Chandigarh University crowned champions at youth fest

Chandigarh University emerged overall champion at 39th Inter-University North Zone Youth Festival (UNIFEST) ‘Chit Utsav 2026’, organised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). The event was hosted by Chitkara University, with the CU contingent putting up strong performance in various categories including music, dance, theatre, fine arts and literature.

The varsity has successfully qualified for the AIU 39th National Youth Festival 2026 scheduled to be held at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology in Chennai, Tamil Nadu from 10 March to 14 March. Only the first, second and third position holders of all the events in Zonal Youth Festivals are eligible to participate at the Inter-University National Youth Festival.

This is the 5th time that team Chandigarh University has lifted the overall North-Zone AIU Trophy. In five main categories of Theatre, Dance, Music, Literature and Fine Arts, Chandigarh University won Overall Trophies in Music, Literary and Fine Arts Categories.

The varsity contingent comprising 60 students demonstrated cultural and artistic excellence across 28 events at the North Zone inter-university youth festival which is being attended by 22 universities from across northern India. In, all 1100 students from Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Uttarakhand and Chandigarh are participating in this five-day Youth Festival began on 6 January and culminated on 10 January.

Team CU won the overall trophy by winning top position in 11 categories, second in five categories and third in three categories.

It became Overall Champions with first prize in Overall Music, Overall Literary and Overall Fine Arts.

Chandigarh University also showcased its vibrant musical spirit at the Festival in the “Folk Orchestra” category to secure the first position with a powerful Haryanvi folk orchestra ‘Kallu ki Chaupal’ which celebrated the tradition, rhythm, raw cultural energy and soul of Haryana.