Tinariwen will headline the debut India Jazz Project.

Grammy-winning band Tinariwen is set to lead the inaugural edition of the India Jazz Project, a new music and culture platform that will make its debut across multiple Indian cities early next year.

According to a release issued on Sunday, the desert blues pioneers will headline the first edition of the luxury-focused India Jazz Project, which is scheduled to take place in February in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru. The initiative is being organised by Foreword and aims to create a space where global music traditions intersect with India’s contemporary creative scene.

The India Jazz Project has been designed as a platform that brings together jazz, blues, soul and modern world music. Each host city will feature performances by Tinariwen alongside leading Indian jazz and blues musicians, offering audiences a mix of international and homegrown talent on the same stage.

Explaining the vision behind the project, IJP co-founder Arpan Peter highlighted the need to spotlight India’s relationship with jazz and blues. “India has a rich and often overlooked history in jazz and blues, and the India Jazz Project is our effort to bring that legacy into a global conversation. With IJP, we want to create a platform where world-class artists find a home in India, and where Indian audiences gain access to the finest international talent alongside our own exceptional jazz and blues musicians,” he said.

Co-founder Somanna PM said the initiative reflects the changing nature of cultural experiences in the country. “With the India Jazz Project, we want to build a movement where the country’s culinary and hospitality prowess stands shoulder to shoulder with the sophistication of jazz and blues. This is an opportunity to showcase the best of India, on stage, at the bar, and in the way we collectively experience culture,” Somanna said.

Tinariwen was formed in the 1980s by Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, Hassan Ag Touhami and Inteyeden Ag Ableline during their time in exile in southern Algeria. Over the years, the group has grown into one of the most influential names in global music, known for introducing audiences worldwide to their distinct Saharan sound.

Rooted in the desert camps of the Tuareg rebellion, Tinariwen’s music reflects themes of exile, freedom and resilience, shaped through layered guitar work, steady rhythms and call-and-response vocals. The band has won the Grammy Award for Best World Music Album and has collaborated with artists including Carlos Santana, Thom Yorke, The Black Keys, Mark Lanegan and Warren Ellis.