Kolkata: Vivekananda Park at Southern Avenue turned into a vibrant celebration of football and culture as Zee 5 hosted a grand football carnival ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, bringing together more than 1,100 football enthusiasts, fan clubs, performers and celebrities in a city-wide showcase of Kolkata’s enduring passion for the sport.
The rally was flagged off by Dr. Indranil Khan, Minister of Youth Services & Sports, Government of West Bengal, along with other eminent personalities, marking the beginning of a large-scale public celebration inspired by the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026™ festivities.
Designed as an immersive on-ground experience, the carnival moved through key stretches of South Kolkata and featured live performances, themed installations, music and dedicated fan zones representing different teams. The event combined the excitement of global football with Bengal’s cultural traditions, creating a unique celebration that reflected Kolkata’s deep-rooted emotional connection with the game.
The procession stood out for its rich cultural representation, with dhakis, chau performers, cheerleaders and dancers adding colour and energy to the festivities. The initiative brought together football communities and local artists, transforming the city’s streets into a shared space where sport, entertainment and cultural expression converged.
Adding star power to the celebrations, actors Vikram Chatterjee, Priyanka Sarkar, Ayush Das and Sushmita Roy from Taarkata, along with Bonny Sengupta and Angana Roy from Prem Shots, joined the carnival and interacted with football fans throughout the event.
The celebration also witnessed the presence of former footballers and sporting personalities including Aloke Mukherjee, Biswajit Bhattacharya, Sangram Mukherjee, Snehasish Chockroborty, Nilava Chockroborty, Rahim Nabi and Mehtab Hosain.
Speaking about the initiative, Kartik Mahadev, Chief Marketing Officer, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, said, “At Zee 5, we wanted to celebrate the excitement surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in a way that felt authentic to Kolkata, a city where football is deeply woven into the cultural fabric. This carnival was designed to bring together fans, local traditions and entertainment in one shared celebration, creating an experience that extended beyond the screen and reflected the passion that the sport inspires. As audiences gear up for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on Zee 5, initiatives like these allow us to engage with communities through experiences that are culturally relevant, immersive and rooted in the moments that matter most to them.”
The football carnival forms part of Zee 5’s broader strategy to create experiential engagements that go beyond content consumption and connect with audiences through culturally rooted moments. As anticipation for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ builds, the platform aims to deepen fan engagement by bringing together sport, entertainment and community-led experiences.
