Amey Mirashi

September’s that sweet spot between the monsoon’s final encore and a full-blown start to Mumbai’s festive season. The weather’s mostly kinder, the evenings are made for heading out, and Mumbai’s event list is packed with enough comedy, art, live music, and nightlife to make staying home feel like a missed opportunity – and this guide’s sifted through them all to show you the best of the best. Whether you’re planning a date night, chasing a euphoric concert, or simply looking for an excuse to explore art and history, this month’s lineup delivers. AR Rahman is set to promise a memorable evening of timeless Sufi melodies at NCPA, while Chet Faker returns with his India tour after a seven-year hiatus, adding Mumbai to his concert list. Plus, electronic music fans can lose themselves in the late-night sets from Allin Showcase and Un*Deux. If you’ve been watching Sunil Grover play Dr Mashoor Gulati, Gutthi and Rinku in The Kapil Sharma Show on television, you wouldn’t want to miss catching him perform these characters on stage. Meanwhile, a padel singles mixer in Bandra will swap awkward small talk for friendly competition – meet new people, make new friends. For someone who loves archeology, there’s an exhibition at CSMVS about a fascinating dive into humanity’s earliest inventions – rare stone tools, prehistoric cave art and more. So, rally your group chat and start making plans, as these are the events happening across Mumbai this September you don’t wanna miss. If you’re a more

September remains that sweet-in-between season, especially in a city like Mumbai. The monsoon is taking its final bow, and the city starts getting a new glow-up as festive celebrations begin. This is the time to start spending more time out rather than lying on your couch scrolling through socials or binge-watching a popular TV show. This month is packed with music gigs, art shows, book club meets, and many exciting events – most importantly, Ganeshotsav 2026, where Mumbaikars begin pandal-hopping across the city. For folks who love drag shows, Kitty Su is hosting a night tributing legendary singer Dolly Parton at The LaLiT Mumbai. Expect a drag show by artists Betta Naan Stop, Roxy Versace, Lush Monsoon, Zeesh, and Dame Imphala, lighting up an evening with classics by Parton and Miley Cyrus. For someone who loves a slower pace and diving into stories on canvas, you need to step into Tao Art Gallery in Worli to wander through a meditative abstract exhibition. And if you are a person who is keen on archaeology, then head to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) to travel back millions of years to a fascinating Stone Age exhibition and check out the showcase of prehistoric tools and recreated cave art. If you're looking to plan beyond just eating and drinking out, take a look at our guide to the best things to do this week.

If you've spent most of July waiting for the gusty winds and rain to calm down, it’s high time you stepped out. There's a fair bit to explore in Mumbai this August – and a lot of it's to do with some really stellar artists coming to town. Leading that charge is Punjabi folk and Sufi singer Rashmeet Kaur (known also for her jazzy touch), plus Polish guitarist Marcin Patrzalek makes his debut in India, which is big news either way you look at it. Not just that, there's more to catch up on: an Independence Day special Candlelight Concert that's planned as a tribute to AR Rahman's timeless music (we're sure that's bound to hit different after the student protests in July), a Fado performance at NCPA educating the city about Portuguese music, and a jazz show! It's not all about music, though. Anime and manga lovers will rejoice in the news of an upcoming cosplay competition, and for motorsports fans, there's a special high-adrenaline event that promises a full-throttle experience. Fitness freaks, you're not being left out – HYROX has got your back. In more ways than one. Without much further ado, here's a list of the very best events taking place in Mumbai in August 2026.  

