Indian Summer produces some of Vancouver’s most distinctive arts + culture events. We present acclaimed international and local artists, connecting Vancouver to itself and the world. We offer our audiences multi-arts experiences of exceptional caliber, curating through a South Asian lens and centering the exciting work of culturally diverse artists. Programming across literature, music, visual arts and the performing arts, we connect rich and complex pasts with the emerging future.

  • Numbers

    13 venues

    168 artists from 31 cities

    30 events

    12 sold out events 

    5 Art Exhibitions 

    216 volunteers donating donating 3808.5 hours

    7,270 total attendance

    396,264 people engaged

    Total: 67,023 attendees (average)

    2019

    More than 60% of our festival events free or “by donation” to the public.

    100% of Indian Summer Festival’s 2019 indoor venues were accessible to people using mobility aids

    Partnership with VocalEye to increase the accessibility of our programming to audience members who are blind and partially sighted

    Special concert with Amjad Ali Khan, the undisputed master of the sarod, and one of India’s most celebrated classical musicians, joined by his sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash.

    University of British Columbia joins as the festival’s Major Partner 

    Beginning of ISF+, our year-round programming, with Arundhati Roy and M.G Vassanji

  • Numbers

    8,675 attendees

    420,000 people engaged

    11 days

    195 artists from 20 cities

    31 events

    12 sold out

    22 free

    209 volunteers

    90% growth in sponsorships

    2018

    Vikram Chandra’s ‘Sacred Games’ launched to much acclaim on Netflix

    Michael Ondaatje won the Golden Booker Prize, recognizing the best Booker Prizewinning novel of the last fifty years

    A extremely rare concert presenting a true icon of Indian music, Hariprasad Chaurasia

    One of the defining features of ISF2018 was the expanded potential, reach, and depth of engagement of our free programming through the introduction of the PAUSE Pavilion. 

    Tiffin Talks weekday ideas series brings South Asian and Indigenous thought leaders into conversation every day for five days

    Langara College joins as the festival’s Major Partner

  • Numbers

    7,641 attendees

    23 events

    5 sold out

    5 free art exhibitions

    380,000 people engaged

    168 volunteers

    10 days

    142 artists from 23 cities

    2.7 million social media impressions

    50% growth in donations

    2017

    Roster of artists features two Booker Prize winners, two Grammy Award winners, as well as a winner each of the Giller Prize, Governor General’s Award, Dora Award, Trillium Award, Juno Award, and the Mercury Prize among many many others. 

    Indian Summer Festival introduces a multi-year project called ‘Taike,’ (pronounced tay-kay) intended to foster positive intercultural interaction between South Asian and Indigenous communities through the arts. This project aims to build our capacity over a number of years to bring together South Asian and Indigenous artists in meaningful artistic collaborations and conversations. 

    Implementation of an Indigenous Community Ticketing program, making events available for free to Indigenous individuals interested in accessing our ticketed programs.

  • Numbers

    11,105 attendees

    256% audience growth

    19 events

    11 sold out

    12 venues

    10 days

    108 artists from 24 cities

    5 public art exhibitions

    393,711 people engaged

    2016

    Collaboration between Vancouver-based musicians and Sufi music supergroup Rajasthan Josh from India

    Line up includes Juno Award-winning musician Kinnie Starr, Lil’wat Nation composer Russell Wallace and the Sarah McLachlan School of Music Youth Choir, among others

    Our team grows to five year-round team members, as well as recurring seasonal staff.

  • Numbers

    75 Canadian artists performed at the festival

    195 days of Orijit Sen’s mural from Punjab with love at Surrey Art Gallery

    5,332 tickets sold

    255 days of ISF public art

    1 million overall Social Media reach

    250+ media mentions and 50 feature stories

    2015

    Mayor Robertson declares the second week of July 2015 Indian Summer Festival Week

    Nobel Prize-Winner Dr. Harold Varmus comes to Indian Summer Festival

    Partnerships formed with major institutions: Vancouver Art Gallery, VSO, Banff Centre, Surrey Art Gallery & Vancouver Biennale

    255 days of free public art

    Indian Summer Festival launches year-round Supper Club

  • Numbers

    52 artists

    3,147 likes on Facebook

    8 days

    1.5mln people reached through marketing campaigns

    9 free public events

    2,400 volunteer hours

    2014

    Indian Summer Arts Society becomes a registered charity & establishes a permanent office with a year-round team

