The 12 day Tribes Art Fest 2026 organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs concluded at Travancore Palace on K G Marg in New Delhi, recording direct sales of tribal artworks worth more than 1.25 crore rupees and drawing more than 10,000 visitors from across the country.
The festival served as a major platform for celebrating India’s tribal art heritage while encouraging artistic collaboration and strengthening livelihood opportunities for tribal artists. The exhibition showcased more than 30 tribal art forms created by around 70 tribal artists and featured over 1,000 artworks.
The event also witnessed creative collaborations between contemporary artists and tribal artists, resulting in innovative artistic expressions that blended traditional knowledge with modern artistic practices.
Visitors participated in hands on workshops, live art demonstrations and interactive sessions that offered a deeper understanding of tribal art traditions. Cultural performances by tribal groups from various regions added further vibrancy through presentations of traditional music and dance.
The valedictory ceremony began with the arrival of dignitaries followed by a walkthrough of the exhibition and the rendition of the National Song Vande Mataram.
The ceremony was attended by Jual Oram, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, as Chief Guest. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Delhi, and Durgadas Uikey, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, participated as Guests of Honour. Jai Madaan and Jyotsna Suri from FICCI were also present along with senior officials of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Ranjana Chopra, Secretary of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, described the festival as a successful initiative that brought together the art gallery ecosystem, corporate buyers and institutional partners to promote tribal art and strengthen livelihoods of tribal artists.
She said artworks worth more than 1.25 crore rupees were sold during the exhibition period. According to her, some artists who typically earn about 25,000 rupees per month returned home with earnings close to 7 lakh rupees through this platform, demonstrating the impact of the initiative.
Durgadas Uikey highlighted that tribal art reflects the deep relationship between tribal communities and nature, culture and traditions. He said such art forms are deeply embedded in everyday life and carry forward knowledge systems, cultural values and collective memory across generations.
He noted that initiatives like the exhibition help promote tribal talent and encourage cultural exchange while creating opportunities for artists to connect directly with collectors, art enthusiasts and institutions.
Rekha Gupta appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in bringing the richness of tribal art and culture to the national capital. She said such platforms help bridge cultural distances by connecting artists with audiences and strengthening appreciation of tribal creativity and craftsmanship.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said tribal paintings and artistic traditions are living archives that carry knowledge, memories and traditions of tribal communities. He said each artistic expression reflects a worldview deeply connected with nature and community life.
He added that national art festivals play an important role in linking artistic creativity with sustainable livelihood opportunities and suggested that such initiatives could be organised annually with wider institutional collaboration.
Jual Oram said India’s tribal communities possess extraordinary artistic traditions, cultural heritage and knowledge systems that reflect a deep connection with nature and community life. He said the government is working to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for tribal communities while promoting their cultural heritage in line with the vision of a developed India.
During the ceremony, several artists were honoured for their contributions to tribal art.
Award winners
• Best Artist in Tribal Art Rajesh Chaitya Vangad
• Young Achiever in Tribal Art Dhaneshwar Dhurwey and Sudha Kumari
• Innovation in Tribal Art Laishram Membi Devi
• Artist Reviving Tribal Art Balasubramani
• Lifetime Contribution to Tribal Art Putli Ganju
Several artists attracted strong interest from collectors and art enthusiasts during the exhibition.
Artists whose works received strong public response
• Suresh Chandra Pungati
• Rajesh Chaitya Vangad
• Rajkumar Sodi
• Mangala Bai
• Bhuri Bai
• Anil Chaitya Vangad
• Kingson Swargiari
• Ram Singh Urveti
• Venkat Raman Singh Shyam
• Sukhnandi Vyam
More than 800 artworks were sold during the 12 day exhibition, generating direct sales exceeding 1.25 crore rupees. The response from collectors and visitors highlighted the growing appreciation of tribal art in the contemporary art landscape while providing meaningful economic support to tribal artists.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Anant Prakash Pandey, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, who acknowledged the contributions of participating artists, collaborating institutions and organisers. He also appreciated the enthusiastic response from visitors, art enthusiasts and collectors that made the festival a successful celebration of tribal art and culture.
