The festival will host live storytelling sessions by artists from India and overseas, covering forms ranging from dastangoi to romance, mystery, historical narratives, folk tales and more
Marking its seventh edition, the Udaipur Tales International Storytelling Festival returns on January 9–11, bringing three days of oral storytelling, music performances, children’s sessions and international artists.
In a press statement, the organisers say the festival will host live storytelling sessions by artists from India and overseas, covering forms ranging from dastangoi to romance, mystery, historical narratives, folk tales and more.
Sushmita Singha
It adds that on the occasion, two veteran storytellers, selected by a jury for their contribution to oral storytelling, will also be recognised with the annual ‘Master Storytellers’ honour.
The statement adds that the 2026 lineup includes Arif Zakaria, Divy Nidhi Sharma, Meiyang Chang, Danish Hussain, Mayur Kalbag, Tenny Wizard of Ra, Prithwiraj Choudhury, Geetika Lidder, Vilas Janve, Jyoti Pandey and other performers.
It adds that the three-day event, founded by Sushmita Singha and Salil Bhandari, continues its focus on oral storytelling without scripts or digital aid, maintaining listener-focused sessions restricted to 350–400 attendees per performance.
Meiyang Chang
It further adds that for the first time, inmates from Udaipur’s Central Jail will also take the stage with stories and music.
“Storytelling is the purest form of human connection. Each edition of Udaipur Tales is about rediscovering that bond through voices, traditions, and experiences that move us. The 2026 edition will bring together a diverse community of storytellers and listeners to celebrate narratives that unite, inspire, and transform. Udaipur Tales is about stories that connect us raw, real, and human,” says Singha.
“The magic of stories and the spoken word, especially in a hyper distracted and splintered world, will always bring people together. And what is music if not stories set to a tune, passed on from soul to soul? For that very reason, I look forward to performing at Udaipur Tales, binding everyone together in soothing music, comforting words and infectious smiles,” says Meiyang Chang, Singer.