Russell Peters Announces 'Relax World Tour' Dates in India

17.12.2025 - Mumbai, India - Renowned global comedian Russell Peters is scheduled to present his highly praised 'Relax World Tour' in India, offering exciting performances in Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, and Kolkata.

Peters' arrival in India follows his sold-out shows in over 100 cities worldwide, including New York, London, Paris, Sydney, Stockholm, Dubai, Riyadh, Singapore, and Toronto. The Emmy, Gemini, and Peabody Award-winning comedian has previously toured India five times, starting with the Somebody! Tour in 2007, followed by the Notorious World Tour in 2013, the Almost Famous World Tour in 2015, the Deported World Tour in 2019, and most recently, the Act Your Age World Tour in 2024. His 2026 'Relax World Tour' is set to be his largest and most extensive tour in India yet, offering fans across the country the opportunity to enjoy his new material along with his renowned, sharp crowd interactions. Presented and promoted by BEW Live in collaboration with EVA Live, the Russell Peters Relax World Tour powered by Mastercard is anticipated to be one of the major comedy events of 2026. The multi-city Indian leg of the Relax World Tour will commence in March 2026, covering Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai, and Kolkata over a month. Peters expressed, "I love coming to India. It's home. It's my roots and one of my favourite places to visit. Performing here is always an incredible experience - the energy, the food, hospitality, and the audiences, who are smart, lively, and have supported me from day one. I can't wait to come back!" according to a press release. Deepak Choudhary, Founder & Managing Director of EVA Live, commented, "Having witnessed the evolution of live entertainment and comedy in India, it's truly special to present an artist of Russell Peters' calibre. His comedy transcends ages, cultures, and generations. His ability to innovate while staying true to the humour people love makes this massive comedy tour a must-attend event. Few iconic comedians of our time have maintained such remarkable relevance and popularity over thirty years. Hosting Russell Peters' Relax World Tour in India demonstrates EVA Live's dedication to providing world-class and multi-genre live entertainment experiences." Lavani Agarwal, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, South Asia at Mastercard, described how Russell Peters' visit to India will introduce a bold new aspect to this live entertainment journey, designed to evoke nostalgia, generate excitement, and deliver laughter that spans generations. "This is more than a concert series; it's a cultural celebration. And as always, Mastercard cardholders will enjoy exclusive access to unforgettable experiences that make every moment priceless," he added, according to the press release.

Listed below are the tour dates and cities:

March 15, 2026 - New Delhi

March 18, 2026 - Pune

March 20, 2026 - Bengaluru

March 22, 2026 - Mumbai

March 25, 2026 - Hyderabad

March 27, 2026 - Chennai

March 29, 2026 - Kolkata

Tickets for the shows can be purchased on District by Zomato, with general sales starting on December 22, 2025. HDFC Mastercard cardholders will have access to a special pre-sale beginning on December 15, 2025. Subsequently, a pre-sale for all other Mastercard users will commence on December 17, 2025, lasting for five consecutive days.

#entertainment #event #RussellPeters #India #upcoming #event2026 #relaxworldtour

THE INTERNATIONAL INDIAN FILM ACADEMY (IIFA) WEEKEND & AWARDS AND TELANGANA GOVERNMENT ESTABLISH PIONEERING MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP

Telangana to Host IIFA Utsavam in Hyderabad (2026–2028)

Swati Bhat

In a historic milestone for India’s cultural diplomacy and creative economy, the Government of Telangana has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend & Awards and IIFA Utsavam. Revealed at the Telangana Rising Global Summit 2025, this landmark collaboration positions India’s youngest state as a global cultural powerhouse and a thriving hub for cinema, creativity, innovation, and talent.

At the heart of this alliance is a transformative dual global strategy: ‘Taking Telangana to the World at IIFA 2026’ and ‘Bringing the World to Telangana through IIFA Utsavam from 2026 to 2028’. As the Official Partner State for IIFA 2026, Telangana will gain unmatched visibility across IIFA’s global broadcast network spanning over 120 countries, reaching more than 2.5 billion viewers. This unprecedented exposure is set to elevate the State’s global identity, attract foreign investment, boost tourism, and deepen engagement with the international diaspora and creative industries worldwide.

