Serendipity Arts is bringing its international artistic journey back to Goa, with works presented in Venice and London set to come together at the 11th edition of Serendipity Arts Festival (SAF) in Panaji from December 13 to 20, 2026.
The Venice programme, taking place from September 13 to 17 alongside the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, features performance, music and poetry by leading Indian practitioners including Surjit Nongmeikapam, Ankur Tewari, Ranjit Hoskote, and Anwesha Das. The programme extends the National Pavilion of India’s ‘Geographies of Distance: Remembering Home’ into the public sphere, exploring themes of movement, memory, migration, belonging and cultural continuity.
The artistic exchange will continue in Goa, where works from the Venice programme will be presented as part of SAF 2026. ‘Hakchang – Polang’ (Body Vessel), ‘One World and Encounters’, led by Nongmeikapam and Tewari, will travel to Panaji following their Venice presentations.
Also coming to Goa is ‘Eyes Shall Deceive’, commissioned and produced by Serendipity Arts and directed by composer Sneha Khanwalkar and artist Sudarshan Shetty. First presented in London in June, the work combines 16mm film, live music and performance, drawing on the musical folklore of contemporary urban India.
“For us the connection between Venice and Goa is particularly meaningful because the artistic directors for our September leg of programming are Surjit Nongmeikapam and Ankur Tewari along with Ranjit Hoskote. Each is presenting key commissions in Venice. While Ranjit Hoskote has been one of the first curators for Serendipity Arts Festival, Surjit and Ankur are a part of the curatorial panel shaping the 11th edition of the Festival,” said director, Serendipity Arts, Smriti Rajgarhia. “Bringing these commissions to Panaji, alongside ‘Eyes Shall Deceive’ from London, allows these different practices and perspectives to meet in Goa and take on new meanings. This exchange is central to how we are envisioning Serendipity Arts in 2026 and beyond.”
