Nestled in the golden sands of Rajasthan, the beloved Magnetic Fields Festival has announced its departure from Alsisar Mahal, the 17th-century palace that has served as its home for seven consecutive years. Festival founders Sarah and Munbir Chawla confirmed the venue change in a statement released yesterday, marking the end of an era for the boutique music and arts gathering that has drawn approximately 3,000 attendees annually to the desert locale.
Since its inception in 2013, Magnetic Fields has transformed the five-star hotel and its surroundings into a vibrant cultural hub each December, utilizing palace courtyards, rooftops, gardens, and desert grounds as stages for performances. The festival, which begins on Friday afternoon and concludes Monday morning on the second weekend of December, has become known for its unique fusion of contemporary music with historical architecture, creating what many describe as a “syncretic energy” between artistic expression and heritage.
The desert palace awakens each December as beats blend with heritage, creating three days of syncretic cultural magic amidst ancient walls
Prince Abhimanyu Alsisar, whose royal patronage has been instrumental to the festival’s success, expressed mixed emotions about the shift. “While the palace walls have resonated with extraordinary music these past years, change brings new opportunities for cultural exploration,” he noted during the announcement ceremony held in Jaipur yesterday. The Prince’s active participation during past festivals has been a highlight for many attendees who appreciated the royal involvement in the cultural event.
The festival’s replacement, “Magnetic Fields Nomads,” will maintain the event’s core identity while embracing a more mobile, adaptable format. Artists participating in the new format can leverage social media platforms to build anticipation and engage with potential festival-goers before, during, and after the event. Organizers have emphasized that the new iteration will continue to showcase world-class artists from across the globe, spanning electronic, live, and experimental music genres that have distinguished Magnetic Fields from mainstream Indian EDM festivals like Sunburn. For participating musicians, the festival has provided substantial revenue streams through both performances and merchandise sales at this prestigious cultural gathering.
With ticket prices historically starting around 8,500 Indian rupees (approximately £100), the festival has cultivated a reputation as a curated, exclusive experience that bridges Rajasthan’s rich heritage with global contemporary arts. The festival has also been known for its diverse entertainment options including secret parties and stargazing experiences that create unforgettable memories for festival-goers.
The contrast between the rural setting of Alsisar village and the festival’s sophisticated programming has created a distinctive atmosphere that organizers promise to preserve in the nomadic model, albeit with fresh perspectives on Rajasthan’s diverse landscapes and cultural traditions.
