The Ketevan Music Festival 2026, presented by the Embassy of Georgia in India, Fomento Resources, and Prudent Network, in association with the Ministry of Culture of Georgia and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), and curated by Showhouse, returns to Goa for two unforgettable evenings of transcendent music and cultural dialogue. The festival is open and free for all.
Set against the majestic backdrop of the Ruins of St Augustine in Old Goa, the festival once again transforms one of India’s most evocative heritage sites into a resonant amphitheatre of shared histories and artistic exchange.
With free entry and open invitation to all, the festival commemorates Saint Queen Ketevan of Georgia, a 17th-century monarch and martyr revered for her unwavering faith and courage. Queen Ketevan remains a powerful spiritual symbol for the Georgian people. Portions of her sacred relics were brought to Goa during the Portuguese era and interred at the Church of St Augustine in Old Goa, creating a rare and enduring historical link between Georgia and India.
Opening the festival on February 27 are Bengal-based Baul exponents Goutam Das Baul and Sanchita Choudhury, torchbearers of the mystic Baul tradition from Shantiniketan. Known for their evocative vocals and minimal folk instrumentation, the duo brings the deeply spiritual, metaphor-rich philosophy of Baul music to contemporary global audiences. The event will start at 6.30 pm.
This will be followed by ‘Ensemble Sathanao’ from Georgia, founded in 2004, presenting the profound beauty of Georgian traditional music and ancient chants. Dedicated to preserving and restoring archival repertoire, the choir’s work aligns with Georgian polyphonic singing recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. With multiple international tours and recordings to their credit, Ensemble Sathanao embodies the rich vocal heritage of the Caucasus Kathak Meets Jazz – Labonee Mohanta
A bold intercultural collaboration, Kathak Meets Jazz, led by acclaimed San Francisco-based Kathak dancer Labonee Mohanta, unites lightning-fast tatkar footwork with the improvisational vitality of jazz. Accompanied by virtuoso jazz pianist Karim Ellaboudi and All India Radio ‘A’ Grade tabla artist Mayank Bedekar, the performance is an exhilarating dialogue between rhythm, movement, and spontaneity
The second day’s evening on February 28 will open with ‘Strings Concerto for Peace’, an original orchestral work by sitar maestro Imran Khan. Blending Indian classical traditions with the elegance of a Western string orchestra, the composition creates a dialogue between sitar and symphonic arrangements. Acclaimed internationally, with performances in Lithuania and Salzburg and an upcoming showcase at the Mozarteum Centre, their work stands as a powerful artistic statement for harmony and peace
Concluding the festival is internationally recognised Goan vocalist Nadia James Rebelo, celebrated for her masterful interpretation of Fado and her innovative blending of Goan, Konkani, and Portuguese folk influences.
