Neha Mehrotra
31-Jan-2026
From must-visit exhibitions at India Art Fair 2026 to food, fashion and travel, this week’s round-up gives you a comprehensive list of everything that is trending!
1. Fairmont Mumbai Presents a Malaysia Food & Culture Festival in Collaboration with Tourism Malaysia
(Fairmont Mumbai, The Merchants)
Fairmont Mumbai, in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia, presents a Malaysian Food & Culture Festival at The Merchants from 30 January to 8 February 2026. Hosted at the hotel’s signature New Wave Foodhall, the festival celebrates Malaysia’s rich culinary heritage through an immersive lunch and dinner buffet experience. Highlights from the menu include Pandan Ayam, Kerabu Ayam, Laksa Lemak, Ayam Masak Berlado and vegetarian favourites like Rendang Tauhu, followed by desserts such as Kuih Bakar and Serawa Durian. Live kitchens, cultural performances, traditional attire and signature beverages like Teh Tarik come together to offer a taste of Malaysia’s food and culture.
2. Tata Starbucks Presents New Food Offerings in Collaboration with Twenty Seven Bakehouse in Mumbai
TATA Starbucks has collaborated with Mumbai-based TwentySeven Bakehouse to introduce a curated range of handcrafted food offerings at several stores across Mumbai including the Starbucks Reserve® store and coffee experiential stores. Customers can now look forward to a selection of TwentySeven Bakehouse’s signature bakes, artisanal breads, salads, sandwiches and nourishing bowls to enjoy with their coffee.
3. Gaurav Gupta Couture Unveils the Divine Androgyne at Paris Couture Week, Spring/Summer 2026
(Gaurav Gupta, The Divine Androgyne Collection)
At Paris Couture Week Spring/Summer 2026, Gaurav Gupta Couture unveiled The Divine Androgyne, a collection rooted in Advaita—the Indian concept of non-duality. Sparked by a moment of misidentification in the designer’s personal life, the collection questions rigid binaries of gender, time, and identity. Sculptural silhouettes map energy, memory, and consciousness through intricate thread-engineered embroideries, resin constructions, and crystal networks. From twin, cord-connected forms and body-mapped gowns to temple-inspired corsets and cosmic creations, each piece exists in a state of becoming. For the collection, MAC Cosmetics partnered with the designer as the official makeup artistry team. Drawing from the ancient language of marma points, the beauty narrative mapped energy across the face through illuminated half-moon spheres and a light-struck skin finish using MAC Lightstruck Liquid Skinfinish—infused with metallic pigments and studs shifting from white to gold to silver. The designer also collaborated with brands like Preciosa, Indriya, Kérastase, and Rene Caovilla.
4. Budweiser 0.0 Brings the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy to Fans at Lollapalooza India
( Jonty Rhodes, Cricketer)
Budweiser 0.0 created a landmark fan-first moment by bringing the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy to Lollapalooza India 2026 as part of the official Trophy Tour. Displayed at the Budweiser Brew District, the trophy took centre stage amid music, energy, and community. Alongside powering the BUDX Stage and immersive fan experiences, cricket legend Jonty Rhodes anchored the experience, interacting with festivalgoers and bridging cricket’s legacy with a new, music-driven audience.
5. The Meydan Hotel, Dubai’s Iconic Trackside Hotel, Opens its Doors
The legendary trackside landmark, The Meydan Hotel, owned by Dubai Holding Hospitality, opens under Kerzner International. Guests enjoy privileged access to a world-class sporting ecosystem, from the pulse of the racecourse to The Track’s floodlit nine-hole golf course overlooking serene lakes and the Meydan Tennis Academy. The resort’s culinary landscape is vast and guests can enjoy Mediterranean-inspired cuisine at Farriers or unwind at the Millennium Lounge, offering specialty coffee, afternoon tea and shisha. The Equus Pool bar located by the hotel’s rooftop infinity pool, serves sweeping views of the Dubai skyline. The hotel also offers an exceptional collection of indoor and outdoor event spaces.
6. Raffles Hotels & Resorts Hosts the 2026 Raffles Sirmour Cup
Raffles Hotels & Resorts continues its association with the Rajasthan Polo Club through the sponsorship of the trophy for the Raffles Sirmour Cup (14 goals), one of the marquee tournaments of the Jaipur Polo Season. For 2026, Raffles Jaipur and Raffles Udaipur unite as co-sponsors. The Raffles Sirmour Cup will take place from 9 to 15 February 2026, bringing together distinguished players, patrons and enthusiasts. In Rajasthan, polo represents lineage, craftsmanship, camaraderie and pride, and Raffles' support for the tournament helps preserve this legacy while inviting guests to experience a living tradition.
7. Accor Expands its Portfolio and Marks its Arrival through Novotel Vrindavan
Accor announces the signing of Novotel Vrindavan, marking a significant step in the group’s expansion across North India. Scheduled to open in 2029, the 150-key new-build hotel will offer a contemporary hospitality experience designed to support balance across work, personal life and family life, as part of the brand’s Longevity Everyday philosophy. The hotel will feature a 1,000 square metre ballroom and multiple meeting rooms. Additional facilities will include an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby lounge and bar, a speciality restaurant, a fitness centre, spa facilities, and a swimming pool.
