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The CII Banaras Biennale is the inaugural biennale organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), with Banaras (Varanasi) as both its setting and its subject. More than an event taking place in the city, it is an exploration of Banaras itself. It brings art, textiles and crafts, music, scholarship and everyday cultural life into dialogue with contemporary artistic practice, exploring not only what endures from the past, but also how the city’s culture continues to evolve today.

The theme is KASHI/LIGHT: City as Sensorium. The Biennale asks not only what survives from the past, but how culture continues to be made in the present.

The Biennale will take place in Banaras (Varanasi), India, from 27 November to 31 December 2026.

Preview Week is the opening programme, from 27 November to 1 December. It includes museum collection showcases, curated museum walks, the Food Festival and Handicraft Haat at Namo Ghat, and a Film Festival. From 2 to 31 December, the exhibitions continue as indicated in individual listings.

The Biennale is curated by leading scholars and cultural practitioners:

• Gayatri Sinha, Lead Curator (Visual Arts)
• Pramod Kumar KG, Textiles & Crafts
• Anjan Chakraverty, Jnana Pravaha

The programme includes art and museum collections, textile and craft exhibitions, film screenings, live music, performances and conversations, and masterclasses on craft processes, material knowledge, health and wellbeing. Engagements also include museum walkthroughs, exhibits on Varanasi in art, photo exhibits and art installations.

The main venues are:

• Banaras Hindu University (BHU), which includes Bharat Kala Bhavan, Ahivasi Gallery and Omkarnath Thakur Museum
• Jnana Pravaha
• Nagari Pracharini Sabha
• Namo Ghat
• Peshwa Haveli

Each venue has its own access arrangements, so check the individual listing before you visit.

It takes place at Namo Ghat during Preview Week (27 November to 1 December). Namo Ghat is a venue for music, food, craft and gathering.

“Ek Dhaaga, Ek Duniya” (“One Thread, One World”) is a participatory artwork at the CII Banaras Biennale 2026. Visitors contribute by offering a thread, selecting one and adding it to an evolving collective artwork. Through this simple, hands-on act, each visitor becomes part of a shared creation—woven together into the cultural tapestry of Banaras.

It is a CII initiative that will launch as part of the Biennale’s legacy. It addresses gaps in primary healthcare and the growing burden of non-communicable and geriatric health conditions among weaving communities. It will focus on the weaving clusters of Ramnagar, Lohta and Badi Bazar, benefiting an estimated 4,000–5,000 weavers and their families.

Beyond its exhibitions, the CII Banaras Biennale will support long-term skills development and employment initiatives across Varanasi and eastern Uttar Pradesh. These include the CII Artisan Design and Development Centre at Trade Facilitation Centre, Varanasi.

Government partners are the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Tourism, the Government of Uttar Pradesh, Banaras Hindu University and CII. JK Cement is listed as a Founding Patron. The site’s social media posts also name other Founding Patrons (Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd., RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group and Adani Group) and JSW as Presenting Partner.

Use the Register Now and Book Your Stay buttons on the website. Under the Visit menu, you can also find information on travelling to Banaras, exploring the city and discovering local cuisine.

Yes. Additional participants and session timings may be announced as the programme develops. Please check the individual listings for the latest information before planning your visit.

For enquiries, please contact Ravi Hira at ravi.hira@cii.in or Samyak Jain at samyak.jain@cii.in.

Updates are also shared through the Biennale’s Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and X accounts.