Burna Boy has played stadiums across the globe, but he has never once performed in India. That changes on December 12, when the Grammy winner co-headlines the opening night of Rolling Loud India 2026 alongside Metro Boomin.
The Nigerian star took home the Grammy for Best Global Music Album with Twice as Tall, and his arrival gives the festival a real Afrobeats anchor on a bill built mostly around rap.
Metro Boomin is also making his first Indian appearance. He brings a catalogue of production work for Future, 21 Savage, Drake, Travis Scott and The Weeknd.
They aren’t the only first timers. Grammy nominated rapper Big Sean is on the day one bill, and British rapper Skepta is billed for what organisers call his first and only appearance in India.
Skepta’s slot lands at an interesting moment. His new album, The Fork and Knife, is announced for November 6, 2026, which means Indian fans could be among the first to hear it live. It also ends a long wait, since his last solo album, Ignorance Is Bliss, came out back in 2019.
The second day belongs to Karan Aujla, who returns to headline for a second straight year. At the inaugural 2025 edition, he became the first Punjabi artist to top the Rolling Loud India bill, and organisers clearly liked what they saw.
That local thread runs through the whole festival. More than 10 of the 30 acts have Indian roots, covering a wide spread of regional scenes.
Wazir Patar repping Punjabi rap, Delhi duo Seedhe Maut, Haryanvi artist Dhanda Nyoliwala, Tamil rapper Paal Dabba, Marathi rapper MC Gawthi and Gujarati rapper Snappy Kaal all made the cut.
Rolling Loud CEO Matt Zingler says the mix is deliberate. “One thing that really stood out to us in India was how open the fans were to everything.
If the music connects, they show up for it,” he said, adding that the goal was to make it “feel like one festival, not two different worlds.”
Rahul Ganjoo, CEO of partner platform District, comes at it from the ground level. He said the team looked to cyphers and smaller live shows while building the lineup. He also pointed to the first edition, where fans showed up for both international names and homegrown talent.
The rest of the bill is deep. Day one adds GoldLink, slayr, ApolloRed1, SoSoCamo, Steel Banglez and Jorjiana, while day two brings ScHoolboy Q, BabyChiefDoIt, Raja Kumari and NAVZ 47. Vichaar, Robb Bank$, DJ Five Venoms, The Spindoctor and 2slimey round things out.
Tickets are live on the District app. A Reserve Now, Pay Later option lets fans pay 50 per cent upfront and clear the balance by 11.59 pm on November 20, 2026. Eligible cancellations made by December 1 qualify for a refund under District’s terms.
One big piece is still missing, though. The venue hasn’t been confirmed yet, and organisers say those details will drop through Rolling Loud India’s and District’s official channels soon.