There’s a deeply satisfying feeling to watch someone ignore a rulebook with complete confidence. That’s what Border Bean Barbecue in Lower Parel does. By the word ‘barbecue’ in the name, you’d simply expect a platter of smoked meat on the menu, but there’s more.  Yes, it’s a smokehouse. Yes, you’ll get slow-smoked meat. Somewhere between the innovative cocktails and African-inspired jollof rice, though, this place is clearly doing way more than trying to recreate Texas in Mumbai. The new 60-seater restaurant is an evolved version of founder and chef Shantanu Jagtap’s experiment that started with a 15-seater space in Bandra in 2022 before shifting to Kamala Mills last year. Casual yet polished, with an inviting bar corner, it works equally well for post-work drinks or a loud dinner with friends.  Barbecue without borders The menu is built around patience: meats spend between six to twelve hours getting smoked, and that time pays off in the Sliced Brisket – thinly sliced buff brisket smoked for twelve hours – tender, smoky and served with a glossy jus. Similarly, the eight-hour smoked pork belly cubes we tried were tossed in a spiced maple honey glaze that walks the fine line between sweet, savoury and smoky. The Charred Chicken with Cowboy Butter was served with mash and charred beans, and the Smoked Wings were one of the dishes the chef suggested from the menu. Plus, being a seafood lover, the Fresno Butter Garlic Prawns with Pico de Gallo hold a special place in my heart. Th

If there’s one time when Mumbai truly belongs to its streets, it’s Ganesh Chaturthi. The city of dreams swaps its usual rush for chants of Ganpati Bappa Morya, dazzling bright lights, and thousands of incredibly crafted public pandals that transform every corner of the city into a celebration of faith and community. Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the major festivals in India, when people – especially Mumbaikars – set aside their usual chores and travel from one corner of the city to another, hopping from one iconic pandal to another for Lord Ganesha’s darshan. It's the unmistakable festive energy that makes Mumbai unlike anywhere else. Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 runs from September 14 to 25, and one of the biggest markers of the festival are the pandals. The devotees will now flock to the oldest and most popular Ganpati pandals in Mumbai to seek blessings, admire the beautifully sculpted idols, and create memories. Whether it’s your first-ever pandal visit in Mumbai or an annual tradition, the question remains the same: How to do it and where to start? Well, the answer depends on which area you are going to and what kind of experience you’re looking for. You go to the suburbs and find Andheri Cha Raja and Mumbai Cha Peshwa in Vile Parle. Step into SoBo and find Colaba Cha Raja, and find the most exciting crowd at Lalbaug Cha Raja and Mumbai Cha Raja in Ganesh Galli – both in the Parel neighbourhood.  The Ganapati 2026 celebrations also continue with Mumbai’s growing creativity, with

If you haven’t recovered from Central Cee, Karan Aujla, and Wiz Khalifa taking over Navi Mumbai last year, here’s some good news: Rolling Loud India is returning for its second edition in December this year. The global hip-hop festival has officially announced its comeback after a historic India debut in November 2025.  Rolling Loud India welcomed over 65,000 fans at Loud Park in Navi Mumbai in its first edition, making it one of the country’s biggest live music events. This year, the festival will take over the city for two days – December 12 and December 13, 2026 – bringing international artists and India’s fastest-growing hip-hop talents together. What's the lineup and how to get tickets for Rolling Loud India 2026? For the 2026 edition of Rolling Loud India, the organisers have kept the roster under wraps, but the aim is the same, of course: bring marquee international artists, leading Indian talents, immersive fan experiences, an exclusive merchandise drop, and the signature high-energy celebration.  The tickets can be exclusively purchased via the District by Zomato app. As mentioned on their official website, the Presale tickets are sold out, but you can select the ‘Notify Me’ option to get a reminder once the sale goes live. Additionally, the prices, timings of the festival events, and lineup details will be announced in the coming weeks – you can keep an eye out on the official website and social media pages of Rolling Loud India. Why Rolling Loud India is the loudes

