Delhi events in May

Every year, May Day Bookstore takes over the cosy Safdar Studio to celebrate International Labour Day, and the shelves deliver: indie titles, international classics, art catalogues, age-old journals, and everything in between. The crowd is a lovely mix of students, artists, and Delhi's many ferocious readers. Throw in some live music, recitals, free (pretty) bookmarks, and the thrill of a great find at a steal!

When: May 1, 11am to 6pm
Where: Safdar Studio, West Delhi
Entry: Free

The Polygon Project is openly challenging a done-to-death concert scene. Happening inside a gigantic 4-floor-high hexagonal structure with five giant screens (three times that of a movie screen), the aesthetics are bold, almost like entering into a multiverse. The DJ lineup includes well-known names like Nikhil Chinapa, Progressive Brothers, Olly Esse and Project 91!

When: May 1-2, 6.30pm onwards
Where: Backyard Sports Club, Gurugram
Tickets: ₹1,000-₹2,500

This edition of BUDX NBA House is all about dunk, epic electronic and hip-hop acts. You’ll be taken aback by the diverse experiences on offer: rare collectables, Budweiser’s limited-edition merch, an NBA barbershop for all new fades, food at the world-renowned Bud & Burgers and authentic memorabilia from the NBA store. Expect performances from the Sacramento Kings Dunk Team, Reble, Fijiana, Chor Bazaar, and others. Interestingly, the legendary Larry O’Brien Trophy is at the show!

When: May 9-10, 4pm
Where: Bharat Mandapam
Tickets: ₹2,000 onwards 

The Indian Premier League 2026 season is lighting up stadiums across India! Here’s a quick rundown on the matches in the capital (all inside the Arun Jaithely Stadium):

May 5 (Tue): Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings (7.30 pm)
May 8 (Fri): Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders (7.30 pm)
May 17 (Sun): Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals (7.30 pm)

Delhi still has some excellent Urdu and Hindi calligraphy artists, and Stuti Arora – twelve years in the craft – is one of them. This beginner-friendly workshop at Museo Camera walks you through brushes, papers, and techniques, and sends you home with personalised merchandise you actually made. In the age of digital everything, there's something satisfying about ink on paper.

When: May 31, 4pm 
Where: Museo Camera Centre for the Photographic Arts, Gurugram 
Tickets: ₹9,000 onwards

The 16th edition of this cultural festival combines live music, food stalls, and lifestyle shopping. It’s an end-to-end sensory experience featuring a mix of musical genres, even if there’s a clear bias toward desi hip-hop, pop, indie, and Bollywood music. This year, the festival has grown bigger with pit stops in three cities: Delhi, Bengaluru, and Indore.  

When: May 9-10, 1.30pm
Where: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Tickets: ₹500 onwards 

Seema Pahwa and Ratna Pathak Shah on the same stage, in a ninety-minute theatrical production rooted in stories by Bhisham Sahni and Mannu Bhandari, two names that carry weight in Hindi literature. Pahwa is the director, and the material she's chosen ranges from social issues to loneliness – the kind of wrap theatre was made for. 

When: May 31, 7.30pm 
Where: Sri Ram Centre for Performing Arts
Tickets: ₹500 onwards

Hyper beat repetition, unrelenting bass – hosting you hostage on the dancefloor for hours. That’s the promise of French DJ William Luck, who brings his hard techno and industrial sounds, while Kotorri layers in an experimental, atmospheric edge. Together, the pairing leans dark and warehouse-gritty, the kind of night that feels like it's happening somewhere it probably shouldn't. 

When: May 8, 9pm 
Where: TBD
Tickets: ₹1,500

With over a thousand shows across the world and a YouTube series that made him a household name, Kanan recently had a houseful run with 'Keep It Real' – he doesn’t take breaks so much as he changes sets. 'Not This Again' is new, and if his track record is anything to go by, you'll still be in splits on the way back home.

