Arts academy & auditorium · Thiruvanmiyur

Kalakshetra Foundation

1 upcoming event — next: Sacred Pathways: Where Ragas Meet Songlines (Sun 18 Oct · 6:30 PM).

AddressKalakshetra Road, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai 600041

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Getting thereThiruvanmiyur (MRTS), about 1.5 km; take an auto

Official sitewww.kalakshetra.in

Upcoming at Kalakshetra Foundation

Sacred Pathways: Where Ragas Meet Songlines

Sun18Oct

🎵 Music

Sacred Pathways: Where Ragas Meet Songlines

Sun 18 Oct · 6:30 PMRukmini Arangam · Thiruvanmiyur

₹249 Details →

About Kalakshetra Foundation

Kalakshetra is the arts academy that Rukmini Devi Arundale founded in January 1936 to teach Bharatanatyam, Carnatic music and allied arts. It moved in 1962 to its present campus of almost 100 acres by the sea, on the border of Thiruvanmiyur and Besant Nagar, and an Act of Parliament has recognised it as an Institute of National Importance. Performances are held in the Rukmini Arangam and in a Kerala-style koothambalam theatre, and the campus also has a craft centre for weaving and kalamkari and a museum of Rukmini Devi's collections. The Annual Art Festival each December is the highlight: Kalakshetra lists the 2026 festival for 18–27 December, with performances at 6 pm. Outside organisers also present concerts here; an October 2026 show was listed from ₹249.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Kalakshetra Annual Art Festival in 2026?

Kalakshetra's website lists the 2026 Annual Art Festival for 18–27 December 2026, with performances at 6 pm.

Where is Kalakshetra?

On Kalakshetra Road, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai 600041, on a seaside campus that borders Besant Nagar.

Who founded Kalakshetra?

Rukmini Devi Arundale, in January 1936. The academy moved to its present campus in 1962.

How do I reach Kalakshetra by train?

Take the MRTS to Thiruvanmiyur and an auto for the remaining 1.5 km.

Tips before you go

Festival evenings start at 6 pm sharp. The auditoria are semi-open and traditional, with floor seating at the front in some, so dress for the weather and for sitting cross-legged if you choose those rows.
Photography and phone use during performances are discouraged; follow the ushers' instructions.
Thiruvanmiyur MRTS station is about 1.5 km away. Autos back are harder to find after 9 pm, so book a cab before the show ends.
The campus is a working school. Daytime visits are restricted to set hours on working days, so check before you turn up to look around.

Around Thiruvanmiyur

Thiruvanmiyur is home to Kalakshetra, the arts academy founded by Rukmini Devi Arundale in 1936 and recognised by Parliament as an Institute of National Importance. Its seaside campus, in use since 1962, has the Rukmini

Events in Thiruvanmiyur →

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