Old City, New Voices: Jaipur Literature Festival 2026 set to welcome global literary community

Jaipur, the Pink City, will once again welcome literary enthusiasts as the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) returns to its familiar grounds. From Jan 15 to 19, it will host thinkers, writers, and artists from across the globe for what is often described as a major celebration of books and ideas. This edition marks the 19th iteration of a festival that has grown from a local event into one of international note.

The much-anticipated event for literary exchange under the winter sun has attendees from diverse backgrounds participating in sessions and conversations across venues. As Jaipur prepares to host the event again, it continues to mark the beginning of the cultural calendar for many readers.

Hotel Clarks Amer has served as the official venue of JLF since 2022, following the festival's relocation from Diggi Palace, its long-time home. The larger site accommodates multiple sessions, book signings, open-air stages, food courts and commercial stalls over five days. Jaipur’s historical setting informs the festival’s character. The 2026 edition, presented by Vedanta, will continue to foster literary discourse and engage with relevant global themes.

Focus on languages and translations
Since its founding in 2006, the Festival has foregrounded linguistic diversity, translation and cross-cultural storytelling. It has hosted multilingual writers and translators, with sessions addressing Dalit literature, Partition narratives and translation ethics. The 2026 edition will expand this representation across Indian and international languages like Spanish, Arabic, Japanese and more. Dedicated sessions will examine the craft and politics of translation—from preserving endangered languages to the boom of Indian literature in global translation—and will spotlight prize-winning translators and bilingual authors.

The lineup this year includes Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Kailash Satyarthi, International Booker Prize winners Banu Mushtaq, Deepa Bhasthi and Daisy Rockwell, and author-politician Dr Karan Singh. Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski will also participate, alongside festival directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple. Sessions will span geopolitics, science, poetry, fiction and storytelling.

"We speak in many tongues and celebrate multilingual discourse, from the worlds of Japanese manga to the heritage of India’s twenty-two national languages. We are inspired by the rich diversity of our planet and the worlds beyond,” says Gokhale. “And as always, we share this excitement with the inspirations of some of the greatest writers on our planet, and those who still await discovery," she adds.

Accessible to all
JLF 2026 will offer multiple access options, with general registration starting at Rs 200 and student passes priced at Rs 100 for five days. A ‘Friend of the Festival’ package, starting at Rs 14,000, provides access to reserved facilities. The festival also features the First India News Jaipur Music Stage, with tickets starting at Rs 499. BluOne Ink presents Jaipur BookMark, a publishing conclave for industry professionals, with passes priced at Rs 1,500


Registrations for JLF 2026 are open on its official website (www.jaipurliteraturefestival.org). A virtual attendance option will also be available for those unable to attend in person.