Kerala to host India’s first-ever National cultural congress from December 20
Kerala , a southern Indian state known for its vibrant cultural traditions and progressive public discourse, will host the Indian Cultural Congress , the country’s first-ever national cultural congress , from December 20 to 22, 2025 , in Ernakulam .
The three-day cultural conference, conceived around the core values of Culture, Dialogue, Fraternity, Equality, and Peace , will unfold across eight venues in the city and bring together a wide cross-section of writers, artists, filmmakers, scholars, performers, and cultural activists from across India, along with participants from abroad.
Organised by a collective of cultural institutions and organisations with the support of the Department of Culture, Government of Kerala , the Congress aims to foreground the pluralistic, multilingual, and inclusive nature of Indian culture through sustained dialogue and artistic exchange.
The inaugural ceremony will be held on December 20 at Rajendra Maidan, Ernakulam , and will be inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan . Sri. Saji Cherian , Minister for Culture , Government of Kerala, will preside over the function, while Sri. P. Rajeev , Minister for Law, Industry and Commerce , Government of Kerala, will grace the dais.
Senior political leaders, leading cultural thinkers, and eminent artists are expected to attend the opening, including internationally acclaimed filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan , noted Hindi poet Ashok Vajpeyi , and Telugu writer and lyricist Suddala Ashok Teja .
Over the course of three days, the Indian Cultural Congress will host an extensive programme featuring panel discussions, seminars, theatre performances, film screenings, visual art exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and street performances. The event will showcase tribal, folk, ritualistic, and classical art forms representing diverse regions of the country.
A distinguished line-up of participants from literature, cinema, music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and people’s movements will take part in the Congress. Prominent names include Javed Akhtar, K. Satchidanandan, M. Mukundan, Rajathi Salma, G.N. Devy, Saeed Mirza, Ratna Pathak Shah, Umayalpuram Sivaraman, Kalamandalam Gopi, Shantha Dhananjayan, Siddharth Varadarajan, and Kanimozhi , among many others.
A key focus of the Congress will be on marginalised and under-represented voices, with dedicated platforms for transgender artists, linguistic minorities, and differently-abled performers . Reflecting its commitment to global cultural solidarity, the programme will also feature a painting exhibition by Palestinian artists.
The valedictory ceremony will be inaugurated by renowned Indian actor Mammootty , who will be honoured by the Indian Cultural Congress in recognition of his significant contributions to Indian cinema and culture.
Free registration
for participation in seminars and discussions is open internationally , making the Congress one of the most inclusive cultural gatherings of its kind in the country.