The Delhi Collage of Art has announced the 20th edition of the Collage International Art Carnival (CIAC 2026), marking two decades of sustained cultural and educational engagement. The six-day event will be held from 13-18 January, 2026 at Lalit Kala Akademi, Mandi House, New Delhi.
Founded and curated by Ashwani Kumar Prithviwasi, Founder and Director of the Delhi Collage of Art, the Carnival opens on Tuesday, January 13 at 4:00 PM and concludes on 18 January. Nand Lal Thakur, Vice Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi, will attend as Guest of Honour. The B.C. Sanyal Award will be presented to Sanjeev Kishore Gautam, Director General of the National Gallery of Modern Art, Sanjeev Kumar, Principal of the College of Art, and Bindulika Sharma, Dean, Department of Fine Art, Jamia Millia Islamia, along with other cultural dignitaries.
Anchored in the theme Collective Energy, CIAC 2026 foregrounds collaboration, shared responsibility and solidarity in contemporary cultural practice. The edition is notable for its dialogue between classical artistic sensibilities and contemporary forms, with artworks spanning oil, watercolour, charcoal, acrylic, installations and mixed surfaces that reinterpret traditional aesthetics through modern approaches.
The Carnival presents a wide spectrum of practices including painting, sculpture, graphics, photography, installation, interdisciplinary work, digital and new media, video art, film and documentary. Live demonstrations, performances, academic talks, discussions and interactive sessions form a core part of the programme. With large-scale LED screens and projection systems installed across the venue, this edition places particular emphasis on digital and time-based works. Artworks will be available at affordable prices, and the event brings together more than 800 artists and students from India and abroad.
Institutional participation includes leading public and educational bodies such as University of Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia, Triveni Kala Sangam, the National Gallery of Modern Art, Sarada Ukil School of Art, Shilpa Bharti Institute of Fine Art and Craft, and Sahitya Kala Parishad. Several private galleries and art institutions from Delhi NCR including Nature Morte, Dhoomimal Art Gallery, Vadhera Art Gallery, Bluedot Art Gallery, Uchaan Art Gallery, Urban Fringe and Naveen Chhaya Pottery Studio will participate through institutional stalls and exhibitions.
Art talks will be delivered by Harshvardhan, Art Adviser to New Delhi Municipal Council, Sacchidanand Joshi of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, artist Arpana Caur and Dharmendra Rathore. A live watercolour demonstration by eminent artist Prafulla Sawant will also be featured.
Speaking about the milestone edition, Ashwani Kumar Prithviwasi said, “The 20th Collage International Art Carnival is not just an exhibition. It is a collective cultural movement. It reflects the energy of artists, students, institutions, and communities coming together to create, share, and learn. For more than three decades, Delhi Collage of Art has remained committed to education, accessibility, and social inclusion through free art education for needy and special students, a complimentary campus in West Delhi for orphaned and underprivileged children, and continued support to emerging artists.
As part of CIAC 2026, we are awarding more than 50 scholarships to deserving and underprivileged students, reaffirming our commitment to equitable access to art education.”
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