Sunita Williams, Jimmy Wales, Ben Johnson at KLF 2026
Over the years, KLF has evolved into one of India’s most influential cultural platforms, and KLF 2026 will host over 400 speakers from 18 countries.
The Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) is set to return from January 22 to 25, 2026, with what promises to be one of its most exciting editions bringing together some of the world’s most influential writers, thinkers, and change-makers to Kozhikode’s iconic beachfront. The festival will be inaugurated by Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala Chief Minister.
Over the years, KLF has evolved into one of India’s most influential cultural platforms, and KLF 2026 will host over 400 speakers from 18 countries, including the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Slovakia, Japan, Belgium, and Nigeria, making it a truly global celebration of literature.
Organised by the DC Kizhakemuri Foundation and DC Books, KLF has also emerged as a major driver of tourism and local economic activity. A recent impact assessment shows that the festival generates an economic impact of approximately Rs 130 crores, directly benefiting hotels, homestays, transport services, restaurants, street vendors, artisans, and local businesses. With over 6.5 lakh visitors expected over four days, KLF has firmly positioned Kozhikode as a global destination for ideas.
A highlight of KLF 2026 will be the presence of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, whose participation marks a landmark moment in the festival’s nine-year history. Another significant highlight of this edition is the participation of Germany as the guest nation. The festival will present a specially curated programme featuring contemporary German writers, thinkers, and artists. Developed in partnership with the Goethe-Institut under the leadership of Dr Michael Heinst, this collaboration began ahead of the festival with a German Writers’ Residency in Vagamon and a creative writing workshop for young writers working in Malayalam.
During the festival, a dedicated German pavilion will serve as the cultural heart of this engagement, hosting literary showcases, workshops, conversations, culinary experiences, music performances, and theatre. A special light installation at the Kozhikode beachfront will further mark this partnership.
The 2026 programme will be driven by a rich mix of headline conversations, literary debates, and cross-disciplinary dialogues. Among key highlights, Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah will lead a series of major conversations on January 24 on “Theft Without Violence: The Quiet Violence of Post-Colonial Lives” and “The Intimate and Infinite: The Currents, the Merchants, Maps and Refugees of the Indian Ocean World,” besides appearing in conversation with Kiran Desai on “Exiles and Echoes.” Shashi Tharoor will anchor two significant sessions, “Our Living Constitution” and “The Sage Who Reimagined Hinduism: The Life, Lessons and Legacy of Sri Narayana Guru,” while Kiran Desai will be in focus with her spellbinding The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny.
Beyond these, KLF 2026 will feature Abhijit Banerjee, Romila Thapar, Shobhaa De, Pico Iyer, Pratibha Ray, Banu Mushtaq, Peggy Mohan, Martin Goodman, Daisy Rockwell, Rohan Bopanna, Ben Johnson, Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia founder), and others.
Speaking about the upcoming edition, Ravi Deecee, Chief Facilitator, Kerala Literature Festival, said, “KLF has always been imagined as a space where the world’s ideas meet the public in the most open and democratic way. Over the years, it has grown into something far larger than a festival; it has become a cultural movement that shapes conversations, attracts young audiences, and transforms the way a city and a region engages with ideas. The 2026 edition reflects this spirit.”
For more information, visit: www.keralaliteraturefestival.com.