DJ Snake is set to officially return to India! The global EDM heavyweight just announced an upcoming show in Mumbai, headlining Sunburn Festival 2026 this December, no less. The Taki Taki and Lean On hitmaker will be the third headliner, following Swedish artist Sebastian Ingrosso and the American EDM duo The Chainsmokers. The French artist will take centre stage at Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai on December 19 at Sunburn 2026 – the two-day festival will take place on December 18 and December 19, marking its return to the city of dreams after debuting here last year. But it's not just Mumbai! DJ Snake will also perform at Sunburn Arena in Bengaluru on December 18. DN Snake's past India tours DJ Snake, aka William Grigahcine, has always shared an electric relationship with India – from packed Sunburn Arena tours to unforgettable sets, the DJ producer has built a loyal fanbase in the country. After his previous India tour got cancelled earlier this year due to health concerns, this comeback announcement is what fans might have been hoping for. In February this year, the artist had planned an India tour, adding six cities to the list: Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Delhi-NCR. How to get tickets for the DJ Snake concert and Sunburn 2026? The tickets for Sunburn Festival can be purchased via BookMyShow, starting at ₹3,500 in Mumbai and ₹1,500 in Bengaluru – available as a single-day pass and two-day pass. The ticket prices will vary depending on the type of pass

Other than hopping from one Ganpati pandal to another, what devotees in Mumbai eagerly queue up for during Ganesh Chaturthi (besides darshan) is the prasad. Whether it’s a coconut laddoo or warm ukadiche modak, these festive offerings remain the highlight of the festival, and this year, they're going to be an ultra-sanitary affair, because the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced a 21-point Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi 2026. Hailed as a historic move coming close on the heels of several shutdowns of popular food joints following non-compliance with safety procedures, these SOPs are designed to ensure that all sweets offered by the Ganpati pandals across the city are hygienically produced, stored and distributed, and safe for public consumption.  What SOPs has the FDA issued this Ganesh Chaturthi?  The new guidelines issued by the FDA for Ganesh Chaturthi this year cover nearly every step of preparing and distributing prasad. The Ganpati mandals have been instructed to use clean drinking water and maintain hygienic kitchens – food handlers should be wearing head covers, gloves and aprons – plus raw and cooked food to be stored separately to avoid contamination.  Additionally, the FDA’s SOP also discourages the use of artificial and non-permitted food colours and reminds the organisers to source the food ingredients only from the licensed vendors. The freshly made food needs to be stored at safe temperatures, and utensil

One of Mumbai’s biggest festivals is getting a late-night travel upgrade. Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) plans to extend the timings on the Mumbai Aqua Line during Ganpati 2026, ensuring pandal hopping and late-night Ganpati darshans are more feasible for Mumbaikars. The extended timings of Aqua Line 3 will start from the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi – Monday, September 14 – and will remain active till Friday, September 25, covering the entire 11-day festival period.  This move by MMRC aims to help millions of devotees in Mumbai travel more comfortably and faster during the busiest days of festive seasons, when roads are packed and local transport sees a dramatic surge in footfall. What's the Mumbai Aqua Line schedule and routes included for Ganpati 2026? Instead of calling it a day at its usual hours, Mumbai Aqua Line will continue to operate till 12am (midnight). The last Mumbai Metro train from stations Aarey JVLR and Cuffe Parade usually departs at 10:30pm, but now it will run till midnight during all Ganpati 2026 days. These revised timings apply across the entire Aqua Line corridor, allowing commuters some extra hours – 1.5 hours, to be exact – to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with pandal hopping and late-night darshan, and attend cultural programmes. For several Mumbaikars, this could mean skipping traffic altogether. The underground metro line connects multiple key parts of the city, offering a quicker route between suburbs, Central and South Mumbai. The Aqua Line

