With Fête de la Musique 2026, the country’s annual international celebration of music, returning this June, audiences across India can look forward to a month-long programme of street concerts, immersive performances and cultural exchanges.

Organised by the French Embassy, the French Institute in India and the Alliance Française network, the festival will travel across cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Kochi.

This year’s celebration brings three distinct French acts to the country — an immersive public space performance by Balllad, singer-songwriter Kelly Ou Moi and the Mediterranean electro-trance collective called Alright Mela.

Music in motion

Perhaps the most unconventional offering of the festival could be Balllad. Created by French artiste Bertrand Devendeville, Balllad is an immersive show with spoken word improvisation and also audience interaction.

Why Balllad’s shows are unconventional is because participants wear wireless headphones throughout. Devendeville says, “It creates a different relationship with sound, both intimate and collective at the same time.” He also says that audiences never actually know what to expect because the performance itself “is a mixture of different artistic forms such as beatboxing, live looping, street musical theatre, and a walking performance through public space.”

Musical storytelling

French artist Kelly’s work blends chanson, pop and world music influences. Her performance is rooted in storytelling and her show Le voyage de Kelly ou moi, draws from personal experiences, travels, and emotions, creating what she describes as an “intimate music journey”. Having performed across South America, Southeast Asia, Europe and now India, Kelly believes her music stands apart through its combination of French songwriting and multicultural influences. “My songs are deeply rooted in authentic stories and emotions,” she says.

A Mediterranean pulse

For the members of Alright Mela, music is less about introspection and more about raw collective energy. Drawing inspiration from the Mediterranean and beyond, the group creates rhythm-driven performances that encourage not only movement, but celebration and even a trance-like connection among audiences. Their upcoming India tour marks is their first visit to the country.

“We feel a little like explorers,” they say. “We are excited by the opportunity to discover new places, meet new people and share our music with audiences we have never encountered before.”

Despite their differences in style, all three acts embody the spirit of Fête de la Musique. Kelly’s intimate storytelling, Alright Mela’s communal rhythms and Balllad’s participatory performance each reflect the festival’s championed idea that music belongs everywhere and to everyone.

On June 13 from 8pm at Alliance Française de Bangalore, and on June 14 from 4pm at NGMA.Entry free. More details on bangalore.afindia.org.