Conceived as more than a music festival, Aaj Ka Scene will bring together rap, beatboxing, breaking, graffiti, streetwear and creator culture through live performances, competitions, workshops, creator interactions, games and immersive experiences. The youth-focused property aims to create opportunities for participation, discovery and creative expression while connecting artists with audiences who identify with hip-hop culture.
The festival will feature two prominent voices from contemporary Indian hip-hop. Sambata will perform on Saturday, October 31, opening the event with his distinctive rap style, lyrical energy and connection with Mumbai’s underground hip-hop movement. Known for his authentic street voice and raw, uncompromising energy, he is expected to lead the opening day’s performances.
On Sunday, November 1, Karma will take the stage, bringing the sharp lyricism, storytelling and energy associated with his place in India’s new-age hip-hop movement. His music resonates with a generation that views hip-hop as a powerful form of expression. Together, Sambata and Karma will represent different sounds, styles and perspectives within India’s evolving hip-hop culture.
Beyond the live performances, Aaj Ka Scene will focus on identifying and showcasing emerging talent through competitions and showcases covering rap, dance, beatboxing, breaking and DJ culture. The platform is designed for aspiring rappers, dancers, beatboxers, DJs, graffiti artists, creators and other culture enthusiasts seeking opportunities to demonstrate their skills and connect with the wider community.
The talent discovery process will begin before the festival through a digital talent hunt promoted across communities, social media and multiple digital platforms. Participants can submit a two-minute audition video in one of five categories: Dance, Rap, Beatboxing, DJing and B-Boying. The entry fee is Rs. 500 across these categories, while Group Dance costs Rs. 1,000 for teams of up to 10 members.
There is no fee to audition. Only shortlisted participants will be required to pay the entry fee, which will also serve as their day pass to the festival. Organisers and judges will select the top performers from the submissions, bringing them to the stage during the two-day event to compete one-on-one in their respective disciplines. The last participant standing will claim the title in each competition.
Established artists and credible professionals from the respective disciplines will judge the competitions. The DJ category will have additional support from Pioneer, the globally recognised professional DJ equipment brand, as its partner.
The opportunities for participants will extend beyond the competitions. Winners will have the chance to collaborate with established artists and be considered for performance opportunities at future events in their respective disciplines. Through these opportunities, Percept Live aims to provide emerging performers with a platform to gain recognition and potentially build a continuing career in their chosen fields.
The judging panel will bring together respected professionals from hip-hop, rap, DJing, beatboxing, dance and B-Boying. Their participation is intended to provide a platform where emerging performers can demonstrate their abilities and compete under the assessment of experienced voices from the culture.
Phoenix Marketcity will be transformed into an immersive hip-hop environment featuring experience zones, games, on-ground activations, food and beverage experiences, creator interactions and community-led programming. Visitors will be able to discover new artists, meet creators, participate in games and contests, and engage with activities beyond the main stage.
The festival will also extend its outreach beyond the venue through college engagement, pre-event contests, giveaways and youth-focused activities. These initiatives will connect Aaj Ka Scene with the younger audiences and communities contributing to the development of hip-hop culture.
Nikhil Uniyal, Business Head, Percept Live, said the initiative was intended to provide Mumbai’s hip-hop community with a platform that reflects the scale of its talent. He described Aaj Ka Scene as more than a festival, positioning it as an opportunity for the next generation of artists, dancers and creators to be seen, heard and celebrated on their own terms.
Uniyal said Percept Live wanted to develop a bespoke property rooted in the culture, with an immersive and participatory format driven by talent. He also highlighted the company's ambition to establish a Regional Artist Platform and expand Aaj Ka Scene into a broader cultural movement, reaching audiences and hip-hop communities across India in future editions.
Sonal Shah, Head – Brand Partnership and Sponsorship Sales, Percept Live, said Aaj Ka Scene offered youth-focused brands an opportunity to connect with their target audiences through music, street culture, creativity and emerging talent. She highlighted the property's potential for bespoke experiences, creator-led content and talent discovery, adding that it could develop into a youth platform spanning multiple cities and categories.
Shah said Breezer Bold, the festival's Co-Presenting Partner, would be integrated into the cultural environment through on-ground brand experiences, audience engagement and content opportunities. She emphasised the approach of incorporating brands into the audience experience rather than limiting their presence to conventional event advertising.
Aaj Ka Scene is being presented in association with Breezer Bold as its Co-Presenting Partner and No Nazar as its official Style Partner.
The inaugural edition is scheduled for October 31 and November 1, 2026, at Phoenix Marketcity in Kurla, Mumbai. The festival will run from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM on both days.
Tickets are priced between Rs. 799 and Rs. 2,499 and are available through Sort My Scene. Some of the earliest ticket buyers are also set to receive surprises, with additional rewards and unexpected experiences planned as part of the event.
By combining live performances, competitive showcases, creator engagement and opportunities for emerging artists, Aaj Ka Scene aims to bring different dimensions of hip-hop culture together under one platform. Its debut will also mark the beginning of Percept Live’s effort to develop the property into a platform that can reach hip-hop communities across India in future editions.
Percept Live was established in 2012 and is a leading Live Media company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Percept Limited. The company offers live and online immersive, entertaining and experiential platforms designed to help brands engage with millions of consumers and strengthen their overall brand experience and impact. Its Intellectual Properties cater to diverse consumer segments, providing brands with large-scale, multisensory experiences across locations throughout the year.
Its portfolio includes Bollyboom, described as the world’s first and biggest Bollywood Dance Music IP, featuring live music events, clubs, lounges, food and beverage offerings, and merchandise. Eat Play Love is positioned as India’s first bespoke multi-city, multi-cultural food, music and art festival for the entire family, celebrating the country’s diversity and spirit.
The portfolio also includes Windsong, an exclusive weekend outdoor adventure music festival combining live unplugged music, camping, nature, travel, food and beverage offerings, and activities for adventure enthusiasts. India Model Search (IMS) is described as India’s first and only transparent model search platform, offering aspiring fashion models across the country opportunities for grooming, nurturing, representation, management and domestic and global modelling assignments.
Another property, Xtreme Combat Championship (XCC), is described as India’s first competitive Fight Night sports extravaganza, combining live fights across multiple genres with fashion, entertainment, gyms, health clubs, health foods and beverages, and action wear.
Percept Live operates as a Percept company. Percept has a team of more than 150 people and 20 offices across India, with operations in the entertainment, media and communications sectors.
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