Indian arts take center stage in NYC as Nita Ambani takes NMACC to Lincoln Centre

From September 12 to 14, Lincoln Center will host the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) Weekend, a three-day cultural showcase led by philanthropist and Reliance Foundation chairperson Nita Ambani. The event aims to spotlight Indian arts on a global stage with a line-up of music, dance, fashion, and craft.This marks the international debut of NMACC, which opened in Mumbai in 2023 as a multi-disciplinary cultural hub. Inspired by iconic institutions like The Met and the Sydney Opera House, Ambani reportedly spent over a decade bringing her vision to life, creating a space that celebrates India's artistic heritage across genres—from traditional dance and music to global visual art exhibitions.The NMACC Weekend, New York edition, will reportedly open with Grand Swagat, an invite-only gala featuring a Swadesh fashion showcase curated by designer Manish Malhotra, with a regional Indian menu prepared by Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna.The program includes performances by Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal, and classical musician Rishab Sharma. NMACC’s flagship production The Great Indian Musical: Civilization to Nation—directed by Feroz Abbas Khan—is also set to make its international premiere at Lincoln Center, tracing 7,000 years of Indian history through music, dance, and elaborate stagecraft.In addition to ticketed events, Damrosch Park will reportedly host a series of open-to-public experiences, including morning yoga with Eddie Stern, cricket-themed panels, Bollywood dance workshops led by Shiamak Davar, and a Swadesh marketplace featuring Indian artisans and handicrafts flown in from India.“Culture binds people together; it builds empathy,” Ambani said. “I’m looking forward to bringing a slice of India and its 5,000 years of storytelling to New York.”