This fall, Miami and Mumbai will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Art Deco movement with Art Deco Alive!, a cross-continental festival highlighting the architectural heritage of both cities.
This fall, Miami, Florida, and Mumbai, India, will come together to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Art Deco movement with Art Deco Alive! (ADA!), a new festival that connects two of the world’s most architecturally rich cities.
The festival aims to bridge continents and time zones, creating an immersive celebration of design, heritage, and contemporary creative expression. Both Miami and Mumbai are home to some of the largest and best-preserved collections of Art Deco architecture globally, making this event a significant cultural milestone.
Art Deco Alive! was founded by Smiti Kanodia, along with co-founders Salma Merchant Rahmathulla and Gayatri Hingorani Dewan. The festival is being organized in collaboration with several prominent organizations, including the Miami Design Preservation League, Art Deco Mumbai Trust, The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, and The Wolfsonian–FIU.
The Art Deco movement emerged in the early 20th century, coinciding with rapid urban growth in both cities. In Miami, a devastating hurricane in 1926 led to a wave of reconstruction, giving rise to the Tropical Deco style characterized by pastel colors and nautical influences that define South Beach today.
In Mumbai, known as Bombay until 1995, Art Deco began to flourish in the 1930s. Indian architects skillfully blended international modernist influences with local motifs and materials, resulting in a unique aesthetic visible in iconic neighborhoods such as Marine Drive, Churchgate, and Shivaji Park.
Today, Miami Beach and Mumbai boast some of the most extensive and well-preserved Deco districts in the world. Both cities have been shaped by their colonial histories, tropical climates, and cosmopolitan aspirations.
“Mumbai and Miami, two cities across continents on opposite sides of the world, are united by their dynamic spirit, architectural heritage, and cultural confluences,” said Smiti Kanodia, founder of Art Deco Alive!. “As they undergo gentrification and evolve, we want to celebrate heritage as a living, breathing entity, inspiring people to care for it and advocate for its preservation.”
Art Deco Alive! serves as a tribute to cultural reinvention, uniting Miami and Mumbai through their shared architectural legacy. The initiative emphasizes creative exchange and community engagement, honoring the rich culture and influence of Deco design. The festival will feature a variety of events, including a twin-city museum exhibition, guided heritage walks, retail pop-ups, and design-inspired symposia.
By intertwining architecture, culture, and community, Art Deco Alive! invites audiences in both cities to rediscover meaningful spaces, celebrate creative legacies, and envision a future where preservation and progress coexist. The festival aims to reanimate Deco’s spirit for a new era, showcasing the power of cultural exchange and the enduring inspiration of heritage.
“Art Deco Alive! is more than a tribute to the past,” said co-founder Salma Merchant Rahmathulla. “It’s a celebration of cultural kinship and creative reinvention, linking Miami and Mumbai through architecture, memory, and style.”
Art Deco Alive! will feature a robust calendar of events in both cities. In Miami, from October 8 to 12, 2025, highlights will include a Twin-City Centenary Museum Exhibition at the Art Deco Museum, a 1920s Rewind Cocktail Party at The Wolfsonian–FIU, and heritage tours through the South Beach Deco District.
In Mumbai, from November 6 to 25, 2025, events will include a Twin-City Centenary Museum Exhibit at the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, an Art Deco Symposium, and Deco Walks through the city’s UNESCO-recognized neighborhoods.
“Having grown up in Mumbai and now living in Miami, I feel that Miami’s Art Deco identity seems a lot more celebratory and vibrant,” said co-founder Gayatri Hingorani Dewan. “In contrast, Mumbai’s Deco is woven into the city’s hustle and bustle, making it feel like a hidden treasure.”
For more information about Art Deco Alive!, please visit artdecoalive.org and follow the collective on Instagram.
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