Visionary art collector, philanthropist, and founder of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), Kiran Nadar, will be honored at the 12th Annual Asia Game Changers Awards Gala hosted by Asia Society on October 15, 2025, at Cipriani 25 Broadway, New York City.
As the driving force behind KNMA in New Delhi, Nadar has been instrumental in elevating Indian modern and contemporary art on the international stage. Her museum, India’s first private museum of its kind, offers free public access to world-class exhibitions, educational programs, and scholarly initiatives that have inspired millions of visitors.
“As a philanthropist and visionary in the arts, Kiran Nadar has transformed India’s cultural landscape,” said Vishakha Desai, President Emerita of Asia Society. “With the opening of the new Kiran Nadar Museum of Art—the largest private museum in India, spanning traditional and contemporary art—her legacy will redefine Indian cultural heritage globally. She embodies the essence of the Asia Game Changers Award.”
Beyond the arts, Nadar has made impactful contributions to education, health, and community development, demonstrating how cultural leadership can drive social progress.
The Asia Game Changers Awards, launched in 2014, recognize outstanding leaders from Asia and the Asian diaspora who are creating transformative change in their respective fields. The annual gala has become a marquee event in New York, bringing together global leaders, artists, and innovators.
This year’s gala will also honor Tony Award-winning creators Will Aronson and Hue Park, internationally acclaimed pianist Yuja Wang, former U.S. Ambassador Jon M. Huntsman Jr., and philanthropists Elaine Chao and Dr. James S.C. Chao. The evening will feature a performance by Persian musician and composer Mehrnam Rastegari, known for blending traditional Persian music with modern fusion and rock influences.
