The High Commission of India in Ghana has announced that the fourth edition of IndiaFest will take place on October 24, 2026, at the Accra Sports Stadium, bringing Indian music, dance, art and cuisine to Ghanaian audiences.
The event, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., will showcase India’s cultural diversity under the theme “A Celebration of Indian Culture”, while promoting cultural exchange and people-to-people ties between the two countries. The celebration will also draw attention to Diwali, India’s Festival of Lights, which is marked with traditions centred on light, hope and the triumph of good over evil.
India’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Shri Surinder Bhagat, said the festival would give Ghanaians an opportunity to experience different aspects of Indian culture, from traditional practices to contemporary artistic expressions.
“India, with its rich civilisational heritage and remarkable diversity of languages, traditions, music, dance, art, cuisine and festivals, offers a unique cultural experience. IndiaFest 2026 will showcase this diversity and provide an opportunity for the people of Ghana to experience different facets of Indian culture, including its traditional and contemporary artistic expressions,” he said.
He added that the festival aligned with the Memorandum of Understanding on the Cultural Exchange Programme signed by Ghana and India during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Ghana in July 2025. The agreement provides a framework for exchanges in areas including art, music, dance, literature and heritage.
Modi’s visit, the first by an Indian prime minister to Ghana in three decades, marked a significant step in the relationship between the two countries. During the visit, Ghana and India elevated their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership and signed agreements covering cultural exchange, standards, traditional medicine cooperation and bilateral consultation mechanisms.
The festival would highlight the role of cultural diplomacy in strengthening India–Ghana relations by creating opportunities for cultural exchange, interaction and mutual understanding.
IndiaFest has become a platform for bringing together Ghanaian audiences, members of the Indian community and public officials. At the 2025 edition, held at the Accra Sports Stadium, visitors experienced Indian cuisine, folk and classical music, Bollywood dance performances, cultural exhibitions and activities for children.
The event also coincided with Diwali, linking the festival’s cultural showcase with one of India’s most widely celebrated festivals.
This year’s event comes as Ghana and India seek to expand a longstanding relationship that has recently gained renewed momentum. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1957, the year Ghana gained independence, and have developed cooperation in areas including trade, education, infrastructure, healthcare and technology.
The cultural festival follows a visit to Ghana by India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on October 6–7, 2026, during which both countries reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation under the Comprehensive Partnership. Ghana also announced its intention to formally apply to join BRICS, the grouping of major emerging economies, and sought India’s support as a founding member of the bloc
Against this backdrop, IndiaFest offers a cultural dimension to the growing partnership, bringing the relationship beyond official meetings and agreements to the people of both countries. Through food, music, dance and shared experiences, the festival seeks to encourage greater appreciation of Indian culture among Ghanaians while strengthening the bonds between the two communities.
Source: Diplomatic Times
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