Kerala Literature Festival 2026 to Unite 400 Global Voices at Kozhikode Beach
The Ninth Edition of Asia’s Largest and world’s most attended Literary Festival Was Announced at a Successful Pre-Event Showcase in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, November 17th, 2025:
The ninth edition of the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) will be held from January 22 to 25, 2026 at the Kozhikode beachfront, the city recognised as India’s first UNESCO City of Literature. Since its inception in 2016, KLF has grown into Asia’s largest and world’s most attended literary conclave, attracting more than 650,000 visitors and over 600 speakers in its previous edition and becoming one of India’s most anticipated cultural gathering where literature, ideas, art, music, cinema, and performance come together in an open and inclusive space.
Ahead of the upcoming festival, a dedicated campaign titled ‘An Event Beyond Words’ was introduced as part of efforts toward promoting the next edition among marketing professionals, advertising professionals, business influencers, and brand owners. As part of this campaign, a pre-event showcase was held in Bengaluru where details related to KLF 2026 were outlined for attendees.
The 2026 edition is set to be even more dynamic, presenting a wider range of voices and experiences that reflect the evolving landscape of global thought and creativity. Over four days, the festival will feature over 400 speakers and 250 sessions spread across seven parallel tracks, with ten sessions per track each day, 15 participating countries, followed by evening performances and musical events on Kozhikode beach. Each day will bring together readers, writers, and artists for discussions that move fluidly between genres and disciplines, turning Kozhikode into a city of ideas.
Building on this expansive format, KLF 2026 will host a remarkable gathering of Nobel Laureates, Booker Prize winners, historians, scientists, philosophers, activists, filmmakers, and artists, creating hundreds of sessions that explore both the familiar and the new. The conversations will span fiction and non-fiction, politics and history, folklore and contemporary culture, science and philosophy, reflecting the festival’s core belief that the exchange of ideas is the most powerful form of creativity. Among the confirmed speakers are Nobel Laureates Abdulrazak Gurnah, Olga Tokarczuk, and Abhijit Banerjee, Olympian Ben Johnson, business leader Indra Nooyi, artist and illustrator Cheyenne Olivier, writer Gabriela Ybarra, economist Arvind Subramanian, linguist and author Peggy Mohan, author and columnist Shobhaa De, writer and former diplomat Amish Tripathi, actor and singer Piyush Mishra, curator Helen Molesworth, writer and activist Banu Mushtaq, along with writer and journalist Deepa Bhasthi.
“KLF has evolved into a platform where literature and art coexist with science, cinema, and social thought. Every year, it becomes a meeting point for some of the most creative and courageous minds from around the world. The 2026 edition will continue this journey by deepening the exchange of ideas and celebrating cultural diversity,” said Ravi Deecee, Chief Facilitator, Kerala Literature Festival.
Germany has been announced as the Guest Nation for KLF 2026, bringing with it a programme of rich literary, artistic, and cultural expressions
“Germany shares a close historical relationship with Kerala and we are excited to reaffirm this relationship through our programming for Kerala Literature Festival,” said Michael Heinst, Director of Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore. “As the Guest Nation of KLF 2026, the German participation will feature a dedicated pavilion, a writing residency in Vagamon for German writers as well as a Creative Writing Workshop for young creatives writing in Malayalam. Together with our partners, the German Consulate and the Goethe-Zentrum in Trivandrum, we will bring German authors and writers to the warm sands of Kozhikode beach.”
The pavilion will highlight Germany’s literature, art, and creative industries, offering audiences a closer look at the country’s contemporary cultural identity. A spectacular light installation on Kozhikode Beach will serve as a visual centrepiece, symbolising the spirit of collaboration and cross-cultural exchange that KLF represents. Through curated sessions, exhibitions, and performances, the German presence will engage with Indian writers, artists, and audiences, fostering meaningful dialogues on literature, translation, art, and shared creative values.
The collaboration reflects KLF’s continued evolution as a global cultural platform that welcomes diversity, builds connections, and celebrates the many ways in which ideas travel across borders.
The country’s participation follows the success of France’s presence last year and adds another dimension to the festival’s growing international stature.
Reflecting the festival’s commitment to immersive cultural experiences, KLF 2026 will feature an extensive line-up of events that blend literature with live performance. Over four days, the Kozhikode beachfront will transform into a vibrant space for ideas, art, and community interaction. Alongside the day’s sessions, the evenings will offer an equally engaging cultural experience, with fusion nights, concerts, traditional and contemporary art showcases, and theatre performances that highlight Kerala’s artistic diversity. The beachfront setting adds to the festival’s charm, creating a welcoming atmosphere where people can read, listen, and celebrate creativity in every form.
“KLF has always stood for accessibility and openness. It allows conversations that connect people across languages, disciplines, and borders, reinforcing Kerala’s place on the global cultural map,” Ravi Deecee added.
As anticipation builds for Kerala Literature Festival 2026, Kozhikode once again prepares to welcome voices, stories, and audiences from around the world. Over four days, the festival will transform the city into a living celebration of creativity and human connection.