Arts & Entertainment in Delhi

TL;DR 🎵

• Sonu Nigam performs his Rafi tribute BOSSITIVITY on July 25 at Yashobhoomi
• Mohan Brothers bring Monsoon Ragas to Kamani Auditorium on July 23
• Prasan Rao pays homage to Mohd Rafi at Kamani Auditorium on July 31
• Ghazal fans get a candlelit evening at Le Méridien New Delhi on July 19
• Teej and Rakhi celebrations open at Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini on August 5

A Month of Music at Kamani Auditorium and Beyond

Delhi's performing arts calendar in late July 2026 leans heavily on two strong threads: the legacy of Mohammed Rafi and the monsoon season's deep connection to classical music. Both run through several events this month, giving music fans a stretch of programming that is unusually cohesive.

The month opens with atmosphere. On July 19, Candlelight: A Night of Ghazals at Le Méridien takes place at Le Méridien New Delhi, offering an intimate evening of Urdu poetry set to music. The candlelight format strips away large-scale production in favor of close listening, and it has found a receptive audience in Delhi over recent seasons.

On July 23, Kamani Auditorium hosts Monsoon Ragas with Mohan Brothers, Season 3. The Mohan Brothers are established figures in the classical and semi-classical music world, and the monsoon raga tradition — ragas like Megh Malhar and Miyan ki Malhar associated with the rainy season — makes July the natural time for this kind of programming. The fact that this is Season 3 signals a series that has built a loyal following. Kamani Auditorium provides excellent acoustics for this style of concert.

Two Rafi Tributes, One Month

The most striking feature of Delhi's July calendar is having two separate tributes to Mohd Rafi within days of each other, both anchored at Kamani Auditorium or nearby.

On July 25, BOSSITIVITY SONU NIGAM REMEMBERS RAFI - Delhi takes the stage at Yashobhoomi. Sonu Nigam is one of the most recognized voices in contemporary Hindi music, and his tribute to Rafi carries particular resonance given the stylistic continuity between them. Yashobhoomi is a large-format venue, so this is expected to be a full production with significant production value.

Then on July 31, the month closes at Kamani Auditorium with PHIR - RAFI TRIBUTE TO MOHD RAFI BY PRASAN RAO. Prasan Rao brings a different sensibility — a more contained stage at Kamani compared to the scale of Yashobhoomi. For listeners, the two events offer genuinely different experiences of the same legacy. Attending both and noticing the contrast is worthwhile for anyone with a strong connection to the music of Mohd Rafi.

Sacred Calendar: Ekadashi, Purnima, and Guru Purnima 2026

July 25 carries double significance: it is both Ekadashi — the lunar observance of the eleventh day, kept with fasting by many households — and the date of the Sonu Nigam concert at Yashobhoomi. Those who observe Ekadashi will want to plan their evening with this in mind.

July 29 brings Purnima, the full moon, together with Guru Purnima 2026. Guru Purnima is a day of gratitude toward teachers, mentors, and spiritual guides. In Delhi, cultural and spiritual organizations hold special programs on this date, and many people use the day to reach out to teachers who shaped them — whether academic, artistic, or spiritual.

Pradosh Vrat on July 27 falls between these two observances. This bi-monthly evening fast, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is observed with prayers and temple visits in households across the city.

Sankashti Chaturthi on August 2 and the second Ekadashi of the cycle on August 9 extend the sacred calendar into the first week of August, rounding out a month where the panchang and the events calendar are unusually well aligned.

Culture, Media, and the Festival of Business Ideas

Not everything this month happens on a concert stage. The INMA South Asia News Media Festival 2026 takes place on July 20 at Roseate House, bringing together media professionals from across South Asia to discuss the future of journalism and publishing. This is a professional conference rather than a public event, but it reflects Delhi's standing as a gathering point for regional media and knowledge industries.

On July 26, the Seed Business School Festival 2026 - Delhi returns to Le Méridien New Delhi. Le Méridien New Delhi appears twice on the July calendar — for the ghazal evening on the 19th and this festival on the 26th — which marks it as one of the more active curated event venues in the city this month.

Festive Season Arrives Early: Teej and Rakhi

August 5 brings Home New Delhi Teej & Rakhi Glam Fest to Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini by IHG. This event lands just days before Rakshabandhan and during the active Teej season, functioning as an early anchor for those preparing for both festivals. Lifestyle and fashion exhibitions tied to festive occasions have become a consistent part of Delhi's social calendar, and a venue like Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini by IHG gives the event a polished setting.

Insider Tip

For the Sonu Nigam show at Yashobhoomi on July 25, remember that it falls on Ekadashi. Yashobhoomi is located in Dwarka — factor in travel time, especially on a weekday evening when traffic on Dwarka Expressway can be unpredictable. Book tickets well in advance; shows with Sonu Nigam at large venues routinely sell out.

FAQ

Are there really two Rafi tribute concerts in July? Yes. BOSSITIVITY SONU NIGAM REMEMBERS RAFI - Delhi is on July 25 at Yashobhoomi, and PHIR - RAFI TRIBUTE TO MOHD RAFI BY PRASAN RAO is on July 31 at Kamani Auditorium.

What is the Mohan Brothers event about? Monsoon Ragas with Mohan Brothers, Season 3 on July 23 at Kamani Auditorium is a classical and semi-classical music concert built around ragas associated with the monsoon season.

When is Guru Purnima 2026? Guru Purnima 2026 falls on July 29, which also coincides with Purnima (the full moon).

What is at Le Méridien New Delhi this month? Two events: Candlelight: A Night of Ghazals at Le Méridien on July 19, and Seed Business School Festival 2026 - Delhi on July 26.

Bottom Line

Delhi in late July 2026 delivers a concentrated and well-curated stretch of live music. The back-to-back Rafi tributes — Sonu Nigam at Yashobhoomi on July 25 and Prasan Rao at Kamani Auditorium on July 31 — are the month's centrepiece performances for fans of classic Hindi film music. Classical music lovers have the Mohan Brothers and their monsoon ragas on July 23. The festive season begins with the Teej and Rakhi event at Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini by IHG on August 5. Keep the sacred calendar alongside the ticketed events: Guru Purnima 2026 and Ekadashi both shape which evenings carry extra significance this month.