November in Mumbai has its own rhythm: skies scrubbed clean, the air just sharp enough to remind you that the year is turning, and the city’s literary faithful flocking to Nariman Point. This is when Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest, backed by the Godrej Industries Group, takes over the NCPA for three days, from 7 to 9 November 2025, marking its 16th edition.
Mumbai LitFest 2025: Dates, Venue, And 16th Edition Highlights
The scale is characteristically iconic and awe-inspiring. Think about it: more than 100 writers, thinkers, and performers representing over 10 countries! They are all ready to pull audiences into conversations that cross genres and disciplines, such as fiction, poetry, science, philosophy, history, health, business, and of course, the endlessly examined heart of the city itself, Mumbai.
The guest list this year is a mix of familiar firebrands and intriguing newcomers. You’ll spot Anindita Ghose, Jeet Thayil, Shashi Tharoor, Shobhaa De, Shubhangi Swarup, Sitanshu Yashaschandra, Jerry Pinto, and Shabnam Minwalla holding ground for Indian literature.On the other hand, Shehan Karunatilaka, Omar Musa, Christian Stöcker, and Yang Shuang-zi will carry the international flag.
Chief Justice Dhananjay Chandrachud, Nobel laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, journalist Faye D’Souza, theatre veteran Lillete Dubey, and wellness coach Luke Coutinho will also be gracing the event to ensure the conversations stretch far beyond the page.
The Lifetime Achievement, Poet Laureate, and Literary Awards will be presented; the Great Debate promises sparks; and the Book in Focus sessions, workshops, book launches, and outdoor performances will animate every corner of the NCPA. In another important strand, college campuses across the city will see their own LitFest programming, making sure younger readers are pulled into the fray.
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Legacy Of Literature Live! And Past Iconic Speakers
Running parallel, as always, is the children’s carnival-within-a-festival: The Little Festival, crafted with the H T Parekh Foundation. Over 7 and 8 November, it will bring young audiences face-to-face with interactive sessions, performances, and the announcement of the Binod Kanoria Awards for Children’s Literature.
Festival Co-Director Amy Fernandes reflected on its journey: “Each year since 2009, the festival has shaped itself into an ever-evolving entity that the city has come to love. We are honoured to continue the legacy created by our founder, Anil Dharker: a marvellous feast for the mind and soul.”
Her counterpart, Quasar Thakore Padamsee, a co-director since the very beginning, framed it differently: “Engaging with contrasting thoughts and writing is more crucial than ever today. Having been part of this journey since its inception, I can say the festival has grown into a veritable city institution.”
All You Need To Know
For Nadir Godrej, Chairman and Managing Director of the Godrej Industries Group, the festival’s endurance is key: “A homegrown, world-class international literary festival that has stood the test of time, Literature Live! has done Mumbai proud. We are very pleased to support it as it enters its sixteenth year.”
That pride is justified. Over the years, the stage has welcomed an extraordinary roster, such as Salman Rushdie, Amitav Ghosh, Margaret Drabble, Pico Iyer, Ruskin Bond, Jane Goodall, Gulzar, Steven Pinker, Sudha Murty, Amitabh Bachchan, and dozens more.
Where: NCPA (National Centre for the Performing Arts), Nariman Point, Mumbai
When: 7-9 November 2025
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With names like these in its history, and another compelling line-up ahead, the 2025 LitFest seems destined to once again turn Mumbai into an iconic meeting place of words, arguments, and ideas.
Cover Image Courtesy: Supplied
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