What began as a conversation between two friends about preserving and promoting India’s craft traditions has, over the years, grown into one of the capital’s most anticipated cultural gatherings. Founded by Nandini Singh Jhabua and Akshat Kapoor, The Home Soirée 2026 recently returned to Travancore Palace, New Delhi, bringing together Indian handlooms, indigenous art, design and classical music. The opening day was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Princess Diya Kumari of Jaipur.
The evening featured a Baithak recital by classical folk vocalist and Padma Shri awardee Malini Awasthi, with actor and entrepreneur Riddhima Kapoor Sahni as the special Guest of Honour. “I absolutely loved the experience at the Home Soirée,” Sahni said, praising its thoughtful curation and the mix of design, craftsmanship and individuality.
She described the Baithak with Awasthi as particularly special for the warmth and cultural richness it brought to the evening, and praised what Jhabua and Kapoor have created. The second day concluded with a musical evening featuring poetess Minu Bakshi, danseuse Shivani Verma, storyteller Anas Khan and violinist Tomek Pajak.
A Founder’s Journey
Commenting on the journey so far, Akshat Kapoor, Co-Founder, The Home Soirée, said the experience has been deeply personal. “There were many moments of self-doubt about whether we would be able to achieve what we had envisioned,” he shared, reflecting on the responsibility of living up to the expectations of brands that had trusted the platform with their identity and products.
He said the aim was not only to give them a market, but to create an audience that would appreciate the craft behind their work and recognise the clusters they had revived or supported.
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Kapoor was candid about the challenges behind the scenes, recalling the many discussions, disagreements and moments of uncertainty that came with building the showcase. Yet, through the back-and-forth of figuring out what to do and how to do it, along with plenty of agreements and reconciliations, the founders reached the stage they had envisioned. At the heart of it all, he said, was a clear idea from the very beginning: to create The Home Soirée as a platform that celebrates the culture nurtured within Indian homes.
Strands of Living Heritage
The textile pavilions paid tribute to India’s handloom legacy, with weaves from The House of Angadi, Roliana and Jugni sitting alongside conscious creations from Amala Earth and Urvashi Kaur.
Bold, contemporary statements came from RAH Jewels, Inca India, Line Tribe, Maadhu by Japna Tulsi and Northern Art. Together, the showcases reflected The Home Soirée’s larger vision of bringing traditional craftsmanship into contemporary spaces.
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Across two days, the event brought together regional and tribal artistry with contemporary design, creating a meeting point between generational heritage and modern luxury.
Family, friends, artists, tastemakers and opinion leaders gathered at Travancore Palace to experience an interpretation of Indian craft and culture that went beyond a conventional exhibition.
