BLR Hubba 2026 kicks off on January 16 in Bengaluru; here are some highlights you should know about

Makkala Hubba creates immersive, hands-on experiences for ages 2-14. Photo Courtesy: Special Arrangement

BLR Hubba 2026 kicks off on January 16, and the first weekend is packed with experiences across art, play, and public space.

Known to be among Bengaluru's largest arts and culture festival, the third edition has some interesting events during the opening weekend - particularly within two of our 12 thematic Hubbas.

Kala Hubba (Visual Arts & Public Installations) will transform Freedom Park - once Bengaluru's colonial-era Central Jail - into a canvas for contemporary artists exploring freedom in all its forms. Running January 16-25 at Freedom Park and public spaces across the city, the installations respond directly to the site's history and architecture.

Here are some highlights:

Aastha Chauhan - At a Comfortable Distance
The Delhi-based artist, known for her community-engaged work in Khirkee village, brings a site-specific installation examining justice, imprisonment, and capital punishment. Created in collaboration with students from Srishti Manipal Institute, the work asks visitors to confront uncomfortable truths about freedom and confinement within the very walls that once held Independence movement prisoners.

Mahima Verma - Mapping Discomfort
Working within Barrack F at Freedom Park, Verma addresses ecological degradation by drawing on the sense of confinement and struggle inherent to the site. Her installation connects the historical weight of the space to contemporary environmental concerns.

Siddhartha Kararwal - Nose Squats
Currently on display at the War Memorial between Brigade Road and MG Road, this Jaipur sculptor's playful installation features an oversized nose - a witty commentary on ego, vanity, and self-importance in urban life. Made with rexine in a gold finish, the piece invites passersby to pause and reflect on excessive consumption and what we choose to see (or ignore) about ourselves.

Presented by the Zinnov Foundation, Kala Hubba features established and emerging artists working across sculpture, installation, and site-specific interventions throughout the city.

Makkala Hubba (Children's Experiences) creates immersive, hands-on experiences for ages 2-14 at Freedom Park's Children's Experience Centre and venues across Bengaluru. Running from January 16th to 25th, the programme blends play with learning through interactive installations and performances.

Here are some experiences during the weekend:

Life-size board games
Children explore Bengaluru's history and heritage through oversized, interactive games that make learning tactile and collaborative.

VR journeys through time
Immersive virtual reality experiences transport young visitors through the city's past, present, and imagined futures.

Puppetry installations
Local oral histories come alive through puppetry, connecting children to Karnataka's storytelling traditions in playful, visual ways.

Climate-focused exhibitions
Environmental learning is grounded in context, helping children understand their relationship with the natural world through hands-on exploration.

Urban biodiversity and ASMR experiences
Sensorial installations capture Bengaluru's ecosystem - from bird calls to rustling leaves - inviting children to tune into the city's sonic landscape.