8. Mister Chai Unveiled Croissant-Forward Evening Experience at Shangri-La Eros New Delhi
Mister Chai at Shangri-La Eros New Delhi recently hosted a traditional winter tea. The experience evolved through a curated selection of sweet and savoury croissants, including layered pastries and structured sandwiches. Sweet highlights ranged from the Gold Croissant with Dulcey ganache and the New York Roll filled with single-origin dark chocolate and white chocolate caramel ganache to several refined classics. The savoury offering included dishes like the Wild Mushroom and Truffle Pâté croissant and more. Winter-led beverages, including Kashmiri Kahwa, Chamomile Blossom, Pure Ceylon Black Tea, Himalayan Shangri-La Estate Tea, the Shangri-La Signature Blend, Classic French Hot Chocolate, and more, elevated the experience.
9. Sofitel Mumbai BKC Presents ‘La Haute Croissanterie’, A Celebration of French Art de Vivre
Sofitel Mumbai BKC presents La Haute Croissanterie, a culinary showcase, part of a global Sofitel initiative that brings together classic French craftsmanship and contemporary Indian flavours. La Haute Croissanterie features a rotating line-up of limited-edition croissants introduced each month. From indulgent interpretations like Rasmalai Dream to fruit-led creations inspired by regional produce such as Nagpur Orange and Alphonso Mango, each croissant reflects a dialogue between French savoir-faire and local inspiration. The showcase made its debut on World Croissant Day, 30th January, with the Mahabaleshwar Strawberry Croissant, highlighting fresh strawberries from Maharashtra folded into a buttery, flaky croissant. New flavours will be unveiled every month.
10. The Gypsy Travel Festival Returns to Mumbai at Jio World Drive
The Gypsy Travel Festival (TGTF) will take over Jio World Drive for two electric evenings on 7th & 8th February 2026. Expect a deep dive into Amazing Thailand, spotlighting its culture-rich cities, island escapes, wellness retreats, and globally loved culinary trails. Alongside it, Magical Kenya unveils a window into dramatic landscapes, iconic safaris, and unforgettable wildlife encounters. Across two buzzing evenings, tune into Travel Talks led by industry insiders, participate in hands-on workshops spanning itinerary design and real-world travel hacks, and explore destination experiences and sample global flavours.
11. Kingfisher Smooth Launches in Karnataka
United Breweries Limited (UBL), part of the HEINEKEN Company, announced the launch of Kingfisher Smooth in Karnataka. The launch in Karnataka, one of India’s largest beer markets, marks an important step in expanding Kingfisher’s presence in the category. Developed for younger legal-age drinking consumers who prefer a smoother and more approachable beer experience, Kingfisher Smooth delivers a balanced profile without compromising on taste. Brewed using imported hops and with no added sugar, it offers a clean, smooth taste while retaining the strength preferred by strong beer consumers.
12. Ace Blend Launches Rise Creatine Monohydrate for Everyday Health
Ace Blend, the functional nutrition brand backed by Fireside Ventures, has launched Rise Creatine Monohydrate, reimagining creatine beyond gym-centric use. Designed for everyday health, the formula highlights creatine’s clinically proven benefits for energy, memory, cognition, and recovery. Each serving delivers 3g of micronised creatine monohydrate, paired with 250mg of Montmorency tart cherry extract to support recovery, reduce inflammation, and improve sleep quality. Available in at-home jars and single-serve sachets, Rise is India’s first unflavoured pink creatine, naturally coloured by tart cherry.
13. RITES: Alida Sun Explores Code, Craft, and Resistance at Method Delhi
Method Delhi presents RITES, a solo exhibition by Berlin- and New York–based artist and technologist Alida Sun, on view from 31 January to 15 March 2026. Blending code, embroidery, mirrorwork, and ritual, the exhibition reimagines technology as a site of care, solidarity, and collective imagination. Rooted in Sun’s ongoing daily coding practice, RITES reclaims the feminist history of computation through hand-coded, hand-embroidered tapestries created with women artisans at SSMI. Works by Alida Sun will also be presented at Method’s booth at India Art Fair, from 5 to 8 February 2026.
14. Three Contemporary Voices in Material and Form at India Art Fair 2026
KYNKYNY Art Gallery presents a curated showcase of two sculptors and a mixed-media artist at India Art Fair 2026, taking place from 5 to 8 February at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds, New Delhi. Bringing together the practices of Sandilya Theuerkauf, Meenal Singh, and Janardhanan Rudhramoorthy, the presentation foregrounds material as an active force in artistic expression. The showcase offers a material-led exploration where process, substance, and material intelligence shape meaning in contemporary art.
15. Lenscape Kerala Comes to Ahmedabad with a 100-Image Photography Showcase
(Image Credits: Saibal Das)
Lenscape Kerala arrives in Ahmedabad with a compelling photography exhibition at Hutheesing Visual Art Centre from 3 to 5 February 2026. Curated by art critic Uma Nair and presented by Kerala Tourism, the exhibition features 100 photographs captured across Kerala by ten acclaimed photographers, offering a contemporary visual narrative of the state’s landscapes, wildlife, cultures, and everyday life. The showcase brings together diverse visual voices, creating an immersive portrait of “God’s Own Country”. As part of the programme, a free photography masterclass led by renowned photographer Umesh Gogna will be held on 4 February.
Cover Credits: Gaurav Gupta
