Lahooti Melo names QB and Shafqat Amanat Ali headliners

Quratulain Balouch and Shafqat Amanat Ali are set to headline the 2026 edition of Lahooti Melo, which will be held in Larkana on September 21 as part of celebrations marking World Peace Day. The annual cultural and music festival is once again bringing together established Pakistani artists and traditional folk performers, with this year’s programme focusing on peace, cultural diversity and the unifying power of music and the arts.

The organisers have recently begun revealing the lineup for the Larkana Edition 2026, with several performers already announced. More artists are expected to join the festival, including musicians and performers from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. The final lineup is expected to showcase a wide range of Pakistan’s regional cultures and musical traditions.

Shafqat Amanat Ali will make his Lahooti Melo debut this year. A celebrated vocalist and member of the renowned Patiala Gharana tradition, he first gained widespread recognition as the lead singer of the band Fuzön. Over the years, he has established himself as one of Pakistan’s prominent contemporary classical and playback singers.

His performance at the festival is expected to feature some of the most recognisable songs from his extensive career. Fans can look forward to hearing popular tracks including Aankhon Ke Saagar, Mora Saiyaan, Mitwa and Yeh Honsla. His appearance is likely to add a strong classical and contemporary musical dimension to this year’s celebrations.

Quratulain Balouch, popularly known as QB, will also take the stage as one of the festival’s main headliners. The singer became a household name with Woh Humsafar Tha, the much-loved soundtrack associated with the television drama Humsafar. She has also delivered several memorable performances through Coke Studio, including Sammi Meri Waar, Faasle and Thagyan.

Beyond her work in Pakistan, QB has also represented the country internationally through major musical collaborations, including a performance with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Her participation in Lahooti Melo adds another prominent voice to a festival known for combining mainstream music with regional and folk traditions.

Alongside the two headline acts, Lahooti Melo 2026 will feature several folk and Sufi performers. Tahir Mithu, Farzana Bahar, and father-son duo Ashique and Mussadique Nizamani are among the artists being featured.

Tahir Mithu, who grew up in Kotri, Jamshoro, began his musical training under Ustad Muhammad Yousuf at a young age. He gained wider recognition after appearing on Coke Studio Season 5 with Pere Pavandi Saan. His rendition of O Jani Kamal Tho Karin later attracted considerable attention after going viral.

Farzana Bahar is known for drawing inspiration from Sindhi folk and Sufi traditions. Her notable performances include Bhali Yaar Aayein and Ishq Bulleh Nu Nachave, based on the poetry of Bulleh Shah. Meanwhile, the Larkana-based Ashique and Mussadique Nizamani duo are known for moving between Sindhi classical, pop and Sufi music.

Lahooti Melo was founded in 2016 by Saif Samejo, the frontman of Sufi rock group The Sketches, and his wife Sana Khoja. Over the years, the festival has highlighted important social and cultural causes, including climate change and the #MeToo movement.

The 2026 edition will continue that tradition with peace, cultural diversity and artistic expression at its centre. This marks the second consecutive year that Lahooti Melo is being held in Larkana. The previous edition, held in February 2025, was the festival’s first in the city and its 12th edition overall. It featured Hadiqa Kiani, Shae Gill and Umair Jaswal as headliners, alongside Sindhi folk artists Sajan Sindhi and Dilbar Jalal Chandio.

With a mix of celebrated national performers and regional musicians, Lahooti Melo 2026 is expected to offer audiences an evening celebrating Pakistan’s diverse musical heritage while using art and culture to promote harmony and connection.