The dust has settled at The Auditorium in Gurugram, but the energy from RISE//DEL 2026 is still vibrating through the creative corridors of the country. From March 11 to 13, the third edition of this multidisciplinary conference transformed the DLF Cyber Park into a high-octane hub where the boundaries between music, the creator economy, and the startup world effectively disappeared. It wasn’t just another industry event, but a three-day masterclass in how culture is built, funded, and scaled in the modern era.
The energy this year was driven by a powerhouse lineup that blurred the lines between industries, featuring creative catalysts and business minds like Tanmay Bhat, Dolly Singh, Lisa Mishra, Raga, Yung Raja, and Palash Sen. The stage became a melting pot of perspectives as Nikunj Biyani, Raunaq Rajani, Gursimran Khamba, and Siddhant Bhatia joined forces with poetic voices like Nayab Midha and indie music stalwarts Raman Negi and Raghav Meattle. This intersection of talent was further strengthened by the entrepreneurial grit of Rajat Jadhav, Arjun Vaidya, Mo Joshi, Sanil Sachar, and Jatin Chikara, all of whom dissected the evolving DNA of music, digital culture, and modern entrepreneurship.
Over the course of three days, the sessions dove deep into the mechanics of the Indian independent scene, the rapid scaling of the creator economy, and the strategies behind building brands that actually resonate with culture. More than just a series of panels, the conference functioned as a high-stakes meeting ground where emerging talent could rub shoulders with veteran leaders, sparking dialogues that continued to resonate and evolve well beyond the confines of the stage.
Reflecting on the success of this third edition, founders Aayush Bansal and Utkarsh Bansal said, “RISE was created to bring together people who are actively building culture, whether through music, content, or entrepreneurship. Seeing artists, creators, founders, and audiences engage in meaningful conversations over the past three days reinforces why spaces like this are important for India’s creative ecosystem.”
The seamless execution of these conversations was made possible through the support of key partners including Rest In Beats, River, The Shakti Academy, TuneCore & Believe, and Next Wave Academy. Their contributions ensured that the sessions remained focused on the tangible future of India’s creative landscape.
As RISE//DEL continues to grow, it remains committed to being the definitive platform where creativity and capital intersect, championing the next wave of artists and founders who are rewriting the rules of Indian culture. By bridging the gap between independent visionaries in India and global industry standards, the multidisciplinary conference didn’t just document the evolution of our creative landscape, but actively engineered it too. Through this, the journey of building a more connected and equitable ecosystem has only just begun and the roadmap for what comes next is already being drawn by those who shared the stage this year.