    Arundhati Roy comes to Vancouver for the 1st time and is received by 1000+ sold out ISF crowd

    Graphic artist Orijit Sen’s mural showcases the folk tales, mythology & landscapes of Punjab – on display in Vancouver & Surrey

  • Numbers

    150 artists

    2037 likes on facebook

    4 declarations of love for Shabana Azmi during q&a

    10 DAYS

    7 sold-out shows

    500 million tv viewers watch superchef Sanjeev Kapoor’s Vancouver episode

    37% growth in ticket sales since 2012

    9 free public events

    1.5 million people reached through marketing campaign

    37 workshops, performances & events

    2013

    Rajasthan Josh & East Vancouver artists wow audiences with their collaboration

    Film legend Shabana Azmi gets an honorary degree from SFU 

    Filmmaker Deepa Mehta & Booker Prize nominated author Jeet Thayil chat on stage about identity and art

  • Numbers

    11 days filled with 35 events

    100+ performers, artists, chefs & speakers

    1 festival hub with 6 multi-disciplinary spaces

    Vancouver & Surrey events

    month-long community cafe at festival hub

    6 free dance classes

    3 free public art installations

    84% overall attendance

    6,000+ attendees & thousands of onlookers

    reaching 1.5+ million Lower Mainlanders

    300+ features & listings across media, valued at $800k

    6-week targeted ad campaign, valued at $500k

    2012

    Lit & Sound Cabaret presents a Rungh Magazine retrospective, bringing together local South Asian thinkers and artists

    Dinner by Starlight is held at East India Carpets’ warehouse, with film icon Sharmila Tagore

  • Numbers

    10 days filled with 25 events

    1 main festival hub with 6 multi-disciplinary spaces

    50+ performers, artists & speakers

    84% overall attendance

    3,000 people passed through the festival hub

    8,000 people attended a free outdoor concert in Stanley Park

    5 receptions were sold out & numerous full houses

    2011

    Indian Summer Arts Society is born

    Simon Fraser University joins as a Founding Partner & the festival hub is established at SFU Woodward’s

    Life of Pi author Yann Martel & Bollywood star Tabu meet for the first time on the ISF stage 

    Vancouver’s own celebrity chef Vikram Vij tantalizes the taste buds of guests at the opening gala

  • Numbers

    13 venues

    168 artists from 31 cities

    30 events

    12 sold out events 

    5 Art Exhibitions 

    216 volunteers donating donating 3808.5 hours

    7,270 total attendance

    396,264 people engaged

    Total: 67,023 attendees (average)

    2019

    Explore our 2019 festival page.

    More than 60% of our festival events free or “by donation” to the public.

    100% of Indian Summer Festival’s 2019 indoor venues were accessible to people using mobility aids

    Partnership with VocalEye to increase the accessibility of our programming to audience members who are blind and partially sighted

    Special concert with Amjad Ali Khan, the undisputed master of the sarod, and one of India’s most celebrated classical musicians, joined by his sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash.

    University of British Columbia joins as the festival’s Major Partner 

    Beginning of ISF+, our year-round programming, with Arundhati Roy and M.G Vassanji

  • Numbers

    8,675 attendees

    420,000 people engaged

    11 days

    195 artists from 20 cities

    31 events

    12 sold out

    22 free

    209 volunteers

    90% growth in sponsorships

    2018

    Explore our 2018 festival page.

    Vikram Chandra’s ‘Sacred Games’ launched to much acclaim on Netflix

    Michael Ondaatje won the Golden Booker Prize, recognizing the best Booker Prizewinning novel of the last fifty years

    A extremely rare concert presenting a true icon of Indian music, Hariprasad Chaurasia

    One of the defining features of ISF2018 was the expanded potential, reach, and depth of engagement of our free programming through the introduction of the PAUSE Pavilion. 

    Tiffin Talks weekday ideas series brings South Asian and Indigenous thought leaders into conversation every day for five days

    Langara College joins as the festival’s Major Partner

  • Numbers

    7,641 attendees

    23 events

    5 sold out

    5 free art exhibitions

    380,000 people engaged

    168 volunteers

    10 days

    142 artists from 23 cities

    2.7 million social media impressions

    50% growth in donations

    2017

    Explore our 2017 festival page.

    Roster of artists features two Booker Prize winners, two Grammy Award winners, as well as a winner each of the Giller Prize, Governor General’s Award, Dora Award, Trillium Award, Juno Award, and the Mercury Prize among many many others. 