Mumbai's cocktail scene's following a trajectory that goes only up and up, and proof of that's in the latest new opening: The Powder Room, a brand new 'MediterrAsian' dinner and cocktail club in Bandra West that opened its doors on Thursday, September 3. Located at Mansionz One on Linking Road, this new restaurant in Bandra promises a concept that blends Asian and Mediterranean flavours with Afro-jazz music, craft cocktails, and art-led interiors.  The Powder Room in Bandra, from Speciality Restaurants Limited, is designed to transform a seamless dining experience into a lively social one. Instead of just functioning as a conventional cocktail bar and restaurant, it also offers a curated music programme under one roof. What does The Powder Room in Bandra offer in its menu? Chef Sahil Singh’s curated menu explores the ‘MediterrAsian’ cuisine, blending the flavours and techniques – Asian ingredients with Mediterranean cooking – of two cultures. Expect a wide selection of dishes: tapas, flammkuchen, robata,  pasta, crudos and plancha. Plus, the signature small plates add Truffle Potato Mille Feuille served with smoked wasabi crème fraîche, Blazing Avocado, Duck Shawarma Gyoza, and Powder Bread topped with fresh black truffles and Sichuan pepper mornay to the table. There’s a beverage programme at The Powder Room developed by the hospitality consultancy behind Lair (ranked No. 8 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026, No. 96 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2026) and AaBbCc (ranked No. 85 on Th

Mumbai’s endless traffic may be unavoidable, but scrolling through your phone for hours doesn’t have to be. There’s a better way to spend that time, what with Cityflo and the Project Mumbai NGO teaming up to launch Turning Pages, an initiative that transforms buses into moving libraries, encouraging commuters to swap screens for books. Turning Pages officially rolled out this week across several routes in Mumbai via Cityflo, an app-based bus service for daily commuters. This initiative, which becomes a part of Project Mumbai's 'Read Mumbai' movement,  transforms select premium buses into a place where passengers can browse through the books, plus borrow one to read while they commute. It's kind of a neighbourhood library on the roads.  Project Mumbai and Cityflo’s Turning Pages is a library with wheels In this programme, each participating bus is fitted with a compact bookshelf. The books stocked on board are donated by the Project Mumbai community, and the curation spans fiction, self-development, business, contemporary Indian writing and biographies. The idea is simple: pick a book, read during journeys, and recommend titles to fellow passengers. Additionally, passengers can donate pre-loved books, helping the collection grow organically. For Cityflo, this project marks an opportunity to make everyday travel feel more meaningful. Since 2015, the company has operated over 1,200 buses and served around 18 million rides yearly across major Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi

Every year, Shillong transforms into India’s answer to a postcard – hills blush pink with blooming cherry blossoms, and music takes over the city. The upcoming edition of the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival – an annual celebration of culture, music and autumn cherry blossoms in Meghalaya – has revealed its artist lineup – the first wave of artists who are set to light up the stage. It's time to pack your concert calendar for this winter. Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2026 will return on November 20 and November 21 at a new permanent home at the New Shillong Highland Grounds in Mahmawdkuk, Meghalaya, after moving from Polo Grounds in central Shillong – a venue designed for large-scale concerts and cultural events. This new space is located about 30 minutes from central Shillong to improve parking, with multiple entry-exit points, plus dedicated traffic management for smoother travel for festival-goers who also plan to travel from and across Assam, Meghalaya and neighbouring states. Which artists will perform at Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2026? The leading lineup of this year’s Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival adds Grammy-nominated artist Khalid before he tours across India in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru for his It’s Always Summer Somewhere Tour this December. Additionally, multi-platinum rapper Swae Lee – popularly known for his hit Sunflower – will return after his debut show in the country at Rolling Loud India last November with a set expected to lean heavily into

If your daily morning commute already feels like it’s testing your patience, September has arrived with another surprise: a slight fare change on your trusty auto-rickshaw and Mumbai taxi. The increased auto and kalli-peeli Mumbai taxi fares come into effect from today, September 1, across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), and that, unfortunately, means that your everyday auto or taxi rides will now cost a little more. This fare revision – approved by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) – comes in response to the rising operational costs of vehicles, including fuel prices and maintenance, among other expenses. While the minimum prices have increased by ₹1 for autos and ₹2 for taxis, the regular commuters in Mumbai are likely to notice the difference over time. What are the new auto and cab prices? The bigger change is the minimum fare charged for the first 1.5 kilometres. For autorickshaws, the fare has been raised from ₹26 to ₹27, and for taxis, the prices are up from ₹31 to ₹33. As reported by Mid-Day, beyond the base fare, the per-kilometre rates have also been revised – autorickshaws will now charge ₹18.22 per km, while black-and-yellow taxis will cost ₹21.90 per km after the initial distance. The catch: you won’t find every meter displaying new fares immediately. Auto and taxi drivers have been issued official tariff cards by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) that passengers can use to calculate the correct amount – this will continue till th

