Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre to debut ‘India Weekend’ at Lincoln Centre in New York

The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) is set to make a landmark international debut with the first edition of ‘India Weekend’ in New York City, to be held from September 12–14, 2025, at the Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts.

The inaugural edition will showcase India’s rich cultural legacy across music, theatre, fashion, crafts, and cuisine. The centrepiece of the three-day celebration is the U.S. premiere of ‘The Great Indian Musical: Civilisation to Nation’, India’s largest theatrical production, featuring over 100 performers and a Tony and Emmy award-winning crew. Directed by Feroz Abbas Khan and featuring choreography by Vaibhavi Merchant and Mayuri Upadhya, with music by Ajay-Atul and costumes by designer Manish Malhotra, the production promises a grand retelling of India’s history from 5000 BC to 1947.

Founder and chairperson Nita Ambani described the weekend as a global celebration of India’s cultural richness. “It is designed to be a global celebration of India’s cultural legacy… This special weekend marks the first step forward on that journey, celebrating the spirit of India on one of the world’s most iconic stages – Lincoln Centre,” she said.

The event will also feature an invite-only, red-carpet evening called the ‘Grand Swagat’, with Swadesh Fashion Show curated by Manish Malhotra, showcasing traditional Indian weaves. A culinary showcase of ancient and modern Indian cuisine, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna. A ‘Great Indian Bazaar’ at Damrosch Park, running throughout the weekend, offering immersive experiences in Indian textiles, crafts, wellness, and performing arts.

The cultural highlights include morning bhajans, Gita readings, and yoga workshops led by wellness expert Eddie Stern, dance sessions with Shiamak Davar’s team, live musical performances by Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal, Parthiv Gohil, and Rishab Sharma, and a festive closing with ‘Phoolon Ki Holi’ and a Retro Nights-themed DJ set.

Bookings for the NMACC India Weekend in New York will open soon.

At WAVES 2025, Ambani had reinforced the global relevance of Indian culture and announced a major international initiative by the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC). She shared that the cultural centre will host a “grand Indian weekend” this September at the iconic Lincoln Centre in New York. “We will spotlight the soul of India in all its glory—our arts and artisans, our weaves and weavers, our songs and dances, and our fashion and food,” she had said.

“Long before the birth of the internet or even cinema, the influence of Indian culture had already spread across the globe,” Ambani had said. She had pointed to centuries-old connections—from Buddhist monks journeying to India for knowledge, to Indian deities still worshipped across Southeast Asia, and Indian architecture visible in Angkor Wat and Borobudur—as evidence that “taking India to the world is not a new concept or a new idea.”

The Lincoln Centre event, she had said, would be part of a broader movement to place India’s cultural heritage at the heart of global dialogue. “We stand at a moment unlike any before. A moment where Indian culture can shine on the world stage, not just in fragments but in its full granularity.”

NMACC, which opened in Mumbai in March 2023, has hosted over 1,500 performances by 7,000 artists and welcomed more than two million guests. It has introduced acclaimed productions such as Mughal-e-Azam, Rajadhiraaj, and international musicals like The Phantom of the Opera and The Sound of Music.