Colomboscope 2026: Rhythm Alliances
The ninth installment of Colomboscope, named Rhythm Alliances, is under the curation of Hajra Haider Karrar alongside artistic director Natasha Ginwala. This festival showcases over 50 artists and collectives, featuring 35 newly commissioned works at locations such as Barefoot Gallery and Colpetty Townhouse. It delves into rhythm as a medium for remembrance, dissent, and renewal, highlighting diverse drumming traditions. Notable participating artists include Aboothahir Al Wajahath, Atiyyah Khan, and Basma al Sharif, among others. Collaborations involve Bread Modular and CoCA Art. The festival prioritizes accessibility, providing free admission at all venues throughout Colombo.
Key facts
- Colomboscope 2026 is the ninth edition of the festival.
- The title is Rhythm Alliances.
- Guest curator is Hajra Haider Karrar.
- Artistic director is Natasha Ginwala.
- Over 50 artists and collectives participate.
- 35 projects are newly commissioned.
- Venues include Barefoot Gallery, Colpetty Townhouse, Kamatha at BMICH, Liberty by Scope Cinemas, Musicmatters, Radicle Gallery, Rio Complex, and Soul Studio.
- The festival explores drumming traditions from Sri Lanka, Rastafari, Asian cosmologies, and Pan-African world-making.
Entities
Artists
- Aboothahir Al Wajahath
- Arka Kinari
- Atiyyah Khan
- Ayumi Paul
- Basir Mahmood
- Basma al Sharif
- Chamindika Abeysinghe
- Charwei Tsai
- Chitrasena Dance Company
- 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
- Perera Elsewhere
- Pinaree Sanpitak
- Raven Chacon
- Saadia Mirza
- Sabeen Omar
- Sarah Kazmi
- Seher Shah
- Stephen Champion
- Tashyana Handy
- Tharmapalan Tilaxan
- Tissa de Alwis
- Vaimaila Urale
- Vivian Caccuri
- Yara Asmar
- Zarina Muhammad
- Hajra Haider Karrar
- Natasha Ginwala
- Graeme Arendse
- Marie Louise Dilmaya Bergqvist
- Mariama Ndure
- Nuwan Gunawardhana
- Sakina Ali Akbar
- Amiri Baraka
- reVerb Collective
- Transnational Adoptee Choir: The Whale
- 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
- NooN
- Weather Reports
- Canvas
Locations
- Colombo
- Sri Lanka
- Berlin
- Karachi
- Pakistan