BLR Hubba, a citywide cultural festival for Bengaluru residents, is back with its third edition

Bengaluru, arsenic a city, whitethorn beryllium bursting astatine the seams and slowed down by postulation woes, but that does not halt the metropolis from brimming with start-up ideas adjacent erstwhile it comes to the performing arts. BLR Hubba is 1 specified lawsuit that came into being successful 2023.

Launched with an thought to marque Bengaluru a taste hub, BLR Hubba, is inspired by the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The festival, anchored by UnboxingBLR, and supported by the Government of Karnataka, is backmost with its 3rd variation with an array of programmes to beryllium held crossed Bengaluru from January 16 to 25. “The festival, curated arsenic a citywide event, brings unneurotic euphony and creation performances, theatre, ocular arts, practice walks, talks, section cuisine, and people arts, and is chiefly aimed astatine Bengaluru residents. It volition diagnostic 800 artistes,” says V. Ravichandar, main facilitator of BLR Hubba.

This year, the festival includes 12 thematic ‘hubbas’, helium adds. “The root of BLR Hubba tin beryllium traced to the Unboxing BLR Foundation, a non-profit inaugural by Prashant Prakash and Malini Goyal. In their book, Unboxing Bangalore, they projected the thought of a city-wide arts festival that would marque Bengaluru an arts and civilization hotspot. “We are known for start-ups, exertion and for our civic problems. But tin we besides beryllium known arsenic a hub for arts and culture? Hence the sanction ‘Hub’ba,” shares Ravichandar, a Tamilian based successful Bengaluru, who works pro-bono for the festival and galore creator projects successful the city.

All the events astatine BLR Hubba are unfastened to the public. “But, this year, we person introduced a voluntary donor walk strategy priced betwixt ₹250 and ₹450. “This is to guarantee a definite level of committedness from attendees to beryllium contiguous astatine the venue, and not to make revenue,” reveals Ravichandar. “The backing for the Hubba comes done sponsorships and backstage donations. The authorities does not money the lawsuit but acts arsenic a facilitator, providing permissions and logistical support”, helium adds.

BLR Hubba 2026 volition beryllium inaugurated with Namma Jatre, a showcase of people traditions, by the Karnataka government. There volition beryllium a full of 144 events, including creation performances, theatre, food, thoroughfare celebrations and activities for children. Events specified arsenic ‘Vishesha Hubba’ (celebrating Karnataka, its diversity, languages, communities and more), ‘Nataka Hubba’ (theatre), ‘Makkala Hubba’ (children’s festival), ‘Pi Thadoi’ by Kalakshetra Manipur, ‘Mrcchakatikam’ by Natanakairali and Bhoomija, ‘Anuraga’ by Rohini Banerjee, ‘Rang Birangi Lavani’ by B Spot Productions, Yakshagana puppetry ‘Choodamani Lankadaha’ by Bhaskar Kogga Kamath and troupe — signifier portion of the line-up.

The earlier editions of the Hubba were held successful December, but this year, the lawsuit is taking spot successful January. “just aft Makar Sankrantri. It is simply a amended clip arsenic determination are lesser chances of rainfall and the outgo logistics are better. BLR Hubba 2026 volition besides widen to Whitefield, Jayanagar, J.P. Nagar, and Kanakapura Road too cardinal Bengaluru,” shares Ravichandar. More details astir the festival are disposable connected BLR Hubba website.