Raftaar plays Delhi's Major Dhyan Chand Stadium tonight, with dandiya nights to follow at TV9 Festival of India

If you are in Delhi this evening, Raftaar is on at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, the hockey venue by India Gate. Gates open at 6:15 pm and the show starts at 7:00 pm on Saturday, 17 October 2026.

It is the second headline night of the TV9 Festival of India, now in its fourth season, which runs from 16 to 20 October at the same ground. Harshdeep Kaur opened it on Friday with a Sufi-leaning show called Noor-E-Ishq.

Who Raftaar is, and what to expect

Raftaar is one of the best-known names in Indian desi hip-hop, a rapper, producer and composer who crossed from the underground into Bollywood and mainstream pop years ago. The ticketing listing points to songs such as "Bandook Meri Laila", "Ghana Kasoota", "Karta Kya Hai", "Haseeno Ka Deewana" and "Farebi", which gives a fair idea of a set that leans on the crowd-pleasers. His most recent release is "Legacy Anthem" with DRJ Sohail and KR$NA, out in July 2026.

The organiser, Associated Broadcasting Company, bills the night as a high-energy run of hip-hop and chart hits. Entry is ticketed for anyone aged 8 and over, and a government ID (Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence or passport) is required at the gate. Pets are not allowed. At the time of writing the District listing shows tickets as unavailable, so check the box office and BookMyShow before you head out.

Dandiya nights from Sunday

The festival then turns to Navratri-season dandiya for three nights, 18 to 20 October, with gates at 5:00 pm and the music from 6:00 pm. Tickets start at Rs 499 on District and BookMyShow, and entry is ticketed from age 5.

• 18 October: BP Singh, Shreyas Dharmadhikari and DJ Shival
• 19 October: Nizami Bandhu, Saurabh Shaury and DJ Veronica
• 20 October: Falita, Mehfil e Khas and DJ Nitish Gulyani

The performer names above follow the festival's announcement, and the District listing spells a few of them slightly differently, so expect small variations on the day.

Beyond the stage

The festival also has a large Durga Puja pandal, a lifestyle expo and shopping bazaar, a food festival and cultural showcases, open from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. The festival's own site is tv9festivalofindia.com.

For readers outside India: this is a free-to-wander, ticketed-for-concerts city festival timed to Durga Puja and Navratri, the nine-night autumn celebration when dandiya and garba dance nights fill stadiums and grounds across the north and west of the country.