How fashion is taking the stage at concerts in India

Alongside India's booming concert economy, fan pits have emerged as a playground for bold fashion experiments. From corsets and saris to DIY gowns, we ask concertgoers how they craft the perfect look

In 2024, Akhila Banoth remembers chancing upon a photo, on Instagram, of a sari with a unique design: rock band Linkin Park’s typography and a stylised photo of its members emblazoned across the pallu by Oikkyo Calcutta. “I saved it for the future and maybe, I did manifest a Linkin Park concert in India after all,” she laughs. Once news broke last year that the rock band would be performing at Lollapalooza Mumbai, 2026 the 36-year old operations manager knew just what her outfit for the concert would be. 

For the country’s most fashionable and the many more who are eager to experiment and jazz it up, India’s growing roster of concerts and its thriving music festival circuit have become an ideal playground to put one’s best sartorial foot forward. 

Akhila drapes her Linkin Park sari | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A music lover who has always been interested in fashion, Akhila says that she does not miss out on the opportunity to dress up for concerts, and consciously puts together outfits depending on the vibe of the gig; be it techno, or jazz or even an Indian music concert. 

At Lollapalooza Mumbai, Akhila paired her sari with a corset blouse and added a nose ring for an Indian touch. “I love fusion fashion, boho styles and I love when people mix western and Indian wear. I styled my sari as well keeping in mind the music festival vibe and went with a corset blouse. So many people came and spoke to me at the festival about my sari,” she says. 

The opportunities to dress up for music in India, are immense, given the concert boom that is well and truly underway. The #ThrowBack2025 year-end report released by BookMyShow records a 17% growth in live entertainment consumption and read that there were 34,806 live events including concerts across the country last year. With concerts happening across the country, the number of people travelling to catch these experiences live saw an increase of about 18% in comparison to the previous year as well. BookMyShow reported a ₹641 crore economic impact spanning hospitality, transport, tourism and retail from Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres tour concert in Ahmedabad, alone.