This happened to me on the last day of a literature festival. The stalls were closing, venues had finished their sessions and the festival book store was empty of all the good stuff it had only a few days ago but this did not faze late comers and scavengers. Still others had settled outside in the lawn reading the stuff they already bought. That’s when I realized how amazing it was: that I should see so many people happy & satisfied with a book! It is a feeling that a book lover rarely gets these days: of belonging and silent camaraderie. But you will find it at a literature festival. 

Chances are there is one in your city. Each major city in India has one: Mumbai’s got one, so has Bengaluru and Kolkata and Hyderabad. Hitting peak popularity sometime in mid 2010s these annual events now dot the travel calendars of most published writers. It is a space where the publishing industry as a whole – readers, writers, publishers, book sellers use to connect with their respective audience, release their books or simply indulge that itch to know what else is out there. 

We wanted to put together a list of festivals for you, should you ever want to catch one of the famous ones or just drop into the one in your city.  

Laid-Back Litfest

Location: Online; Time of the year: Four times in a year (Starts in March 2026)

The Laid-back LitFest is a refreshing take on the traditional literature festival. It is designed to make literary engagement truly accessible and worry-free as it eliminates travel, accommodation hassles, long queues, and scheduling conflicts.

The festival emphasizes relaxation and ease as attendees can participate in one session at a time so no simultaneous events are missed. Scheduled to begin on 1st March 2026, Laid-back LitFest runs weekly on Sundays at 5 PM, offering conversations with prominent authors and cultural thinkers. The curated programme features a mix of award-winning writers, insightful panel discussions, and thought-provoking sessions.

By removing physical barriers and fostering a relaxed, inclusive environment, Laid-back LitFest aims to broaden literary appreciation and build a strong community among readers and writers alike (from the comfort of your home).

You can register now – https://www.laidbacklitfest.com/

Jaipur Literature Festival 

Location: Jaipur; Time of the year: Jan / Feb every year

This is the grand daddy, the one that started it all. The combined talents of festival directors William Dalrymple, Namita Gokhale and Sanjoy Roy showed skeptics that books and literature can be a great draw in India. Locating it in Jaipur added another feature to the festival that combines travel with literature. Attracting writers such as JM Coetzee, Orhan Pamuk, VS Naipaul, Margaret Atwood, Oprah Winfrey, Stephen Fry etc., the festival provides the chance to meet, greet and listen to diverse talent. This is a great place to discover new writers from across the world, explore the topics they write about or simply listen to a wonderful tale.

Website – https://www.jaipurliteraturefestival.org/

Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival

Location: Kolkata; Time of the year: Early Jan every year

The Apeejay Kolkata literary festival is the only festival in India that is organised by a bookstore: the iconic 100+ year old Oxford bookstore located in Apeejay House on Kolkata’s Park Street. The festival offers a chance to interact with writers in arguably one of the most writer-friendly locations in India – Kolkata. Usually held in the second week of January each year, it is also a good time to visit the city and participate in its literary heritage by visiting the Rabindra Bharati Museum and stopping by to check out the book sellers of Park Street.

Website – https://www.aklf.in/

Kerala Literature Festival

Location: Calicut; Time of the year: January every year. 

Held on the beaches of Kozhikode in January, this festival is often included in the “best of lit fest” lists. It strives to be a secular space where writers considered controversial are allowed space to talk through their ideas. The festival also includes a variety of regional writers famous in their specific regions but not yet recognised outside. Sessions are held in many languages and often you can find state ministers chairing sessions. This is because Kerala has a discerning reading public who consider writers to be rock stars. Also Kerala in general loves organising literature festivals and there is a literature festival happening in the state for a good part of the year. One of them should be on your list. 

Website – https://keralaliteraturefestival.com/

Other festivals in Kerala : 

Wayanad Literature festival (December each year); Website – https://wlfwayanad.com/

Kerala Legislature International Book Festival (January each year); Website – https://klibf.niyamasabha.org/

Kochi International Book Festival (December each year); Website – https://bookfestkochi.org/

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Mumbai Literature Festival

Location: Mumbai; Time of the year: November. 

Also known as the Tata Literature Live this festival covers an amalgamation of topics such as literature, poetry, philosophy, business, science and the arts. Past speakers have included people such as Salman Rushdie, Amitav Ghosh, Steven Pinker and Indira Nooyi. The festival also has several categories of awards such as Book of the year in Fiction and Non Fiction, Business Book of the Year, Publisher of the year, Lifetime achievement award and an award for Poet laureate.

Website – https://www.litlive.in/fest2025

Goa Arts and Literature Festival (GALF)

Location: Goa; Time of the year: December. 

