If the past few months have been any indication, India has firmly planted itself on the global touring map. From Guns N’ Roses blasting through their back catalogue in May, to Nas spitting East Coast fire in April, to Green Day, Shawn Mendes and Ed Sheeran packing stadiums earlier this year—2025 has already been a year where the subcontinent hasn’t had to look west for a world-class show. And the momentum is nowhere near slowing down.
What’s on the horizon is bigger, louder, and more eclectic: from rock royalty making long-awaited debuts, to masked psychedelic collectives, to the biggest names in hip-hop and electronic music carving out new space in the Indian live circuit.
Here’s the lineup that will define the country’s next twelve months in music.
Linkin Park – Mumbai, January 2026
The headline everyone’s been waiting for: Linkin Park’s India debut. Nearly two decades of anticipation will culminate at Lollapalooza India 2026, where the Grammy-winning rock band will take over Mahalaxmi Racecourse on January 25. Now fronted by Emily Armstrong alongside Mike Shinoda, the band’s “From Zero World Tour” is built around their comeback album From Zero. For fans who grew up with Hybrid Theory and Meteora, this isn’t just another tour stop—it’s a generational event.
Glass Beams – Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, October 2025
The Melbourne-based psychedelic trio return to India for the third time this October, bringing their hypnotic, sitar-infused grooves to Gurugram, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Helmed by Indian-origin artist Rajan Silva, Glass Beams have steadily built a cult following here, with previous sets at Magnetic Fields and Echoes of Earth proving they’re more than just a festival darling. Expect their masks and mystique to draw as much attention as their swirling, otherworldly soundscapes.
Akon – Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, November 2025
Few artists bridge pop nostalgia and global relevance like Akon. The man behind tracks that defined an era (Lonely, I Wanna Love You, Chammak Challo) is back with a multi-city Indian tour this November. Fresh off his performance at the Ambani-Merchant pre-wedding in Jamnagar, Akon’s return to Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai is a chance for fans to relive the hooks that soundtracked the mid-2000s—and maybe catch a glimpse of how he’s reframing himself in the TikTok era.
Steven Wilson – Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, November 2025
Steven WilsonSteven Wilson
Progressive rock’s cult hero brings his singular vision back to India this November with a four-city tour. Steven Wilson—best known as Porcupine Tree’s frontman but equally revered for his solo output—has a dedicated fanbase here, thanks in part to his 2009 Mood Indigo headlining set and repeat visits since. Touring off his latest record The Overview, Wilson’s blend of cerebral lyricism and immersive soundscapes is built for the kind of audience that listens as intently as it cheers.
The Lumineers – Gurugram, February 2026
On February 1, Delhi NCR gets a dose of folk-rock warmth with The Lumineers’ Automatic World Tour. Known for arena-sized singalongs like “Ho Hey” and “Ophelia”, the Colorado band will play Huda Ground in support of their fifth album Automatic. Tickets were sold out in one minute, and we all know why. The band’s brand of earnest, rootsy storytelling has long resonated with Indian listeners who lean indie but want a communal release.
Fred Again.. – India Dates TBD
Fred Again at Glastonbury Music FestivalFred Again
One of electronic music’s biggest post-pandemic breakthroughs, Fred Again.. has already promised India he’s coming—it’s just a matter of when and where. Known for transforming mundane voice notes and samples into festival anthems, the London producer has become a global phenomenon in record time. His cryptic message to fans—that it won’t just be “a show” but “a moment”—is exactly the kind of intimacy his live sets are known for.
Lollapalooza India 2026 – Mumbai, January 2026
Beyond Linkin Park, the festival is pulling in a genre-hopping roster: Playboi Carti and Yungblud for the rap-punk kids, Kehlani bringing R&B fire, Japanese pianist Fuiji Kaze, UK DJs Knock2 and Sammy Virji, and American pop band LANY. The local lineup is equally strong—Bloodywood, Ankur Tewari, Karsh Kale, and a wave of new-age indie voices. Lolla’s second edition cements Mumbai as a legitimate global festival stop, not just a one-off experiment.
Rolling Loud India – Navi Mumbai, November 2025
The world’s biggest hip-hop festival finally lands in India. On November 22–23, Rolling Loud makes its debut at Loud Park in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. Expect a heavyweight mix of international and Indian rappers, with the festival’s trademark energy—mosh pits, viral moments, surprise collabs. For a country where hip-hop has exploded from the gullies to the mainstream in less than a decade, this is both validation and ignition.
