Bharat Kalachar Margazhi Mahotsav 2026: Sid Sriram and 36 Days at YGP Auditorium
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Many sabhas fit their December season into two or three weeks. Bharat Kalachar runs for 36 days. Its 38th Margazhi Mahotsav opens at Sri YGP Auditorium on Tirumalai Road, T. Nagar, with an award function at 6:30 PM on Sunday 13 December 2026, and closes on Sunday 17 January 2027, a few days after Pongal.
The programme is mostly Carnatic vocal and instrumental concerts, Bharatanatyam and harikatha, with a few film-music and drama evenings in between. The slot most people will be hunting for is Sid Sriram’s vocal concert at 4:00 PM on Sunday 20 December, one of the festival’s “special” ticketed shows.
Festival Details
| Dates | 13 December 2026 to 17 January 2027 |
| Venue | Sri YGP Auditorium, 17 Tirumalai Road, T. Nagar |
| Opening | Award function, Sunday 13 December, 6:30 PM |
| Usual show times | 6:30 PM or 7:15 PM; some days also have 10:30 AM, 2:00 PM, 4:00/4:30 PM and 5:30 PM slots |
| Tickets | Ticketed shows on BookMyShow, and at the venue from 10 AM on 7 December |
| Organiser | Bharat Kalachar |
Concerts Worth Planning Around
A selection from the published schedule. “Free” means the organiser lists the slot as “All Are Welcome”.
| Date | Time | Artist | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 14 Dec | 6:30 PM | Trichur Brothers, vocal | Ticketed |
| Tue 15 Dec | 6:30 PM | Shobhana, Bharatanatyam | Ticketed (special) |
| Fri 18 Dec | 6:30 PM | Dushyanth Sridhar, harikatha “Bolava Vitthala” | Ticketed |
| Sat 19 Dec | 6:30 PM | Unnikrishnan and Uthara Unnikrishnan, light classical | Ticketed (special) |
| Sun 20 Dec | 10:30 AM | Ritvik Vaddi Rao, vocal | Free |
| Sun 20 Dec | 4:00 PM | Sid Sriram, vocal | Ticketed (special) |
| Sun 20 Dec | 7:00 PM | Visakha Hari, harikatha | Ticketed |
| Mon 21 Dec | 6:30 PM | Sudha Ragunathan, vocal | Ticketed |
| Tue 22 Dec | 6:30 PM | Priyadarshini Govind, Bharatanatyam | Ticketed |
| Wed 23 Dec | 6:30 PM | Mohammed Rafi 102 Night, Prasan Rao and Jaya Rajagopal | Ticketed |
| Thu 31 Dec | 4:30 PM | Kunnakudi M. Balamuralikrishna, vocal | Ticketed |
| Fri 1 Jan | 10:30 AM | Ganesh Kumaresh, violin duet | Ticketed |
| Sun 3 Jan | 4:30 PM | Sikkil Gurucharan, tribute to Ilaiyaraaja 50 | Ticketed |
| Sun 17 Jan | 7:15 PM | Yuva Kala Vaibhavam, music and dance by Yuva Kala Bharathi awardees | Free |
From early January the evenings turn mostly to free Bharatanatyam recitals, many by disciples of established gurus, with a ticketed headline recital on some nights. The full day-by-day schedule is on Bharat Kalachar’s site, and the organiser notes that all programmes are subject to change.
Tickets
Ticketed concerts go on sale on BookMyShow, and the counter at the auditorium opens for advance booking at 10 AM on 7 December 2026. The schedule does not give prices. For booking queries it lists 82488 71089 and 99419 07993.
The Sid Sriram and Unnikrishnan shows are listed as special ticketed events, so check their prices on BookMyShow rather than assuming the regular rate. If you only want a taste of the season, the free morning and afternoon slots need no ticket at all.
The Venue and Getting There
Sri YGP Auditorium stands at No. 17 Tirumalai Road, next door to Bharat Kalachar’s office at No. 16. The organiser says a canteen will run during the festival and that car parking is limited, so drive only if you are happy to hunt for a spot on the side streets.
- Auto or cab: the simplest option, especially on weekend evenings when T. Nagar’s shopping streets are crowded.
- MTC bus: T. Nagar is one of the city’s busiest bus hubs. Plan your route with the Chennai bus routes guide.
- Suburban train: Mambalam station on the Beach–Tambaram line serves T. Nagar; take an auto for the last stretch.
The Music Academy’s centenary season runs over the same weeks, from 15 December to 1 January, a short ride away on TTK Road. See the Music Academy’s 100th Annual Concerts, or browse music events in Chennai.
Event Locations