Held in December in Goa, GALF celebrates the margins believing that there are ‘different ways of belonging’. Writers and artists come from Goa of course, but also from India’s North-East and Kashmir, as well as from countries like Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. The festival covers themes such as Dalit writing, poetry, graphic novels, and translations. GALF is held annually at The International Centre Goa (ICG) in the first half of December.

Website – https://goaartlitfest.com/

Khushwant Singh Literary Festival 

Location: Kasauli; Time of the year: October

Khushwant Singh was a literary giant who symbolised books for many of us growing up in 1980s. A man who somehow spanned the gap between books such as Train to Pakistan and humour, a festival with his name on it is bound to convey an openness to all genres of literature. That it is held in the charming little hill station of Kasauli only makes even more attractive. 

Website – https://kslitfest.com/

Bangalore Literature Festival 

Location: Bengaluru; Time of the year: December

The Garden city has a growing new aged crowd who also love to read. Conducted since 2012 by an independent, community funded group the Bangalore Literature festival managed to get over 1500 authors to the city by 2021. The festival aims to celebrate the creative spirit and the diversity of this vibrant city. 

Website – https://bangaloreliteraturefestival.org/

Hyderabad Literary Festival

Location: Hyderabad; Time of the year: January

And of course Hyderabad has one too. Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) is an annual event that “celebrates creativity in all its forms”. Festival programme includes conversations, panel discussions, readings, workshops, exhibitions, cultural programmes, film screenings, and events for college students and school children.

Instagram Page – here.

The Hindu Lit for life

Location: Chennai; Time of the year: February

The daily “The Hindu” is a popular staple read in South India. The daily is also one of the few newspapers that regularly reviews books and includes a weekly “literary” magazine section which often frontlines major authors. So if a literature festival is conducted by “The Hindu” you should take notice. Especially if you are from Chennai. The Hindu Lit For Life began in 2010, as a one-day show and grew into a three-day festival, it aims to connect literature to the masses and travel beyond books. Since its inception, the festival has expanded by exploring fiction, non-fiction, politics, history, the arts, cinema and regional literature.

Instagram Page – here.

Times Lit fest

Location: Delhi; Time of the year: February

This is the other popular literature festival conducted by a popular daily. The festival mixes authors from India with abroad, popular with the controversial and established with new voices. Festival platform thus results in interesting exchanges of views on literature, books and ideas. The festival attracts authors, poets, theatre artists, lyricists, scriptwriters, filmmakers and thinkers from across the country and the world. 

Website – https://litfest.timesgroup.com/

Kalinga Literary Festival

Location: Bhubaneswar; Time of the year: February

Founded by journalist-writer Rashmi Ranjan Parida the festival aims to celebrate the vibrant world of Odia Literature. However this does not stop the festival from attracting a range of diverse opinions from different countries and languages.

Website – https://kalingaliteraryfestival.com/

Valley of Words – International Literature & Arts Festival

Location: Dehradun; Time of the year: November

Valley of Words (VoW) is a one-of-a-kind, not-for-profit and volunteer-driven initiative of The Valley of Words Foundation Trust, which has now become a pan-Indian celebration of Indian writing and artistry. Over the course of the last 8 years, VoW has brought together writers, artists, critics, thespians, craftspeople, readers, and listeners in its Literature and Arts Festival, which also encompasses the annual Book Awards.

Website – https://www.valleyofwords.org/

Kumaon Literary Festival

Location: Multiple; Time of the year: Multiple

Sumant Batra is the founder and convenor of Kumaon Literary Festival, a not-for-profit annual literary festival held at Te Aroha in Dhanachuli in Uttarakhand. Conceptualised as the first-of-its-kind annual destination festival in the country, KLF is built around an unconventional framework and format. The festival will be gradually institutionalised so that it is not just a one-off event in a year. The festival is part of a larger vision to develop Dhanachuli into a model cultural village.

Strangely, it doesn’t always happen in Kumaon (a region of Uttarakhand). It has also been held in Goa and Kashmir.

Website – http://www.kumaonliteraryfestival.org/

Nainital Literary Festival

Location: Nainital; Time of the year: April

The Nainital Literature Festival (NLF) is a carefully crafted bespoke festival. It aspires to be a distinguished platform that intertwines the rich cultural heritage of Nainital, Kumaun and the Himalayan region with National and global perspectives in literature, music and performing arts. It envisions fostering a celebration of diverse storytelling traditions, where local and global narratives converge, creating a space for interactive cross-cultural exchanges.

Website – https://nainitalliteraturefestival.org/

Shillong Literary Festival

Location: Shillong (Meghalaya); Time of the year: November

The Shillong Literary Festival is a thoughtfully curated celebration of storytelling and cultural heritage. It presents a distinguished platform that intertwines the rich folklore traditions of Meghalaya’s Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo communities with national and global perspectives in literature and the arts. Held annually in November at the picturesque Ward’s Lake, the festival envisions fostering a celebration of diverse narratives, where ancestral wisdom and contemporary voices converge, creating a space for meaningful cross-cultural dialogue.

