Gurugram / New Delhi: When engines meet easels and design meets imagination, interesting things happen — usually with dramatic lighting and people saying “conceptual” a lot. This year, BMW Group India returns as the presenting partner of India Art Fair 2026, celebrating a decade-long cultural partnership at the intersection of art, design and technology.
The 17th edition of the fair runs from 5–8 February 2026 at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi and brings together a record 135 exhibitors, including 94 commercial galleries and major regional and international institutions. With 26 new exhibitors, this is the fair’s broadest showcase yet — essentially the auto expo of the art world, minus the rev limiters.
A Decade of Art + Innovation (and Very Tasteful Lighting)
BMW Group India’s ten-year association with India Art Fair reflects the brand’s long-running belief that creativity and innovation share the same engine block. The partnership has steadily evolved from sponsorship to active cultural commissioning — supporting emerging Indian artists and experimental formats.
Hardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO, BMW Group India, said the collaboration stands on three pillars — culture, creativity and innovation — adding that artistic expression helps shape a more sustainable and inclusive future. In BMW language, that’s called long-term platform strategy — just with fewer torque curves and more textures.
‘The Future is Born of Art’ — Now with AR, Craft and Cross-Stitched Wheels
The 2026 edition marks five years of BMW’s “The Future is Born of Art” Commission, themed this year as “Crafting in Continuum.” The winner, Afrah Shafiq, presents an immersive installation titled “A Giant Sampler”, displayed prominently across the fair’s façade — proving once and for all that building wraps can be more interesting than most OTT thumbnails.
The installation reimagines progress as continuity — blending:
- Traditional embroidery and textile motifs
- Women-led craft histories
- Digital systems and interactivity
- An Augmented Reality (AR) layer for visitors
In a poetic twist, the BMW wheel appears rendered in cross-stitch — symbolising motion, precision and cyclical change. It’s probably the only wheel you shouldn’t rotate — but definitely should contemplate.
Shafiq joins a growing list of past commission winners whose works explored ecology, community and material culture, helping position the program as one of India’s most distinctive art-tech platforms.
BMW Concept Speedtop: The Fastest Sculpture at the Fair
While most art fairs say “Do Not Touch,” BMW brings something that silently says, “Please admire — and maybe sign here.”
At the BMW Collectors Lounge, the spotlight falls on the BMW Concept Speedtop — an ultra-exclusive design study that blends craftsmanship and performance like a perfectly tuned orchestra with launch control.
Design highlights include:
- Dramatic shark-nose front and illuminated kidney grille
- Flowing central spline and Touring-style silhouette
- Roof gradient finish from Floating Sunstone Maroon → Floating Sundown Silver
- Bespoke two-tone wheels
Inside the cabin:
- Brogue-style detailing
- Two-tone leather in Sundown Maroon & Moonstone White
- Ambient lighting inspired by the exterior spline
- Leather-finished split trunk for multi-day journeys (or multi-gallery art buying sprees)
A collaboration with Italian leather specialist Schedoni adds custom luggage and behind-seat storage. Power comes from BMW’s most powerful V8, and production is limited to just 70 units worldwide — making it rarer than parking space outside the venue.
When Culture Gets a Performance Upgrade
By pairing a façade-scale AR artwork with a limited-run V8 concept car, BMW Group India reinforces its broader message: the future of mobility is not just engineered — it’s designed, crafted and imagined.
At India Art Fair 2026, visitors can move from textile-based augmented reality to hand-stitched symbolism to high-performance automotive sculpture — all in one afternoon. Not many places let you experience embroidery, AR and a V8 in the same visit — and that alone might be the most impressive fusion of mediums this season.
