Indo-Canadian rapper AP Dhillon performs during a concert as part of his ‘One of One – India Tour’, in Mumbai on Decemeber 26, 2025
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has established a Live Events Development Cell (LEDC) to facilitate the expansion of the “concert economy”, boosting employment and tourism in the country.
India’s live events industry is witnessing rapid expansion and is emerging as a key contributor to the media and entertainment ecosystem, an official said. The organised live events market was valued at ₹20,861 crore in 2024, registering a growth rate of 15%, outpacing several traditional media segments.
With an expected CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 18%, the sector is poised to position India among the leading global live entertainment destinations by 2030, as per government estimates.
In his address at the WAVES Summit in May 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the vast untapped potential of India’s live entertainment sector, underlining its role as a key driver of employment, investment, tourism, and India’s cultural and global influence.
Constituted in July 2025 under the direction of Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, the LEDC serves as a single-window facilitation mechanism for the sector. It brings together representatives of the Central and State governments, industry associations, music rights societies and major event companies.
The live events sector currently supports an estimated over 10 million jobs across the value chain. A single large-format live event generates more than 15,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.
According to a BookMyShow report covering the period January-November 2025, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are increasingly emerging as cultural and entertainment hubs. Cities in the northeastern region recorded significant growth in live entertainment footfalls, with increases of 213% in Shillong, 188% in Guwahati and 143% in Kokrajhar. Visakhapatnam recorded the highest growth at 490%, followed by Vadodara at 230%, the records show.
A 17% rise in consumption of live entertainment across musical concerts, sports and theatre has also been noted. Over five lakh people travelled to other cities to attend live events, representing an 18% increase over the previous year. Attendance at theatre events rose by 45%, reflecting renewed public engagement with diverse live cultural experiences.
Published – January 03, 2026 05:16 pm IST
