IIM Ahmedabad’s Chaos 2026 Celebrates ‘Hues of Heritage’ with Music, Art, and Ideas

Celebrating Culture, Creativity, and Community through Music, Art, and Ideas

• Bilkul Online
• Ahmedabad | 20 January 2026

The 31st edition of Chaos, the annual cultural festival of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), concluded after three vibrant days of performances, competitions, workshops, and conversations that celebrated India’s cultural legacy. Held from January 16 to 18, 2026, Chaos 2026 was themed ‘Hues of Heritage’, bringing together tradition and contemporary creativity through immersive installations, campus-wide décor, and a rich programme of events.

The festival was formally inaugurated on January 15 with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony at the iconic Louis Kahn Plaza. The ceremony was led by Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, along with Balagopal Gopalakrishnan and Amit Karna. The evening unfolded into a soulful Sufi performance by Munaf Luhar, setting a reflective and celebratory tone for the festival.

Music at the Core

Music took centre stage across the three days, with pro-night performances drawing large crowds from across the country. The musical journey began on January 16 with electronic music producer and vocalist Ritviz, whose genre-blending soundscape captivated the audience. The energy peaked on January 17 as rapper and composer Raftaar delivered an electrifying performance, followed by high-energy sets from DJ Ravator. The festival concluded on a soulful note on January 18 with playback singer Javed Ali, whose emotive renditions offered a fitting finale.

Thought-Provoking Speaker Sessions

Chaos 2026 also featured impactful speaker sessions that complemented the cultural celebrations with reflection and dialogue. On January 16, Gaur Gopal Das addressed placement anxiety and everyday stress, emphasising the role of friendships, journaling, and self-improvement in navigating challenges.

On January 17, Jai Sai Deepak, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India, spoke on cultural identity and value systems in global professional environments, drawing on the concept of Dharma and its influence on society and politics.

The sessions concluded on January 18 with leadership insights from Balu Nayar, who highlighted resilience, clarity of purpose, and adaptability as key drivers of entrepreneurial success.

Workshops, Competitions, and Campus Life

Adding a hands-on dimension, Chaos 2026 hosted a range of experiential workshops—from A Day at IIM Ahmedabad and Coffee & Mocktail Mastery to Baking, Spray Painting, Dye It Yourself, Cinema and Storytelling, and Taekwondo. These sessions transformed the campus into an open learning space, encouraging creativity, experimentation, and participation.

Campus-wide competitions and informal events further energised the festival. Activities such as FIFA, Body Zorbing, Air Hockey, Darts, and the debut Box Cricket tournament drew over 1,000 participants across three days. A special Indian Army weapon display on January 17 emerged as a major highlight, attracting large audiences keen to learn about modern battlefield equipment.

Backed by leading brands and marked by diverse engagements, Chaos 2026 once again stood out as a celebration that united culture, creativity, and community, reaffirming IIMA’s commitment to holistic learning and cultural expression.

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