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Nearest Airport

Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi

Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow

Nearest Airport

Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi

Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow

CII Banaras Biennale 2026 KASHI/LIGHT: THE CITY AS A SENSORIUM

A nation's civilisation is not preserved in museums alone. It lives through its people, its traditions and its ability to inspire future generations.

The CII Banaras Biennale is a first-of-its-kind initiative that celebrates India's timeless civilisational heritage and contemporary creativity on a global stage. Rooted in the living heritage of Banaras, it creates meaningful connections between cultures, ideas and communities.

At its heart lies a simple belief:

A nation's enduring influence is shaped as much by its cultural confidence as by its economic progress.

WHY BANARAS?

Among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, Banaras is not simply a repository of history but a living civilisation. Here, culture is neither preserved behind museum walls nor performed only for visitors. It is woven into everyday life. From the ghats and temples to music, crafts, textiles and scholarship, centuries-old traditions continue to evolve, creating a rare cultural ecosystem where heritage is lived rather than remembered.

Few cities embody such a seamless convergence of spirituality, learning, creativity and enterprise. Banaras has, for centuries, nurtured artists, artisans, scholars, musicians and thinkers while remaining a centre of commerce and cultural exchange.

This remarkable continuity makes it uniquely suited to host India's foremost cultural platform. The CII Banaras Biennale draws upon this authenticity to celebrate India's living heritage, not as a legacy of the past, but as a dynamic force that continues to inspire, innovate and shape the future.

Vision

The CII Banaras Biennale envisions Banaras as a city-wide cultural canvas, where museums and galleries, universities and public spaces, temples, riverfronts, craft clusters and cultural institutions come together to create a shared platform for art, performance, dialogue and discovery. Rather than being confined to a single venue, the Biennale invites the world to experience an entire city as a living ecosystem of culture.

Its larger aspiration is to position Banaras as a global destination for cultural tourism, creative enterprise and intellectual exchange, while creating new opportunities for artists, artisans, students, entrepreneurs and local communities. For centuries, Banaras has inspired pilgrims, philosophers, poets and musicians

Engagements and Focus Areas

Bharat Kala Bhawan, Jnana Pravaha

Visual Art and Photography Exhibition

Craft, Design and Textile Exhibition

Performing Arts and Music

Heritage and Tourism

Ideas, Dialogues and Masterclasses

Curated Walkthroughs

Culinary Demonstrations

Social Initiatives

CII will launch the Varanasi Healthy Weavers Initiative, addressing gaps in primary healthcare and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and geriatric health among weaving communities. The programme will focus on the identified weaving clusters of Ramnagar, Lohta and Badi Bazar, benefiting an estimated 4,000–5,000 weavers and their families.

The Biennale will also serve as a platform for long-term skills and employment initiatives in Varanasi and eastern UP. These include the establishment of the CII Artisan Skill Training Institute, with Varanasi as the anchor hub and planned centres in Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Chandauli and Azamgarh; a CII Model Career Centre, developed in collaboration with the Employment Exchange; and the CII E2EE Career Lounge at BHU, an industry-led career development centre created through a partnership with BHU.


A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND CELEBRATION OF LIVING HERITAGE

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Essential Information

Banaras EDM 3-8
Venue

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Date

27 November- 31 December 2026

Source

CII Banaras Biennale 2026

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