If your dream music festival involves snow-capped peaks and fewer concrete skylines, this upcoming three-day music event might be your next musical pilgrimage. Akasa Gathering 2026, a brand-new destination festival in Karu, Ladakh, has revealed its complete music lineup ahead of its inaugural edition. Set roughly 3,500 metres above sea level in the heart of the Himalayas, the three-day festival runs from September 4 to 6, bringing Indian and international artists together for a weekend of music, movement and mindfulness. Why's this festival different? Akasa focuses on balancing nature and music. Between sunrise soundscapes and late-night dance sessions, the music festival introduces Stillness – a dedicated programme for mindfulness, movement, breakthrough and contemplative practices. The idea is to create moments of pause – encouraging visitors to reconnect with nature and themselves, while celebrating the festival.  Akasa Gathering lineup Instead of putting chart-topping headliners on the centre stage, Ākāśa Gathering carves out its own lane with a thoughtfully curated programme, bringing together global electronic music, traditional sounds, live performances, along with wellness experiences across three immersive stages. The festival’s music programming spans multiple genres – electronica, folktronica, downtempo, and experimental live sets – creating a sonic landscape. The first phase of the music lineup unites international artists, including Iranian hand percussionist Mo

Mumbai’s late-night food circuit has taken another hit. The decades-old restaurant in Fort – Ayub's – popular for its kebabs, rolls and post-midnight crowds – has had its food business licence suspended by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under its under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, from August 23. This action was taken after an inspection on August 22 at the restaurant, where multiple food safety and hygiene violations were uncovered. The action is a part of the FDA’s ongoing Safe Maharashtra, Safe Food campaign – under the guidance of  Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Munde – where Mumbaikars have seen a growing list of 'iconic' clubs, food outlets, and restaurants face suspension over unsafe kitchen conditions in recent weeks. What did FDA find at Ayub's? As per FDA, the officials inspected Fort’s Ayub’s premises on Saturday, August 22, after receiving information about the possible food violations. The inspectors found several high-risk food handling issues, including inadequate pest-control measures and poor segregation between raw and cooked food, raising concerns about cross-contamination and microbial growth. Additionally, drains and stagnant water lacked proper maintenance, plus inadequate measures in temperature-controlled facilities for food. Ayub's isn’t the only one. Over the last few weeks, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has intensified inspections across Mumbai, with several prominent establishments – including clubs

If your post-Lolla blues still haven’t worn off, here’s some good news for you. Lollapalooza India 2027 is returning with its fifth edition – and it's just a few months away. The festival announced January 23, 2027, and January 24, 2027, as its official dates for the two-day event – with Mumbai once again playing host to one of the world’s largest music festivals.  The announcement has gone live on the festival’s official social media page and website, as well as on BookMyShow, confirming another weekend takeover of the city’s Mahalaxmi Racecourse – continuing its tradition of transforming the sprawling venue into a multi-stage celebration of music, culture and creativity. Since its debut in Asia in 2023 in Mumbai, Lollapalooza India has become a fixture on the country’s live music calendar, bringing chart-topping international headliners, homegrown indie favourite artists, immersive art installations, and enough food and beverage stalls to fuel hours of dancing and singalongs. How to get tickets to Lollapalooza India 2027? While the artist and other event lineup remain under wraps, ticket sales go live soon on BookMyShow. RuPay Credit Card users get presale access on August 30 from 11am and Early Bird tickets from September 2, 11am onwards.  The tickets are available in five categories: General Access, RuPay Amplified Access, Lolla Comfort, Lolla Platinum, and Lolla VIP.  Additionally, the wristbands will be delivered to your home closer to the event date, and if you purchas