Festival of Kerala opens at the Nishagandhi Auditorium as the State turns seventy

1 November 2026

The Festival of Kerala 2026 opened at the Nishagandhi Auditorium in Thiruvananthapuram on November 1, the seventieth anniversary of the State's formation. Chief Minister V D Satheesan inaugurated it, Health Minister K Muraleedharan presided and Chief Secretary Biswanath Sinha gave the welcome address. The festival is steered by a cabinet sub-committee chaired by the Chief Minister, with Cultural Minister P C Vishnunadh as its convener. It is meant to carry the State's culture, arts, sports and social record to a wider audience and to promote its tourism and investment potential. Besides Kerala, events are planned in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata, with investor meets in the major cities in this first edition. Whether to hold an edition abroad will be considered for the second edition.