The Literature Festivals & Book Fairs of India

Literature festivals– a gathering of writers, readers, and book lovers – are undoubtedly the highlights of any bibliophile. So, if you happen to be one too along with a traveller, we’ve got you covered. Listing here is the list of popular Literary Festivals and Book Fairs that held annually in India throughout the year!

New Delhi World Book Fair

The New Delhi World Book Fair, hosted at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, is India's oldest book fair after the Kolkata Book Fair. The first New Delhi World Book Fair was held from March 18 to April 4, 1972, in roughly 6790 m² area with 200 participants. It was inaugurated by V. V. Giri, then President of India.

Jaipur Literature Festival

It was founded in 2006. It is the world's largest free literary festival. The ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival is one of its kind of festival and is often described as the largest free literary show in the world. In the five-day event that is organized, observed and celebrated, authors and dignitaries from across the world and especially the South East Asian countries participate and engage with crowds on various issues and partake in readings, debates and discussions with them or with each other. 

Goa Arts and Literature Festival

From its inception in 2010, the unique, homegrown, volunteer-driven and non-profit Goa Arts and Literature Festival (GALF). GALF was founded to celebrate the margins, taking inspiration from an idea developed by the late Eunice de Souza, a renowned poet of Goan origin, that there are ‘different ways of belonging,’ and has a consistent emphasis on writers and artists from Goa, from India’s North-East and Kashmir, as well as from countries like Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. GALF has also devoted substantial attention to themes such as Dalit writing, poetry, graphic novels, and translations. GALF is held annually at The International Centre Goa, in the first half of December.

International Kolkata Book Fair

The International Kolkata Book Fair and officially Antarjatik Kolkata Boimela or Antarjatik Kolkata Pustakmela in Romanized Bengali, is a winter fair in Kolkata. It is a unique book fair in the sense of not being a trade fair—the book fair is primarily for the general public rather than whole-sale distributors. It is the world's largest non-trade book fair, Asia's largest book fair and the most attended book fair. It is the world's third-largest annual conglomeration of books after the Frankfurt Book Fair and the London Book Fair. The fair offers a typical fairground experience with a book flavour—with picnickers, singer-songwriters, and candy floss vendors. With a total footfall of over 2 million people, it is the world's largest book fair by attendance.

The Lucknow Literary Festival 

The Lucknow Literary Festival is an international literary festival held annually in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India since 2013. The first-ever Lucknow Literary Festival was an endeavour of the LUCKNOW Society. Lucknow Literary Festival acknowledges new literary talents, honours our legends while restoring the literary tradition of the past, Lucknow’s own unique heritage and also evoking the newer generation’s interest. The event is also replete with entertainment for the literary taste. 

Khushwant Singh Literature Festival

This literature festival named after the legendary writer began as a tribute in 2012 and has recently been done with its eighth edition this year. It is annually held every October. It was the first Litfest in Himachal and also the first to be held in a military cantonment. It has put Kasauli on the literary map of India and made the Kasauli Club famous. The festival hosts sessions with writers taking place on one side of the hill, the other has musical entertainment taking place alongside. 

Chennai Book Fair

The First Madras Book Fair was organized in Madras between 14 and 24 December 1977, by The Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI), an association of major publishing companies of Tamil Nadu. The Chennai Book Festival 2014 is nothing short of a cultural euphoria with 700 stalls, over 5 lakh titles including both Tamil and English and 10 lakh prospective audiences. It has already drawn the attention of celebrity orators and movie stars, pioneers from the education, manufacturing and service industry. They have expressed their willingness in active participation by creating awareness about the event and keeping the buzz alive in all types of forums – physical and virtual.

Valley of Words, Dehradun

Held smack in the middle of the hills, this literary fest started in 2016 and brings together the best writers, critics and listeners from the worlds of fiction, non-fiction and poetry in a three-day Literature and Arts Festival in the quaint town of Dehradun. Valley of Words has held two successful festivals, with the third one being organized this year in November. Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, Dehradun offers an inspirational blend of culture and natural beauty to bring together artists and authors from across the world.

Bangalore Literature Festival

Held in ‘Namma Bangaluru,’ this literature festival takes place in November every year and takes a deep plunge into the literary scene in the city. It has an array of international and Indian authors who come together to share their experiences and stories. The biggest event of the festival is the quiz, which excited bibliophiles from across the country attend. The quiz begins with written entries and the top 20 teams are chosen to compete in a round of intense literary questions that lead to a winning team.

Military Literature Festival, Chandigarh

The Military Literature Festival is quite an experience, a one-of-a-kind festival that has not just literary discussions and authors present but also celebrates the military of India, predominantly the Punjab Regiment since 2016. Panel Discussions, Clarion Call, Military Combat Episodes, Off-Roading Show, Sky Divers Drop Zone Landing, Bird Watching, Vintage Car Rally, Saragarghi Light and Sound Show, Equitation Tattoos and Arena Polo Match, Army Dog Squad Display, Army Equipment and Weapons Display, Paramotor and Micro Light Aircraft Display, Wreath Laying and Brave Heart Ride. It has everything and is a literary carnival!

Queensline Lit Fest, Mumbai

Queensline Lit Fest hosted by the cruise line, Queensline is in its debut edition and is already in news. ‘Queensline Lit Fest’ gives literature lovers an opportunity to share their love for books in the middle of the sea. The three-day festival witnessed incredible storytelling by some of India’s creative minds of India. The festival took place onboard Mumbai’s brand-new addresses on the sea: Queensline Neverland and Queensline Sea YAH— ships that can each accommodate 400 people was a hot spot for literary debates and discussions.