Events to attend in India this October

Have we ever really needed an excuse to make plans? India’s upcoming calendar is making the decision considerably easier. From a five day celebration of neighbourhood culture to a curated edit of Indian luxury menswear, these are the events worth knowing about amid festive season.

Delhi

IBTIDA – Ek Mehfil

IBTIDA – Ek Mehfil, founded by Tanvi Singh Bhatia and Anubhav Jain, presents Ghazal Aur Baatein, an intimate evening with Vishal Bhardwaj at New Delhi’s Safdarjung Tomb on October 11. Set against the 18th-century monument’s sandstone architecture and charbagh gardens, the listening mehfil will bring together ghazals, stories, memories and conversation, offering a contemporary take on the traditional mehfil while retaining its intimate, unhurried spirit.

Where: Safdarjung Tomb, New Delhi

When: October 11, 2026;  8:00 PM onwards

Book here.

Prost! Oktoberfest Is Coming To Delhi

If your idea of autumn involves a stein, a Bavarian pretzel and absolutely no intention of counting the beers, Andaz Delhihas made a case for celebrating Oktoberfest in the capital. On October 4, 2026, AnnaMaya will transform the occasion into a one day German culinary celebration, complete with unlimited beer and a menu of Bavarian inspired favourites including pretzels, bratwurst, chicken schnitzel, beer battered fish, German potato salad and desserts. Guests can choose between three curated experiences: the Beer Garden Pass, priced at INR 1,999++, with unlimited beer for two hours; the Brew & Feast Pass, priced at INR 3,499++, pairing unlimited beer with an Oktoberfest sharing feast; and the Grand Prost Pass, priced at INR 4,499++, which adds house spirits to the unlimited beer and sharing feast. The celebration is designed around the convivial spirit of Oktoberfest, with AnnaMaya bringing Bavarian inspired food, flowing beer and festive ambience to the capital.

Where: AnnaMaya, Andaz Delhi, New Delhi
When: October 4, 2026
Price: From ₹ 1,999++
For reservations call:+91 85888 04222

Stranger & Sons × Dirty Martini Collective At Marièta

For one week only, Marièta, Gurugram is bringing together Stranger & Sons and Dirty Martini Collective for what is billed as Delhi NCR’s first experience of the collaboration. Running from October 4 to 11, the limited edition menu pairs three to four Stranger & Sons martinis and martini inspired cocktails with two to three Dirty Martini Chips creations, playing with the classic cocktail and bar snack pairing through a more contemporary lens. It is part martini, part loaded chip, and entirely an excuse to make cocktail hour last a little longer.

Where: Marièta, Two Horizon Centre, Gurugram
When: October 4 to 11, 2026
Experience: Limited edition cocktail and bar snack menu

Mumbai

The Neighbourhood Festival

What happens when an entire neighbourhood becomes the festival venue? The Neighbourhood Festival returns for its second edition with five days of music, comedy, art, food, conversations and more than 100 experiences across Bandra, Khar and Santacruz.

Running from September 30 to October 4, the hyperlocal festival brings together 20+ headlining acts, a flea market with more than 40 stalls and exhibitions including A Neighbourhood: Then & Now and Karkis of Kumaon. The programme spans music with Gini, Anoushka Maskey, Sahil Shah, Gurbax and Suggahunny, alongside comedy and performance from Rohan Joshi, Azeem Banatwalla, Abish Mathew, Prashasti Singh, Karunesh Talwar, Urooj Ashfaq, Chaitanya Tamhane and Yahya Bootwala.

Imran Khan joins as a keynote speaker, while conversations across film, literature, food and contemporary culture feature names including Varun Grover, Kubbra Sait and Sheeba Chaddha. Food lovers can look forward to a conversation with Chef Gresham Fernandes, Chef Lakhan Jethani, Chef Anand Morwani and Chef Niyati Rao, while A Niche with Anish Gawande explores identity, ambition and culture. The festival also explores its theme, The Neighbourhood Archive, through archival photographs, historical records and oral histories documenting the evolution of Bandra and Khar.

Where: Bandra, Khar and Santacruz, Mumbai
When: September 30 to October 4, 2026
Tickets: Community passes via 3 Art House, with select event tickets available through District and BookMyShow

Fold

For anyone who believes the best wardrobe discoveries happen away from an algorithm, Fold is putting Indian menswear on the physical map. India’s first curated luxury menswear pop up brings 20+ labels together for two days, including 11.11 eleven eleven, rkiveity, Margn and VIXII. Adding to the intrigue, VIXII, Unscene and Oshin will make their first ever physical retail appearances at the pop up. Created by Jai Hiranandani, Fold is designed around discovery led retail, allowing visitors to experience fabrics, try silhouettes and meet the founders behind the labels. The edit extends beyond clothing with grooming by Truefitt & Hill, modular jewellery for him and her from VIXII, and styling sessions with celebrity stylists. Consider it a wardrobe appointment with considerably more personality.

Where: Mumbai
When: October 17, 11 AM to 6 PM and October 18, 11 AM to 8 PM, 2026
Tickets: RSVP via Fold