It’s the return of the annual India Art Fair (IAF) in Delhi—an event that’s on the calendar of art connoisseurs, design lovers and even those who appreciate high aesthetics. After all, it’s the centre point of modern and contemporary art from India and South Asia. The 16th edition of the much-anticipated art gala, in partnership with BMW India, promises to be bigger and better. From 6-9 February 2025, visitors can explore a record 120 exhibitors, including 78 galleries, alongside prominent regional and international art institutions at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds, Okhla.
That’s not all. This edition has 26 new exhibitors and an expanded design section. Besides, there’s a line up of digital installations, interactive workshops, guided tours, performance art and more.
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You may be an art fair veteran or a first-timer—but navigating the space can be a little overwhelming.
Esquire India brings you all the details on what you can expect at IAF 2025.
Art and more art
Whether you're heading to the art fair as a curious visitor or someone who understands the space, there are several Indian and international galleries showcasing the work of Indian modernists, emerging artists and renowned diasporic South Asian names.
Head to the booths of Chawla Art Gallery, DAG, Gallery Espace, Archer Art Gallery, Chatterjee & Lal, Aicon, Art Alive and Emami Art to browse through masterpieces by Ram Kumar, FN Souza, SH Raza, MF Husain and even lesser-known modernists like Rustom Sisodia and Manjunath Kamath.
This year, the new works of US-based artist Huma Bhabha, known for her monstrous sculptural figures, and London-based Colombian artist Oscar Murillo who uses recycled materials to create impactful compositions, are on view at the David Zwirner art gallery. Don't miss it.
And if the artistic heritage of South Asia interests you, the Platform section is your best bet to find works of contemporary masters of traditional arts, including Delhi Crafts Council, Gondwana Art Project, BOITO supported by Devi Art Foundation, Bridge Bharat, Inherited Arts Forum, OJAS ART and Gallery Ragini.
A paradise for design lovers
The IAF maintained a small but well-curated design section last year. Well, things are a little different with the expansion of this spread in 2025.
Catch 11 studios displaying limited edition and handmade collectible designs. The exhibitors include Vikram Goyal, Atelier Ashiesh Shah, Gunjan Gupta, Rooshad Shroff, Studio Renn, DeMuro Das, Jaipur Rugs, Nolwa Studio, Studio Nyn, Studio Raw Material, Tania and Sandeep Khosla in collaboration with Mangrove Collective.
Speakers galore
Growing Focus, the fair’s Talks Programme, supported by JSW, brings together leading artists, designers, gallerists, global museum directors, patrons and market specialists.
Take breaks between browsing art and attend sessions by speakers like
Naomi Beckwith, Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, Claire Fontaine, Azu Nwagbogu, Manuel Rabaté, Chris Saines and Yina Jiménez Suriel, among others, through the four days.
One of the highlights is the BMW Art Talk, ‘Master of Our Time’ featuring veteran artist Gulammohammed Sheikh in conversation with Indrapramit Roy and Gayatri Sinha.
There's another one to bookmark: ‘Museums as Incubators’, a panel on the change-making power of arts institutions featuring leading museum heads: Naomi Beckwith (Deputy Director and Jennifer and David Stockman Chief Curator, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, USA and Artistic Director, Documenta 16, 2027); Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, (Director, Dr Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum); Ferran Barenblit (independent curator and former Director of Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) and Azu Nwagbogu (Founder and Director of the LagosPhoto Festival and the African Artists’ Foundation).
Immersive performance art
IAF’s Performance Art programme is another draw for visitors every year. In this edition, expect diversity in perspectives through the lens of Umesh S, Ashwini Bhat and Priyakshi Agarwal. While Umesh examines the agrarian crisis from the point of view of land ownership and conflict, Bhat’s art is all about elemental processes. Agarwal, on the other hand, invites people to delve deeper into the intersections of textiles, women’s bodies, and feminist histories of resistance.
Unique outdoor art projects
At IAF 2025, witness a groundbreaking LED installation by conceptual artist duo Claire Fontaine, which takes inspiration from their acclaimed series Foreigners Everywhere. It has been curated by Andrea Anastasio and produced by the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre.
There's also Asim Waqif repurposing a second-hand cement truck, supported by Laxcon Steels Limited. It is one of the most thought-provoking experiments, encouraging visitors to rethink their relationship with materiality.
Learning opportunities
Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, one of Delhi’s premier spaces for art and culture, is the official Learning Partner for IAF 2025. Expect a range of sessions and workshops, catering to audiences across age groups and abilities. From blindfolded drawing to mosaic making, tactile storytelling to community mural projects—there’s much to be a part of.
There's also a specially curated 30-minute art tour for children led by Somya Sahni, Bandana Agarwal and Shilpi Agarwal. All children must be accompanied by a parent or a guardian.
Preview passes and tickets will be available via BookMyShow and the India Art Fair website.