Things to do in Mumbai this week

Mumbai’s biggest celebration returns and there is no better way to experience the city of dreams than during Ganesh Chaturthi. For eleven days, thousands of incredibly decorated Ganpati pandals, devotional performances and chants of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ take over the streets. Whether you’re planning to visit Lalbaugcha Raja or Andhericha Raja, this is the ultimate time for pandal hopping. Also, don’t forget to miss the tempting ukadiche modak during the festival.

When: Monday, September 14 to Friday, September 25

Where: Across Mumbai

Entry: Free 

Australian singer-songwriter Chet Faker is finally returning to India after a seven-year wait with his A Love For Strangers Tour this month. Popular for his dreamy electronic fan favourites like Gold and Talk Is Cheap, Faker’s live shows blur the line between intimate soul and euphoric electronic music. Whether you’ve discovered his music recently or have been a loyal fan since the Built on Glass era, this gig deserves a spot in your September plans.

When: Saturday, September 19, 6pm

Where: Phoenix Marketcity, Kurla West, Kurla  

Entry: ₹ 2,999 onwards

From playing Dr Mashoor Gulati to playing Gutthi and Rinku in The Kapil Sharma Show on television, Sunil Grover has given Indian comedy some of the most iconic characters – and now he brings them to the stage. The comedian-actor is back with a live comedy special promising an evening packed with spot-on mimicry, hilarious sketches, and improvised banter in the quirky storytelling he’s known for.  Expect plenty of nostalgia, unexpected character appearances, and nonstop laughs.

When: Saturday, September 19, 8pm

Where: Dome SVP Stadium, Mumbai 

Entry: ₹999 onwards 

Step into a world where silence speaks volumes at Gallery Maxima in Fort. In the Quiet Between is a solo debut exhibition of Mehak Garg – an emerging artist whose evocative oil paintings and works on paper transform everyday domestic spaces into an emotional landscape. The artworks explore human connection and the invisible atmosphere that exists between people through an exhibition that spans everything from five-inch studies to a monumental 16-foot canvas. This exhibition is one of the city’s most compelling contemporary art shows of the season.

When: Tue - Sat, 10:30am to 6:30pm, till September 26

Where: Gallery Maxima, Kitab Mahal, Fort

Entry: Free

A unique evening of world-class classical music arrives in Nariman Point as the New Chamber St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra performs live at NCPA. Led by acclaimed musicians from one of Russia’s celebrated orchestral traditions, the ensemble will showcase timeless masterpieces by European composers, presenting the richness, precision, and emotional depth of chamber orchestral music.  This concert promises an elegant night of soaring strings and powerful harmonies, catering to everyone from a seasoned classical listener to someone looking to experience an extraordinary musical performance.

When: Tuesday, 15 September, 7pm 

Where: NCPA

Entry: For members: ₹720 onwards

For Non-members: ₹800 onwards 

Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman will take over the stage at NCPA for the very first time with Sufiana Safar. This concert is Rahman's heartfelt tribute to the mysticism of Sufi music, blending timeless qawwalis with contemporary arrangements. Think of soul-stirring renditions of classics like Man Kunto Maula and Dama Dum Mast Qalandar, plus the musician’s compositions including Khwaja Mere Khwaja and Kun Faya Kun. If you’re the one looking for some spiritual melodies instead of loud bangers, this should be on your list.

When: Saturday, September 19, 6:30pm

Where: NCPA

Entry: For members: ₹1800 onwards

For Non-members: ₹2000 onwards 

If you have a song stuck in your head that you want to sing out, then head to Ammakai for karaoke nights – every Monday to Thursday and Sundays. Expect Bollywood bangers, Punjabi anthems,  Bollywood vs. English, pop-culture music, and more, with each day dedicated to a genre. Pair that with comforting Karnataka-style cooked food and a pre-drinking offer, where ordering two drinks gets you two more on the house and some complimentary mixers and chakna.

When: Mon–Thu and Sundays, 9pm onwards

Where: Ammakai, Bandra

Price: ₹ 2000 per person, for stags

Step into a meditative world of abstraction and memory with the latest solo exhibition of contemporary artist Yusuf at Tao Art Gallery in Worli. It transforms vast canvases into emotional terrains through delicate linear drawings, layered colours and fragmented forms that blur the line between external landscapes and our inner worlds. Art lovers can check out this exhibition showcasing the artist’s evolving five-decade practice in a deeply immersive setting.

When: Till September 25, 11am to 6:30pm

Where: Tao Art Gallery, Worli

Entry: Free

Travel back in time – over two million years – at a fascinating exhibition at CSMVS in collaboration with the British Museum. This show traces humanity’s earliest innovations through rare stone tools, prehistoric cave art and archeological discoveries from India and more. From razor-sharp microliths to a recreation of the Bhimbetka cave painting and ancient hand axes, this exhibition offers a look at how early humans were created.

When: Till November 2028, 10:15am to 6pm 

Where: CSMVS Museum, Kala Ghoda, Fort

Entry: Free