The 20th Tunbridge Wells Mela brings the heat!

The sun shone for the 20th anniversary of the Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival, which took place on Sunday 5th July 2026.

Produced by Cohesion Plus in partnership with the Kent Equality Cohesion Council, and supported by Arts Council England, the free family event once again brought music, dance, food and community celebration to the heart of Tunbridge Wells.

This year marked a special milestone for the Mela, which has now been running for 20 years and continues to be one of the longest-standing celebrations of arts, culture and diversity in West Kent.

The programme opened at 12pm with Circus Raj, who entertained audiences with a colourful mix of music, circus skills, street theatre and live performance. They were followed by dazzling singer Adelinia Antonovichi, who brought a vibrant performance to the stage and added to the international feel of the afternoon.

Local community group Sahrudaya Kent Keralites then showcased the music and dance traditions of Kerala through colourful costumes, choreography and community performance. Rajasthan Heritage Band who are on tour from India followed with powerful live brass sounds and upbeat rhythms, creating a real festival atmosphere.

One of the highlights of the day was the Bhangra Fusion performance by Four by Four Kings of Bhangra, combining powerful live dhol drumming with high-energy Bhangra dance. BEE2 then kept the crowd entertained with a lively set of popular Punjabi and Bhangra tracks, before the Midnight Soul Sisters closed the event with classic soul and Motown sounds.

Deputy Lieutenant of Kent Gavin McKinnon DL and Deputy Mayor of Tunbridge Wells Councillor Astra Birch were also in attendance and joined local residents, families, community groups and visitors from across the area in marking 20 years of the Tunbridge Wells Mela.

Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL, Artistic Director of Cohesion Plus and producer of the Mela, said:

“It was really special to be back in Tunbridge Wells for the 20th anniversary of the Mela. I never imagined when we started back in 2006 that we would be here in 2026 celebrating once again. It has not been easy over the years, with severe funding cuts and partners dropping out but with the support of the community, local businesses and Arts Council England as well as the Royal Tunbridge Wells Together BID we have managed to deliver a positive cultural celebration year upon year, highlighting how music, food and dance can bring communities together.”