New Delhi, October 23, 2026: The celebrated Pirelli Calendar, popularly known as The Cal™, has unveiled its 2027 edition in New Delhi, placing India at the centre of an artistic narrative that explores the country’s people, traditions, landscapes and contemporary expressions. Titled India, Beyond a Single Gaze, the edition offers a multifaceted portrait of India through the work of Norwegian photographer Sølve Sundsbø and Indian photographer Avani Rai, while honouring the original vision of her late father, the legendary photojournalist Raghu Rai.
For the first time in its history, the Pirelli Calendar has been photographed entirely in India. The result is a visual exploration of a country where history and modernity coexist, where cultural identities intersect, and where everyday life offers an endless source of artistic inspiration.
The 2027 edition brings together distinct photographic approaches to explore the many dimensions of India. Sundsbø, known internationally for his experimental visual language and fashion photography, approaches the country through a series of contemporary portraits. Meanwhile, the work conceived by Raghu Rai and carried forward by his daughter Avani connects India’s present with decades of photographic memories.
Raghu Rai, who passed away in April 2026 at the age of 83, had spent several months developing his contribution to the calendar. His original vision sought to bring India’s enduring character and changing realities into a single visual conversation. Following his death, Avani Rai took on the responsibility of completing the project, preserving her father’s intentions while bringing her own perspective and understanding of his work to the series.
The collaboration gives the calendar a deeper personal dimension. It is not simply a collection of photographs of India, but also a tribute to a photographer whose work documented the country’s people, streets and transformations over more than six decades.