When: May 23-24, multiple slots 
Where: The Laugh Store, DLF Cyberhub, Gurugram 
Tickets: ₹1,500

Written by acclaimed Marathi playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar and directed by Lilette Dubey, this English-language production is a psychological, memory-driven drama centred on an ageing celebrated writer dictating his life story to a sharp young PhD researcher. Dubey leads a cast that includes Denzil Smith, Suchitra Pillai, and Sarah Hashmi. 

When: May 29, 7pm 
Where: Kamani Auditorium
Tickets: ₹650

This is a veteran comic who’s a Netflix alumnus who’s a former CEO who’s, now, a grandfather. Khatri's latest show is a riff on his four-year-old grandson, his dog Mr. Butter Khatri, and over four decades of marriage – which, in the right hands, is a comedy goldmine. Fortunately, he has those hands.

When: May 24, 6pm 
Where: The Comedy Theatre, Hauz Khas 
Tickets: ₹900

For decades, Australian alternative health educator Barbara O'Neill has been advocating for a return to nature, and now she's bringing it to Delhi in the form of a one-day interactive masterclass. The sessions cover obesity, blood pressure, diabetes, and constipation: essentially, everything on the Indian family group chat. Whether you're a sceptic, it's a full day of material worth engaging with.

When: May 27, 3pm 
Where: NSUI Auditorium, New Delhi 
Tickets: ₹4,500 onwards

Thirty years of making Western pop and Indian music sound like they were always meant to be the same song, and Penn Masala (one of India's first acapella groups) is marking the milestone with the release of their 13th album, 1996. They've performed at the White House and the Paris Olympics. Now they're in Delhi. 'Shape of You' and 'Pasoori' in the same breath, done entirely with voices.

When: May 28, 7.30pm 
Where: Kedarnath Sahni Auditorium
Tickets: ₹500 onwards

After a Boiler Room Paris set that made the internet pay close attention, Trym's trajectory in the electronic music scene has shot up like a firecracker. His debut India tour touches down in May with a three-night, multi-city run, Delhi included.

When: May 22-24
Where: TBD 
Tickets: TBD

‘There's a monster inside all of us,’ Gurleen Pannu implies, in the friendliest possible way. The Chandigarh-based comic brings her 2026 tour to Delhi with a fresh hour drawn from family pressure, gendered social expectations, dating, and the general chaos of becoming an adult. Hot-off-the-press material, delivered with the warmth of someone who has clearly lived all of it.

When: May 16, 6.30pm 
Where: Bipin Chandra Pal Bhavan Auditorium
Tickets: ₹500

Twenty-four Grammys, a catalogue which shaped the trajectory of modern rap and hip-hop. A dome stage. And a first-ever India date, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Most tickets were gone before March even began, but last-minute resales have a way of surfacing. Do we need to repeat his name?

When:  May 28, 8pm 
Where: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Tickets: ₹7,500 onwards

We’ve been waiting for this one. The much-hyped debut of Mochakk, one of few DJs who actually manage to make house, tech-house, techno, funk, and Latin rhythms sound like one cohesive, gloriously unhinged universe, is finally here. What does this mean for you? Five hours of rolling basslines, deep projections, and the kind of sudden drops that make passive listening physically impossible. All with top tracks like Da Fonk and Jealous.

When: May 9, 5pm 
Where: TBD 
Tickets: ₹2,500

Historian William Dalrymple will read from his acclaimed book on the fall of Mughal Delhi while Vidya Shah will perform ghazals, folk prose, and court music from the same era, all set against the red sandstone walls of the Red Fort. Together, they'll reconstruct the Delhi of 1857: its emperors, poets, courtesans, and revolts. It's several cultural experiences in one.

When: May 3, 6.30pm
Where: Red Fort, Delhi
Tickets: ₹3,500 onwards

Sharon's 'Weak Independent Woman' tour is conversational, relatable, and sharp in the way only someone who has clocked a lot of miles (born in Bihar, raised in Mumbai, represent!) and a lot of disasters can be. Her style feels less like a set and more like a chat with a friend… who is, most probably, far funnier than your actual friends. Get them a lesson or two.

