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Mumbai Celebrates 100 Years of Iconic Art Deco Architecture
6 Nov
Summary
- Mumbai hosts 3-week Art Deco Alive! festival to mark 100 years of the style
- City has 1,350 documented Art Deco buildings, second-largest collection after Miami
- Oval Maidan's Art Deco structures granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 2018
As of November 6th, 2025, Mumbai is hosting a three-week festival to celebrate 100 years of the city's iconic Art Deco architecture. The festival, named "Art Deco Alive!", aims to raise awareness and appreciation for the stunning Art Deco buildings that dot the city's landscape, particularly in areas like Churchgate, Fort, Dadar, Matunga, and Vile Parle.
Mumbai is home to the second-largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world, with a staggering 1,350 documented structures across south and north Mumbai. These buildings, characterized by their curved balconies, porthole windows, pastel-colored facades, and sunburst motifs, have long been a source of pride and admiration for the city's residents and visitors alike.
In 2018, the Art Deco buildings surrounding Oval Maidan were granted UNESCO World Heritage status, further solidifying Mumbai's reputation as a global hub for this distinctive architectural style. The festival, founded by Smiti Kanodia and co-founders from Miami, seeks to connect Mumbai and Miami as "cultural cousins" in the century-old Deco movement.
Through a series of exhibitions, street walks, sketching tours, symposia, and film screenings, the Art Deco Alive! festival aims to reignite the public's appreciation for this timeless architectural legacy and inspire a shared sense of responsibility for its preservation.
