India’s experience economy, spanning live entertainment, weddings, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) and cultural tourism, is projected to nearly double to $59.2 billion by 2030, presenting one of the country’s biggest untapped growth opportunities, according to the Events and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA).
Unveiling its Vision 2030 roadmap ahead of EEMAGINE 2026 in Chennai, EEMA said the sector is expected to grow at 16-18% annually, almost twice the global average, driven by rising demand for concerts, destination weddings, business events and experiential tourism.
The industry body estimates India’s experience economy was valued at $32.2 billion in 2024, but despite accounting for 18% of the world’s population, the country contributes only 2-4% of the global experience economy.
Major economic contributor
According to EEMA, the organised events industry already contributes ₹3.5-4 lakh crore to the Indian economy and supports more than one crore jobs, with both figures expected to nearly double over the next five to six years.
India’s broader wedding economy, including organised and unorganised segments, is estimated at ₹125 lakh crore, making it the country’s fourth-largest industry with nearly 10 million weddings annually. Meanwhile, the live events market alone exceeds ₹2 lakh crore and continues to grow at around 15% annually.
The association noted that India hosted over 34,000 concerts and live shows in 2025, with Coldplay’s Ahmedabad concerts alone generating an estimated ₹641 crore in economic impact.
Policy push
EEMA said Vision 2030 aligns with the Government of India’s efforts to strengthen the live events ecosystem. It welcomed initiatives such as the Ministry of Tourism’s ‘Wed in India’ campaign and has submitted a strategy paper on MICE tourism to the Ministry of Commerce, advocating single-window approvals and uniform regulations across states.
The association believes streamlined approvals and stronger Centre-State coordination will be critical to attracting more international conventions, sporting events, concerts and destination weddings.
“Our mission is simple—to position India as the Experience Capital of the World,” said EEMA President Samit Garg. He said the sector has evolved beyond entertainment to become a significant driver of tourism, entrepreneurship, employment and destination development.
Chennai in focus
The roadmap was unveiled ahead of EEMAGINE 2026, EEMA’s flagship convention, scheduled in Chennai from August 7-9.
The association said Chennai was chosen because Tamil Nadu has successfully leveraged tourism and cultural infrastructure to drive economic growth. The state recorded 286 million domestic tourist visits in 2024 and topped the country in foreign tourist arrivals.
The three-day convention is expected to bring together more than 800 policymakers, industry leaders and entrepreneurs to discuss policy reforms, technology, artificial intelligence, sustainability and the future of India’s experience economy.