When: May 16, 5pm and 9.30pm 
Where: The Laugh Store, DLF Cyberhub, Gurugram 
Tickets: ₹800

The city’s best tribute to the late legendary singer who gave each one of us a song to loop over is an open sky, candlelight concert, whether your poison is O Haseena Zulfonwale Jane Jahan, Chura Liya Hai Tumne or Khoya Khoya Chand. This one comes long with the unforgettable classics of Mohammed Rafi. The concert is led by an Indian classical ensemble featuring the Anirudh Varma Trio on sarod, tabla & keyboard. 

When: May 16, 8pm
Where: Le Méridien
Tickets: ₹9,000 onwards 

They had a standout debut last year, and now they're back. All That Jazz Edition 2 brings together fourteen handpicked artists blending brass, chords, and lush vocals into the quintessential jazz swing. Catch performances by Aditya Dutta and Parvati Krishnan, alongside a diverse collective of Indian and global artists.

When: May 2, 8pm onwards
Where: The Quorum, Sector 43, Gurugram
Tickets: ₹1,900-₹2,100 onwards

Curated by Once Upon India, this is an evening engineered for baithak-style seating, soft lighting, and the scent of floral-oudh in the air, even if it’s just in your imagination. Over three hours, Shaheen Salmani will move through Sufi kalaams, ghazals, and folk-inspired compositions. The old-world mehfil, done right.

When: May 16, 6.30pm 
Where: DLF Club 5, Gurugram 
Tickets: ₹6,000

It's absolutely normal to drool over food while watching it being served on screen. At least, Delhi’s Taste Cinemas and Moets are making it the new normal. Together, they’ll serve film-inspired cuisine straight from the Greek islands Mamma Mia style. Juicy chicken skewers, herbed potatoes, warm flatbread and honey-pistachio cheesecake. All this, with the 2008 chart-topping classic itself.

When: May 10 onwards, 2pm 
Where: Moets Palm Villa, Gurugram 
Tickets: ₹3,300

An international Emmy. A catalogue of specials. A reputation that precedes him in rooms across the world. And yet, watching Vir Das perform on home turf feels refreshing every time. 'Sounds of India' is the set – part musical, mostly comic, and entirely the sharp, socially aware storytelling that made him a household name on two continents. 

When: May 9-10, 7.30pm 
Where: Yashobhoomi Convention Centre 
Tickets: ₹800

Delhi's longest-running play is back home after a three-decade life of touring in and outside the country, and to date, it sells out. The satirical comedy imagines Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib reborn into the 21st century, navigating Delhi's public transport, student apartments, filthy rich landlords, inflation, and (of course) social media. We don’t need to tell you it’s hilarious.

When: May 3, 7pm
Where: NCUI Auditorium
Tickets: ₹150-₹500

Portrait sculpting with a live model, led by Indian sculptor Kosal Kumar over six (!) evenings at Triveni Kala Sangam. The 2026 edition of this annual workshop is open to beginners and seasoned artists alike, as long as you're an adult and you're serious. Show up with nothing – you likely won’t leave the same way.

When: May 11-16, 5.30pm-7.30pm 
Where: Triveni Kala Sangam, Mandi House 
Tickets: ₹9,600

Ganguly has never been on Tinder. He also, one day, intends to have six-pack abs. Sound familiar? Now imagine someone who manages to make jokes about these without being insufferable. That’s what Abhijit does. Observations wrapped in dry, deadpan delivery. Refreshing.

When: May 17, 6pm 
Where: The Comedy Theatre, Hauz Khas 
Tickets: ₹700

Tomatoes. A DJ. Food stalls. The Holi-esqueness of it all on a day you didn’t ask for and won’t be prepared for. The Spanish festival, transplanted to an Indian summer with admirable commitment. Well, if you can’t beat the heat, beat your friends with fruit (vegetable..?) pulp. Best of all: the organisers have promised to keep numbers manageable, so the window to grab a spot is narrow. Wear something you don't love. 

