The famous Kerala Literature Festival is back for its ninth edition. It will be held next year from January 22 to 25 in Kozhikode, which is India’s first UNESCO City of Literature. Asia’s most-attended literature festival is all set to return with four days of ideas, performances and conversations. Here are all the deets you should know if you are planning to attend.
Kerala Literature Festival Returns With Its 9th Edition
Before we get into the details of the ninth edition, let’s understand what this festival is all about. The Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) is an annual literary event held every year on the beaches of Kozhikode. The city is recognised as India’s first UNESCO City of Literature. The festival features hundreds of speakers from various countries. All of them come together for a wide range of sessions, discussions and performances to celebrate literature.
One of Asia’s largest and the world’s most-attended literary conclaves, this lit-fest attracted over 650,000 visitors and over 600 speakers in its previous edition. The ninth edition is expected to be even more exciting and dynamic. It will be held from January 22 to 25, 2026, at the Kozhikode beachfront. There will be discussions, conversations and performances related to literature, ideas, art, music, cinema and more. The festival will surely leave you with an open mind and a fresh perspective on so many things!
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What To Expect At KLF 2026?
The 2026 edition of the Kerala Literature Festival will be celebrated over four days. It will feature over 400 speakers and 250 sessions spread across seven parallel tracks. There will be 10 sessions per track each day, with 15 participating countries. Visitors can also expect evening performances and musical events on Kozhikode beach. Each day will bring together readers, writers and artists for inclusive and engaging discussions that will literally turn Kozhikode into a city of ideas.
KLF 2026 will also host an impressive gathering of Nobel laureates, Booker Prize winners, historians, scientists, philosophers, activists, filmmakers, artists and more. The sessions will explore both fictional and non-fictional themes along with history, folklore, culture and ideas that shape society. All of this reflects the powerful exchange of ideas at this much-anticipated festival.
Among the confirmed speakers are Nobel laureates Abdulrazak Gurnah and Olga Tokarczuk, Abhijit Banerjee, Olympian Ben Johnson, and business leader Indra Nooyi. Artist and illustrator Cheyenne Olivier will also be present. Writer Gabriela Ybarra, economist Arvind Subramanian, linguist and author Peggy Mohan, and author and columnist Shobhaa De are expected to attend as speakers. Visitors can also expect writer Amish Tripathi, actor and singer Piyush Mishra, curator Helen Molesworth, writer and activist Banu Mushtaq, and journalist Deepa Bhasthi at the KLF 2026.
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So, are you planning to attend the Kerala Literature Festival next year?
Where: Kozhikode Beach, Kerala, India
When: January 22-25, 2026
Cost: Free for general attendees; ₹99 for KLF Companion
Cover Image Courtesy: Supplied