New Delhi, Oct 1 (PTI) The iconic Qutub Minar complex — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — in Delhi will play host to the second edition of the India Art Architecture and Design Biennale to be held over a period of 108 days, starting December 4.
The theme of the mega cultural event is ‘Tat Tvam Asi’ the Sanskrit phrase which translates to ‘You Are That’.
“Against the monumental backdrop of Qutub Minar, experience the 108 days of remarkable feats of architecture, art and design that The India Biennale 2026 brings to Delhi. Qutub Complex #TheIndiaBiennale2026 #QutubMinar #Delhi #ArtAndHeritage,” the Culture Ministry posted on X.
It also shared a digital poster bearing an image of the 13th-century minaret and the dates of the India Art Architecture and Design Biennale (IAADB) 2026 — December 4, 2026- March 21, 2027, with the caption “Exhibitions, Experiences, Exchanges”.
The inaugural edition of the mega event was held at the Red Fort complex — also a UNESCO World Heritage Site — from December 9-15, 2023. It was later opened for public till March 31, 2024.
At the launch of the maiden edition, the ministry had said that the aim of the IAADB is to “invigorate the cultural space and creative industries and leverage the arts for global cultural diplomacy and connect”.
The second edition of the IAADB is being organised with the intention of making it a global cultural initiative and the flagship programme of the ministry.
The venue — Qutub Minar complex — is a major cultural site and a popular tourist attraction, and has featured in many films.
Built in the early 13th century, the red sandstone tower of Qutub Minar is 72.5 m high, tapering in diameter from base to its peak, and has alternating angular and rounded flutings.
The surrounding archaeological area contains funerary buildings, notably the magnificent Alai-Darwaza Gate, the masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art (built in 1311), and two mosques, including the Quwwatu’l-Islam, the oldest in northern India, according to a description on its inscription on the UNESCO website.
It was not immediately known if Qutub Minar would be the only site that would be used for the India Biennale, or whether there would be more cultural sites in Delhi that will be part of the event. PTI KND
PRK
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