Colomboscope 2026 Festival Details Announced with Rhythm Alliances Theme
The ninth edition of Colomboscope, named Rhythm Alliances, is scheduled to take place from January 21 to 31, 2026, at various locations throughout Colombo. Curated by Hajra Haider Karrar, the festival delves into sound, visual arts, and performance to uncover themes of memory, resistance, and community ties. Artistic Director Natasha Ginwala characterizes this edition as possibly the most diverse and adaptable to date, leaving a lasting impact. More than 50 artists and collectives will showcase their work, including many pieces commissioned specifically for the event. Free venues such as Barefoot Gallery, Colpetty Townhouse, and others will host the festival, which aims to foster artistic dialogue and reflect on generational and cross-cultural narratives.
Key facts
- Colomboscope 2026 runs from 21 to 31 January 2026
- Over 50 artists and collectives will participate
- Curated by Hajra Haider Karrar with theme Rhythm Alliances
- Artistic Director is Natasha Ginwala
- Multiple venues across Colombo offer free accessible spaces
- Includes numerous newly commissioned works presented for first time
- Festival explores sound, visual, and performative practices
- Programme channels generational and cross-cultural histories
Entities
Artists
- Natasha Ginwala
- Hajra Haider Karrar
- Aboothahir Al Wajahath
- Arka Kinari
- Atiyyah Khan
- Graeme Arendse
- Ayumi Paul
- Basir Mahmood
- Basma al Sharif
- Chamindika Abeysinghe
- Charwei Tsai
- Chitrasena Dance Company
- reVerb Collective
- Dinar Sultana
- Dinoj Mahendranathan
- Gayan Hemarathne
- Haseeb Ahmed
- Imaad Majeed
- Jegatheeswaran Keshavan
- Josefa Ntjam
- Jovita Alvares
- Kaimurai
- Kavan Balasuriya
- KMRU
- Mahesha Kariyapperuma
- Mekh Limbu
- Moe Satt
- Mohammad Ali Talpur
- Naiza Khan
- Nina Mangalanayagam
- Marie Louise Dilmaya Bergqvist
- Transnational Adoptee Choir: The Whale
- Perera Elsewhere
- Pinaree Sanpitak
- Raven Chacon
- Saadia Mirza
- Sabeen Omar
- Sarah Kazmi
- Mariama Ndure
- Nuwan Gunawardhana
- Seher Shah
- Stephen Champion
- Tashyana Handy
- Sakina Ali Akbar
- Tharmapalan Tilaxan
- Tissa de Alwis
- Vaimaila Urale
- Vivian Caccuri
- Yara Asmar
- Zarina Muhammad
- Asvajit Boyle
- Divanke Sewmin
- Mike de Silva
- Nigel Perera
- Sebastiampillai Vasanberk
- Uvindu Perera
- Sumudi Suraweera
- Susantha Rupathilaka
- Thomas Burkhalter
- Chloe Abrahams
- Seth De Silva
- Suren Seneviratne
- Toulip Wonder
- Ushara
- Mayun Kalu
- SajasS
Institutions
- Colomboscope
- Barefoot Gallery
- Colpetty Townhouse
- Kamatha at BMICH
- Liberty by Scope Cinemas
- Musicmatters
- Radicle Gallery
- Rio Complex
- Soul Studio
- Bread Modular
- CoCA Art
- Dizzi Geetha
- Kahli
- Mawongany
- Repropriation Riddims Project
- Weather Reports
- Canvas
Locations
- Colombo
- Sri Lanka