Simultaneously, Hyderabad will host IIFA Utsavam for three consecutive years, celebrating the vibrancy of Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam cinema. The event is expected to draw thousands of visitors annually, reinforcing Telangana’s emergence as the cultural capital of South India and a high-impact destination for film-led tourism. The multi-year hosting will also strengthen the State’s hospitality, entertainment, events, retail, digital media, and film-production sectors—further accelerating Telangana’s rise as a global creative-economy hub.

Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana, Sri A. Revanth Reddy, emphasized the State’s bold vision:“Following the Telangana Rising Global Summit 2025, Telangana is proud to announce a transformative partnership with IIFA, one of India’s most influential cultural institutions. Through IIFA 2026, we will take the story of Telangana to the world, and through IIFA Utsavam from 2026 to 2028, we will bring the world back to our State… Telangana Rising is unstoppable. Come, join the rise.”

This partnership is closely aligned with Telangana’s long-term vision to become a USD 1 trillion economy by 2034 and contribute 10% to India’s GDP by 2047. By integrating IIFA into this roadmap, Telangana aims to expand the creative economy, promote the ‘Film in Telangana’ initiative, foster youth skill development through TASK, and strengthen global cultural diplomacy.

Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary (SPEED), reiterated that this partnership perfectly complements Telangana’s Tourism Policy 2025–2030, which aims to position the State as India’s most preferred destination for culture, creativity, and global engagement.

For 25 years, IIFA has built a formidable legacy across global capitals—from London and New York to Amsterdam, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Madrid. With massive international viewership, powerful soft-power influence, and unparalleled global reach, IIFA now joins hands with Telangana to shape a new chapter for Indian cinema on the world stage.

Andre Timmins, Co-Founder of IIFA, hailed the alliance as a “shared mission to build a legacy that resonates across generations,” reaffirming IIFA’s commitment to elevating Telangana’s cultural voice and positioning Hyderabad as a global creative and innovation epicentre.

This historic partnership marks a defining moment for Telangana and for India—where cinema becomes the bridge, culture becomes the catalyst, and Telangana steps onto the world stage with unstoppable momentum.

#event2026 #entertainment #art #IIFA #IIFA2026 #IIFAUtsavam #event

Dalai Lama Unveils 'Forest Resources in India' Initiative for Climate and Conservation

On Friday, the Dalai Lama, a highly respected spiritual leader, presented the National Book Trust's publication titled 'Forest Resources in India: Integrative Governance and Community Participation for Sustainable Future' at McLeod Ganj in Dharamshala. The authors of the book are Sushil Kumar Singla, Rakesh B. Sinha, and Krishan Kumar Raina.

At the launch event, the Dalai Lama signed a copy of the book. Author Sushil Kumar Singla provided him with an overview of the book's themes, structure, and research findings.

The book offers an in-depth analysis of sustainable forest management in India, emphasizing the cultural traditions of nature conservation embedded in Indian heritage. It highlights the crucial roles of women and local communities, as well as the governance frameworks that influence forest policies. The book stresses the interconnectedness of sectors such as agriculture, environment, tribal development, and climate change, and underscores the collective responsibility of States and Union Territories to harmonize development with conservation.

The book's epilogue states that "India is making significant progress towards achieving the national forest policy goal of covering one-third of its land area with forests and tree cover by adhering to the principles of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas. Our collective efforts must be aligned to bring about meaningful change for everyone, especially the most disadvantaged. Forestry should focus on creating livelihoods, achieving self-sufficiency, and increasing its contribution to the country's GDP and the Agriculture Sector." It also notes that "while constitutional provisions and regulations have effectively supported sustainable forest management, the current pressures on forests and natural resources should not deter us from pursuing deregulation, simplification, and comprehensive reforms in the forest sector. These reforms aim to ensure not only the Ease of Doing Business but also the Speed of Doing Business, ultimately leading to the Ease of Living." The publication advocates for a balanced approach between regulation and development, promoting strategic partnerships between public and private sectors to achieve both "Ease of Doing Business" and "Ease of Living." India is committed to expanding its forest and tree cover through collaborative principles, focusing on forestry's role in livelihoods, self-sufficiency, and GDP growth. The book calls for collaboration across related sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, tribal affairs, environment, rural development, Panchayati Raj institutions, and tourism. It stresses the importance of stakeholder and local community involvement in governance and monitoring.

#lifestyle #event #art #DalaiLama #SushilKumarSingla