    Indian Summer Festival introduces a multi-year project called ‘Taike,’ (pronounced tay-kay) intended to foster positive intercultural interaction between South Asian and Indigenous communities through the arts. This project aims to build our capacity over a number of years to bring together South Asian and Indigenous artists in meaningful artistic collaborations and conversations. 

    Implementation of an Indigenous Community Ticketing program, making events available for free to Indigenous individuals interested in accessing our ticketed programs.

  • Numbers

    11,105 attendees

    256% audience growth

    19 events

    11 sold out

    12 venues

    10 days

    108 artists from 24 cities

    5 public art exhibitions

    393,711 people engaged

    2016

    Explore our 2016 festival page.

    Collaboration between Vancouver-based musicians and Sufi music supergroup Rajasthan Josh from India

    Line up includes Juno Award-winning musician Kinnie Starr, Lil’wat Nation composer Russell Wallace and the Sarah McLachlan School of Music Youth Choir, among others

    Our team grows to five year-round team members, as well as recurring seasonal staff.

  • Numbers

    75 Canadian artists performed at the festival

    195 days of Orijit Sen’s mural from Punjab with love at Surrey Art Gallery

    5,332 tickets sold

    255 days of ISF public art

    1 million overall Social Media reach

    250+ media mentions and 50 feature stories

    2015

    Explore our 2015 festival page.

    Mayor Robertson declares the second week of July 2015 Indian Summer Festival Week

    Nobel Prize-Winner Dr. Harold Varmus comes to Indian Summer Festival

    Partnerships formed with major institutions: Vancouver Art Gallery, VSO, Banff Centre, Surrey Art Gallery & Vancouver Biennale

    255 days of free public art

    Indian Summer Festival launches year-round Supper Club

  • Numbers

    52 artists

    3,147 likes on Facebook

    8 days

    1.5mln people reached through marketing campaigns

    9 free public events

    2,400 volunteer hours

    2014

    Explore our 2014 festival page.

    Indian Summer Arts Society becomes a registered charity & establishes a permanent office with a year-round team

    Arundhati Roy comes to Vancouver for the 1st time and is received by 1000+ sold out ISF crowd

    Graphic artist Orijit Sen’s mural showcases the folk tales, mythology & landscapes of Punjab – on display in Vancouver & Surrey

  • Numbers

    150 artists

    2037 likes on facebook

    4 declarations of love for Shabana Azmi during q&a

    10 DAYS

    7 sold-out shows

    500 million tv viewers watch superchef Sanjeev Kapoor’s Vancouver episode

    37% growth in ticket sales since 2012

    9 free public events

    1.5 million people reached through marketing campaign

    37 workshops, performances & events

    2013

    Explore our 2013 festival page.

    Rajasthan Josh & East Vancouver artists wow audiences with their collaboration

    Film legend Shabana Azmi gets an honorary degree from SFU 

    Filmmaker Deepa Mehta & Booker Prize nominated author Jeet Thayil chat on stage about identity and art

  • Numbers

    11 days filled with 35 events

    100+ performers, artists, chefs & speakers

    1 festival hub with 6 multi-disciplinary spaces

    Vancouver & Surrey events

    month-long community cafe at festival hub

    6 free dance classes

    3 free public art installations

    84% overall attendance

    6,000+ attendees & thousands of onlookers

    reaching 1.5+ million Lower Mainlanders

    300+ features & listings across media, valued at $800k

    6-week targeted ad campaign, valued at $500k

    2012

    Explore our 2012 festival page.

    Lit & Sound Cabaret presents a Rungh Magazine retrospective, bringing together local South Asian thinkers and artists

    Dinner by Starlight is held at East India Carpets’ warehouse, with film icon Sharmila Tagore

  • Numbers

    10 days filled with 25 events

    1 main festival hub with 6 multi-disciplinary spaces

    50+ performers, artists & speakers

    84% overall attendance

    3,000 people passed through the festival hub

    8,000 people attended a free outdoor concert in Stanley Park

    5 receptions were sold out & numerous full houses

    2011

    Explore our 2011 festival page.

    Indian Summer Arts Society is born

    Simon Fraser University joins as a Founding Partner & the festival hub is established at SFU Woodward’s

    Life of Pi author Yann Martel & Bollywood star Tabu meet for the first time on the ISF stage 

    Vancouver’s own celebrity chef Vikram Vij tantalizes the taste buds of guests at the opening gala