ICMF 2026 – Indian Classical Music Festival is positioned as a major Indian classical music event in Calgary’s September cultural calendar.
The Sarb Akal Music Society of Calgary is inviting music lovers, members of the South Asian community, students, artists, families and the wider Calgary public to attend the three-day celebration and experience performances by some of the festival’s featured artists.
The festival will take place at the Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary, 206 University Court NW, Calgary, on September 11, 12 and 13, 2026, with doors scheduled to open at 6:30 p.m. each evening. The public event listing confirms the three-day September 11–13 schedule and identifies the Rozsa Centre as the venue.
ICMF 2026 ultimately represents more than a concert series. It is a celebration of cultural heritage, artistic excellence and community cooperation, bringing the timeless traditions of Indian classical music to Calgary and creating a platform where heritage and contemporary Canadian multiculturalism can meet through music.
Post Disclaimer
The views and content presented in this article, news report, or video are solely those of the respective author or creator and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BW Times Digital Online E-Paper.
Leave a comment