This September, New York City’s cultural heart—Lincoln Center—transforms into a glittering stage for an Indian cultural takeover. From September 12–14, 2025, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) brings its first international showcase, debuting a weekend rich in storytelling, spectacle and exclusivity.
The Center
The NMACC in Mumbai opened in March 2023. It’s a passion project of Nita Ambani, philanthropist, art-lover and performer at heart. So, inspired by global cultural icons like The Met and Sydney Opera House, she built a venue where Indian art stands tall together with international masterpieces. Of course, it quickly set the bar high at home, with the lavish Broadway-style productions and powerful art installations. And became a space for monumental storytelling powered by world-class design and vision.
The Gala
The official kickoff to the NMACC Weekend is an event with a velvet rope mentality and a taste for drama. Grand Swagat, the gala evening set to take place inside the David H. Koch Theater, is where the star wattage gets dialed up and the curation goes into overdrive. Think of it as a red-carpet handshake between India and New York, and the city’s most rarified circles are already buzzing. So they’re holding the guest list tight, and tailoring the experience down to the last petal. So, it becomes the kind of evening where every detail has been obsessed over, where no one asks about the price, and where culture is both the context and the currency.
Runway Show
At the centre of the evening is a runway show by Manish Malhotra. He is one of India’s most iconic designers, presenting a couture collection under his “Swadesh” label. But this isn’t just about beautiful fabrics—it’s all about Indian textile traditions, re-imagined for a global stage. Malhotra’s creations for the evening will pull from handwoven silks, artisan embroidery, and region-specific crafts. Each look is essentially wearable art. It’s a fashion moment, yes—but also speaks about legacy and labor. That, and timeless beauty, all walking down a high-gloss runway.
Everything from the floral installations to the welcome drinks is being overseen by Ambani’s in-house creative team. So, you can expect personalized touches like hand-calligraphed place cards, couture-level tablescapes, and performances that emerge mid-course. The point is not to entertain; it’s to immerse.
Food + Drink
Then there’s the food. And calling it food doesn’t quite do it justice. Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna helms the multi-course dinner. He is creating an entirely new fine-dining experience just for the occasion. So, don’t expect repeats from his NYC or Indian restaurants. This is a tasting menu rooted in heritage and designed for a dining room lit by chandeliers and conversation. Dishes are said to draw from temple cuisine, family traditions, and his own childhood memories, reinterpreted with haute-cuisine technique.
The Weekend
Inside Koch Theater, guests can catch the U.S. premiere of The Great Indian Musical: Civilization to Nation. It’s a seven-millennia sweep of Indian history brought to life by a cast of 100+ performers, lavish costumes by Malhotra, and immersive design led by a Tony-and-Emmy-winning creative team. Music luminaries, like Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal and Rishab Sharma will perform, offering an exclusive evening of iconic songs and spiritual resonance. Meanwhile, Damrosch Park will morph into a lavish Indian bazaar open to the public. There’ll be yoga at dawn with Eddie Stern, Bollywood dance led by Shiamak Davar, crafts by flown-in artisans, cricket panel discussions, and gastronomic pop-ups. So overall, it will be an elegant festival that invites VIPs and neighbors alike to mingle under the New York sunshine. In Indian style.
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FAQs
Q: What is NMACC?
A: NMACC is the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai.
Q: What is the NMACC Gala at Lincoln Center?
A: The NMACC Gala is a private couture and dining event at Lincoln Center.
Q: What is the main performance at Lincoln Center?
A: The main performance is The Great Indian Musical: Civilization to Nation.
