Dolcy D’Cruz
Held annually on one of Goa’s most scenic hilltops, the Monte Music Festival organised by Fundação Oriente offers sweeping views of the Mandovi River, its islands, a nearby bird sanctuary, and the iconic UNESCO World Heritage precinct of Old Goa. Established in 2002 following the restoration of the 16th-century Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount by Fundação Oriente, the festival was conceived as a platform for artistic exchange between Western and Indian classical traditions. Over the years, it has grown into a significant cultural gathering that goes beyond music and dance, welcoming artists from across Portugal and India who share not only their performances but also the rich heritage of their regions. The 2026 edition will be held on January 30, January 31 and February 1 at the courtyard of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount, Old Goa, once again transforming the chapel’s serene courtyard into a space for cultural dialogue and celebration. This is the fourth edition of the festival under Dr Paulo Jorge da Silva Gomes, director of Fundação Oriente, who has been assisted by the team at Fundacao Oriente. Monte Music Festival will not require passes for any of its concerts and there will be two buses to take the visitors from Gandhi Circle, Old Goa to Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount, Old Goa. Dr Paulo Jorge da Silva Gomes informs, “The upcoming edition of Monte Music Festival will bring together, through music and dance, different ingredients and different parts of India and Portugal as well. From Rajasthan, Gujarat, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi in India, and from Lisbon and Alentejo, a region in the south of Portugal, a blend of great musicians that will offer not only a music or dance festival, but a cultural event too. This is the most important ingredient for us of Monte Music Festival. Of course, we cannot forget the Goan artistes as well, because we will open the Monte Music Festival with Sonia Shirsat and her friends, all Goans, to promote as well the Goan artistes and the Goan music and the Goan language.” Speaking about Ricardo Ribeiro, who will be closing the festival, Dr Paulo says, “He is a Portuguese fadista with an unforgettable voice, seamlessly blending classic fado with contemporary influences. Today, he is regarded as one of the most influential voices in Portugal’s fado scene.” Fundacao Oriente has a knack for curating outstanding performances year after year, keeping the festival vibrant and current by showcasing national and international artists who are rarely seen in the state. “We work in the field of the arts and follow certain criteria. First of all, we receive a large number of proposals from both Indian and Portuguese musicians. For each edition, the artists are selected according to the curatorial team in charge that year. We have a large database, which makes the selection process easier in terms of quality, as it offers a wide range of choices. That said, it is never easy to choose some artists and not others you would also like to invite, that’s just part of the process. Overall, thanks to the volume of proposals we receive and our extensive database, our mission is made easier in that sense,” explains Dr Paulo.
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January 31 | 5:45 pm “ROOTS” – WHERE THE FORGOTTEN MELODIES OF INDIA FIND THEIR VOICE AGAIN, BY ASAD KHAN & FRIENDS Led by Grammy-recognised sitar maestro Asad Khan, Roots is a musical collective that brings alive the rich melodies buried in India’s cultural soil. From the folk traditions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, and Bengal, Asad reimagines forgotten dhuns, taranas, dohas, and wedding heets, each rooted in the moods of Indian life: love, longing, rain, harvest, celebration, and farewell. The ensemble will include Rais Khan, Dana Bharmal Harjan, Kalpa Joyti, Altamash Ansari and Jogi Laxman Premji.
January 31 | 7 pm 100 PAREDES AND STUTI CHORAL & STRING ENSEMBLE In 2025/2026, the centenary of Carlos Paredes, one of the most iconic figures in Portuguese culture and a global ambassador of the Portuguese guitar, is being celebrated. To honour this milestone, André Varandas and Bruno Costa created the project 100 Paredes. In Goa, 100 Paredes will perform alongside the acclaimed Stuti Choral & String Ensemble, directed by Parversh Java, with orchestral arrangements by renowned Brazilian composer Rodrigo Morte
January 30 | 7 pm, CHANGING HORIZONS, BY AO NAGA CHOIR Changing Horizons is a musical journey that celebrates the living traditions of Northeast India. Rooted in Naga cultural traditions, the Choir proudly represents its heritage through traditional attire, indigenous soundscapes, and performances that embody the spirit and legacy of its forebears.
January 30 | 5:45 pm KALEIDOSCOPE – A SYMPHONY OF COLOURS IN SOUND, BY SÓNIA SHIRSAT & FRIENDS The FMM 2026 will open with a performance by Goan singer Sónia Shirsat, who will be accompanied by five Goan musicians. They will present songs in both Portuguese and Konkani, highlighting the historical ties between Goa and Portugal as well as Goa’s official language, Konkani. The ensemble will include Carlos Menezes, Allan Abreu, Prathamesh Chari, Irshad Khalifa, and Franz Schubert Cotta
February 1 | 5:45 pm SAMANVAYA – HARMONY BY RAUL & MITALI Mitali-Raul and her troupe present Samanvaya – Harmony; a confluence of music and movement, Odissi and Bharatanatyam, tradition and innovation, rhythm and expression, heritage and contemporary.
February 1 | 7 pm RICARDO RIBEIRO Ricardo Ribeiro’s voice, described as once heard, never forgotten, has become an essential name in contemporary fado. With a vocal presence that evokes both life and death in a single breath, he continues to carve his own path between traditional fado and the future of the genre.
