Far from being just another festival, the seventh edition of ISF transformed the venue into a vibrant, multi-sensory playground for sneakerheads and music too
The first day set the tone with an eclectic, high-voltage blend of electronic and dance music.
The recently concluded Indian Sneaker Festival (ISF) 2025 held across two days on December 6 and 7 at the MMRDA Grounds, BKC in Mumbai felt like a true cultural collision of music, fashion, and youth energy.
Far from being just another festival, the seventh edition of ISF transformed the venue into a vibrant, multi-sensory playground. Neon-clad sneakerheads browsed exclusive drops, streetwear enthusiasts traded custom pairs, graffiti-inspired art installations blended effortlessly with brand activations, and music lovers floated between stages to experience a rare mix of global and homegrown talent.
The debut Mumbai edition produced and promoted by Trix Entertainment, following successful outings in Delhi and Gurugram, recorded a footfall of over 35,000 fans across two days, underscoring the festival’s growing momentum and cultural relevance.
Nikunj Duggal, co-founder of the sneaker festival states, “Mumbai has embraced ISF with incredible energy. Our debut here exceeded expectations, showing that the city is ready for a festival that combines global music, street culture and fashion in a way that feels both authentic and vibrant. This is just the beginning — we’re excited for what’s next.”
The first day set the tone with an eclectic, high-voltage blend of electronic and dance music. International heavyweights like Charlotte de Witte delivered pounding techno sets, while Alok brought unmatched energy with his signature electronic sound and immersive stage production. Techno and underground flavours punctuated the evening, giving the crowd a balanced taste of both mainstream and niche soundscapes. Throughout the day, fans navigated a buzzing ecosystem of pop-ups, sneaker-customisation zones, trading pits, brand showcases and streetwear activations — a visual and sensory feast for anyone who views sneakers and fashion as vital expressions of identity.
The second day elevated the experience further, marking the festival’s most anticipated moment — Grammy winning Afrobeats superstar Tyla’s India debut. Opening her set with a warm ‘Namaste Mumbai,’ Tyla charmed audiences instantly. Her ‘Mumbai’ hair-art and bindi were subtle yet powerful nods to the city’s culture, setting the tone for a performance defined by intention, respect and connection. She powered through a rapid-fire set featuring hits like ‘Chanel,’ ‘Push 2 Start,’ ‘Truth or Dare,’ ‘Show Me Love,’ ‘Is It,’ and of course the global phenomenon ‘Water.’ Her show was more than just a string of hits — it was a burst of choreography, commanding stage presence and genuine audience engagement.
A spontaneous dance face-off mid-show sent the crowd roaring, cementing her set as one of the festival’s standout memories. Sharing the spotlight on the very same day, American rapper Lil Yachty delivered his first-ever performance in India, bringing a wave of international hip-hop and trap energy to the ISF stage. His set reinforced the festival’s identity as a platform where global youth culture meets Indian audiences in real time. Together, Lil Yachty and Tyla shaped Day 2 into a dynamic fusion of Afropop, rap, and contemporary global sounds — a shift in flavour from Day 1’s electronic intensity but equally powerful in impact.
Beyond headline acts, Pan-Pot and Nicole Moudaber unleashed their avant-garde, hard-hitting signatures, drawing massive crowds into pulsating late-evening sets, while Magdalena and Cristoph added depth with their refined, melodic and progressive electronic textures. On the homegrown front, KR$NA stood out with a commanding performance — his raw emotional delivery, razor-sharp lyricism and socially charged anthems resonated powerfully with fans. Kayan impressed with a genre-blurring live set that seamlessly fused indie-pop warmth with dance-driven energy, while rising rapper Baby Jean brought youthful fire to the stage, dropping hard-hitting bars over infectious beats. Together, these acts created a dynamic cross-genre tapestry, showcasing the festival’s commitment to blending global excellence with India’s evolving contemporary sound, whilst highlighting ISF’s intention to nurture local talent while featuring established global names.
For many attendees, the festival signaled the arrival of a new cultural era where sneaker culture, street fashion, art and music converge seamlessly. It demonstrated that India’s youth are not only consuming global culture — they’re actively shaping it. With powerful headline performances and a thriving ecosystem of fashion, art and lifestyle experiences, the festival left Mumbai wanting more. As the city’s first edition wraps with strong attendance and glowing buzz, ISF’s future in India looks not just promising, but transformative — the spark of something much bigger in the making.
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