Tansen Samaroh Gwalior: Dates, Venue & Travel Guide
Every winter, singers and instrumentalists gather near Gwalior to honour Tansen. It is one of India's most atmospheric classical music festivals, and easy to miss.
21 September 2026 · 2 min read · Best in Dec
Most festival guides for Madhya Pradesh list the big names. Tansen Samaroh, held near Gwalior in the cool of winter, rarely makes the headlines, and that is part of its charm.
Who was Tansen?
Tansen is remembered as one of the greatest figures of Hindustani classical music and one of the celebrated musicians of the Mughal court. Tradition places his early years and his burial in Gwalior, where his tomb stands in the Hazira area.
What happens at the festival
The state's culture department organises an annual gathering of vocalists and instrumentalists, usually in December, with concerts held at and around the tomb complex. Artists from across the country perform through the evenings.
How to plan it
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- Dates change every year, so check the announcement before you book
- Winter evenings are cold, so bring a shawl
- Stay in Gwalior itself; hotels fill up in the festival week
- Add the Sarod Ghar music museum to your visit
Sitting outdoors in the dark while a raga slowly unfolds is the best possible introduction to Gwalior's musical past.
Format, venues and timings differ from year to year, so use the official announcement rather than this article for the latest schedule.
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