Website – https://shillonglitfest.com/

The White Owl Literature & Book Fair

Location: Chümoukedima (Nagaland); Time of the year: February

The White Owl Literature Festival & Book Fair stands as the region’s foremost celebration of literature, culture, and creativity. Hosted annually in Chümoukedima, Nagaland, this dynamic festival transcends the conventional literary gathering as it represents a cultural movement dedicated to reviving the joy of reading, the art of storytelling, and fostering meaningful literary dialogue across generations.

Website – https://thewhiteowl.in/pages/literature-festival

Bharat Literature Festival

Location: Bharat Mandapam (New Delhi); Time of the Year: January

The Bharat Literature Festival stands as a confluence of civilizational intellect and contemporary insight, embodying the timeless spirit of आ नो भद्राः: ऋतवो यन्तु विश्वतः (May noble thoughts come to us from all directions). Rooted in India’s legacy as an eternal torchbearer of knowledge and wisdom, this festival celebrates unity in diversity through meaningful dialogue, debate, and deliberation. The festival serves as a vital platform where ancient wisdom and modern perspectives converge.

Website – https://bharatlitfest.com/

Almora Literature Festival

Location: Almora (Uttarakhand); Time of the Year: October

The Almora Literature Festival is a distinguished celebration of literature and the arts set in the picturesque hill town of Almora, Uttarakhand. Nestled in the foothills of the majestic Himalayas, Almora has long been revered as a center of culture, art, and literary excellence.

Website – https://www.almoraliteraturefestival.org/

Odisha Literature Festival

Location: Bhuwaneshwar (Odisha); Time of the Year: September

The Odisha Literary Festival (OLF) creates a dynamic space for dialogue, bringing together diverse voices to explore topics ranging from crime fiction and translation to history, mythology, and India’s socio-cultural landscape. Through engaging conversations and debates, OLF aims to shape bold new narratives that reflect contemporary living realities and India’s evolving identity.

Website – https://odishaartlitfest.com/

Literati – Chandigarh Literature Fest

Location: Chandigarh; Time of the Year: November

Literati – founded by Dr. Sumita Misra in 2013, is Chandigarh Literary Society’s flagship festival and one of India’s most revered literary events. Held at the iconic Sukhna Lake, it is the only festival in the country conducted in four languages – Hindi, English, Punjabi, and Urdu. Featuring internationally renowned authors, curated performances, and dynamic discussions; Literati serves as a non-aligned platform for progressive discourse, engaging diverse audiences with a special focus on attracting youth to literature and the arts.

Website – https://theliterati.in/

Orange City Literature Festival

Location: Nagpur; Time of the Year: November

Orange City Literature Festival is Nagpur’s premier celebration of literature, ideas and cultural dialogue. Hosted in the heart of Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, the festival brings together eminent authors, poets, journalists and thinkers from across India. It is deeply rooted in the cultural ethos of the region.

Website – https://oclfnagpur.com/

Koshala Literature Festival

Location: Lucknow; Time of the Year: Winter (November/December)

Koshala Literature festival is a vibrant literary and cultural gathering that reflects Lucknow’s syncretic heritage and intellectual legacy. The festival celebrates literature alongside history, philosophy and performing arts through thoughtfully curated discussions, readings and cultural showcases.

Website – https://koshalaliteraturefestival.com/

Metaphor Literature Festival

Location: Lucknow; Time of the Year: January (Winter)

It is a contemporary literary forum that champions new voices, fresh ideas and interdisciplinary conversations. Known for its intimate and intellectually stimulating format, the festival aims to make literature accessible while fostering curiosity and critical engagement among students and young readers.

Instagram here – here.

Kolkata Literary Meet

Location: Kolkata; Time of the Year: January (Winter)

The Kolkata Literary Meet is an extension of the city’s long standing love for literature, debate and the arts. Drawing on Kolkata’s reputation as India’s intellectual capital, the festival hosts acclaimed writers, thinkers and artists from India and abroad. It offers an open democratic space for dialogue while celebrating the written word and engaging deeply with contemporary social and cultural themes.

Website – https://kolkatalitmeet.in/2026/

Banaras Literature Festival

Location: Varanasi; Time of the Year: February (Winter)

It provides a unique confluence of literature, philosophy and living traditions while being set in one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Bringing together writers, scholars spiritual thinkers and artists. This festival reflects Banaras’s timeless intellectual and cultural spirit.

Website – https://banaraslitfest.org/