Founder Nita Ambani, in a special video message, announced the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre’s (NMACC) first international offering: a three‑day NMACC India Weekend at New York’s Lincoln Centre. In the video, Nita Ambani said, “We are thrilled and excited to present the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre India Weekend at the Lincoln Centre in New York from the 12th – 14th September.”
“We will spotlight the soul of India in all its glory – our culture, art & crafts, songs, dance, fashion, and food”
-Nita M Ambani
Ambani described the international representation of India, emphasizing the centre’s aim, “taking the very best of India to the world”, with the first international presentation, this premier overseas incarnation.
The NMACC ‘India Weekend’ will be a three-day event from 12th to 14th September, 2025, at Lincoln Centre’s David H. Koch Theatre and Damrosch Park. The schedule opens with an invite‑only gala, Grand Swagat, which will feature the Swadesh fashion showcase by designer Manish Malhotra and a curated Indian menu by Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna.
The main focus will be Feroz Abbas Khan’s direction of The Great Indian Musical: Civilization to Nation, marking its U.S. debut. With over 100 performers, a Tony and Emmy-winning creative team, choreography by Vaibhavi Merchant and Mayuri Upadhya, music by Ajay Atul, and event costumes by Manish Malhotra, the weekend-long event traces India’s journey from 5,000 BC to independence.
What is NMACC?
NMACC, short for ‘Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre’, was launched by Nita Ambani in March 2023 as “an ode to our nation”. The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre was built with the aim to “preserving and promoting Indian arts”. Opened in Mumbai, NMACC was created as a space to present and inspire talents across different undertakings, including Indian art, theatre, music, dance, fashion, and visual arts.
This cultural centre aims to bring communities together from across India and the globe. Till now, NMACC has already hosted over 1,500 performances, more than 7,000 artists, and welcomed more than two million visitors. The inauguration in 2023 was a grand red carpet event, with prominent personalities from Bollywood as well as international guests including Gigi Hadid, Zendaya and Tom Holland.
What does it mean for India?
The ‘India Weekend’ in New York City is indeed a milestone for India’s rich cultural and traditional heritage. As Nita Ambani addressed in her video, “It’s about spreading India’s cultural voice to a global audience”. This first international presentation of India through a mix of cultural performances, fashion, culinary history, and artisan crafts will reinforce India’s position as a global cultural brand. NMACC will be a landmark in the history of Indian culture, highlighting India’s centuries-old storytelling and craftsmanship in one of the world’s highest-profile cities.
This initiative strengthens India at the forefront of cultural diplomacy, inviting global audiences from around the world to witness India’s cultural legacy through indigenous textiles, luxury fashion, wellness, and music. The event amplifies India’s position as a rising global cultural curator, not merely an exporter.