When: May 16, 11am 
Where: Sikkim Resort, Gurugram 
Tickets: ₹3,000

Dating their lineage to the 1350s and trained in the tradition of Amir Khusro at the Nizamuddin Dargah, Shadab and Sohrab Nizami are among the most significant custodians of Sufi qawwali alive today. Their NAAD: The Universal Sound composition feels like it’s drawn from beneath the city’s ground.

When: May 16, 7pm 
Where: Amphitheatre, Bharat Mandapam 
Tickets: ₹500

After a brief stint in films, Anubhav Bassi is back on stage. India's arguably fastest-rising comedy sensation brings his dry wit and hair-rising observations to Delhi. Think straight-faced tales of college misadventures, office chaos, and awkward friendships.

When: May 3, 2pm & 6pm
Where: Talkatora Stadium
Tickets: ₹800

You walk in expecting a few laughs and walk out quoting half the set, typically. Gaurav Kapoor’s comedy thrives on familiarity: the staple Indian household, gym habits that never last, corporate life monotony. His upcoming Noida show features fresh material from the Delhi-based comic, packed into a tight, well-structured hour.

When: May 3, 2pm & 4.30pm
Where: The Laugh Casa, Rcube Monade Mall, Noida
Tickets: ₹1,000

Prashasti’s stand-up, known for its confidence, dives headfirst into modern dating and feminism. The set has toured internationally and sold out in Delhi twice over. This time, she's here with one very specific mission: finding the right man to fall in love with. Don't hold your breath, but do buy the ticket.

When: May 16, 8.30pm 
Where: The Laugh Casa, Rcube Monade Mall, Noida 
Tickets: ₹600

Comedy roasts are hard to stomach, which makes them perfect for die-hard fans. Nishant Tanwar's interactive roast pulls the audience into the act, and if you're feeling brave, you can volunteer for a zero-filter face-off on stage. Be warned, though: he thrives on spontaneity, so expect the unexpected.

When: May 3, 9pm
Where: The Comedy Theatre, Hauz Khas Village
Tickets: ₹600

Rather than treating drawings, etchings and watercolours as the warm-up act to the real business of oil on canvas, this show holds out the page for postcolonial themes of doubt, hesitation and erasure. Sixteen artists, including Bhupen Khakhar, F N Souza, Jangarh Singh Shyam and Jogen Chowdhury, are brought together, and interestingly, this isn’t curated by school, region or even chronology. If you've ever assumed Indian modernism lived only on the big iconic canvases, this show will surely fix that.

When: Until May 30. Open Sun-Fri. 11am-7pm. Saturday closed.
Where: Gallery Dotwalk
Entry: Free

Delhi’s one of the Indian cities where you most feel the weight of good architecture – the strength of the memories it can invoke, and how a building’s character can quite literally change yours. Like the ones you passed in a cab and thought about for three days, or imagined from a description, or lost to circumstances you'd rather not name. Five artists have been brought together here around this premise. Don’t bring a first date here. This demands some serious staring.

When: Until May 25. Open Mon-Sat, 11am-7pm. Sunday closed.
Where: LATITUDE 28 gallery
Entry: Free

This is Jha’s second solo at Nature Morte, and the show's central question is essentially that of a time warp – who doesn’t want one of those? His sculptures (in stone, bronze, wood, brass, synthetic putty, aluminium – he's clearly not precious about material) drift between animals, tools, insects, architectural details, toys and vegetables without settling anywhere. They're arranged non-linearly, which means you move through the show in whatever direction you like, which means you'll probably double back on yourself more than once. Built through repetitive gestures, they carry a sense of accumulation that's hard to shake after you've left.

When: Until May 17. Open Tue-Sun, 11am-7pm. Monday closed.
Where: Nature Morte gallery, Dhan Mill
Entry: Free