Jaipur Literature Festival 2026 Presented by Vedanta Unveils First List of Speakers
The 19th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival, recognised globally as the “greatest literary show on earth,” returns to the Pink City of Jaipur in Rajasthan from 15th to 19th January 2026 at Hotel Clarks Amer.
For nearly two decades, the festival has been an empowering space where books and ideas intersect, bringing together award-winning writers, thinkers, artists, and readers from around the world. The 2026 edition promises yet another unforgettable experience – a commingling of literary discourse, inspirational dialogue, robust debate, along with musical performances, art installations, satellite events, craft, cuisine, and a glorious coming together of people – all of which reaffirm the Festival’s iconic stature. The Festival is presented by Vedanta and produced by Teamwork Arts.
As Presenting Partner, Vedanta champions innovation through culture, creativity, and global dialogue. This collaboration with the Jaipur Literature Festival reflects Vedanta’s belief in the power of ideas to inspire new thinking and shape a better world. The 19th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival will feature over 350 speakers across six venues, curating an expansive programme that traverses fiction, poetry, history, art, science, math, medicine, mental health, climate action, business, geopolitics and conflict, gender and translations, cinema, race, identity and more, weaving in the enduring power of storytelling. At its core, the Festival remains deeply committed to championing linguistic and cultural diversity, reinforcing the spirit of inclusivity and India’s vast and mighty literary heritage.
The first list of announced speakers features a distinguished roster of celebrated voices from India and across the globe: Anamika, Anand Neelakantan, Anuradha Roy, Banu Mushtaq, Bhawana Somaaya, Edward Luce, Eleanor Barraclough, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Hallie Rubenhold, Harleen Singh Sandhu, Helen Molesworth, Jon Lee Anderson, Jung Chang, K. R. Meera, Kate Mosse, Kim Ghattas, Manu Joseph, Olga Tokarczuk, Timothy Berners-Lee, Rashmi Narzary, Ruchir Joshi, Salma, Shobhaa Dé, Stephen Fry, and Vishwanathan Anand. From Nobel laureates and Booker awardees to sports icons, historians, cultural experts, political analysts, and storytellers, the line-up is a galaxy of stalwart writers, thinkers and experts.
Namita Gokhale, writer and Festival Co-Director, said: The Jaipur Literature Festival 2026 promises to be a vintage edition. Our sessions and themes traverse cultures and continents while keeping a special focus on the rich diversity of Indian languages and literature. We examine the changing realities of our world, in geopolitical flashpoints, in emergent realities of AI, in the articulation of language and the fluidity of literary formats. The Jaipur BookMark takes us to the core issues of publishing and the business of books. January – when the world visits Jaipur and Jaipur visits the world.
William Dalrymple, historian, author and Festival Co-Director, said: “The Jaipur Literature Festival is a celebration of the written word & oral tradition, a testament to the power of stories & literature to inspire and connect. This year, as we gather once more in the Pink City, we look forward to welcoming an unmatched lineup of genius writers, thinkers, and dreamers from across the world. It is a carnival of literature that promises to ignite ideas of both writing & reading.
Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, said “The Jaipur Literature Festival has become a global festival synonymous with culture, creativity, and collaboration. In our 19th year we continue to celebrate literature as a powerful platform for storytelling that resonates with audiences worldwide. It offers unparalleled opportunities for our visitors, partners, sponsors, and stakeholders to connect, discuss and engage with innovation and ideas. It is more than a festival, it is a cultural movement that connects societies and inspires empathy and understanding.”
Alongside its core programming, the festival will also host the 13th edition of Jaipur BookMark (JBM), the leading B2B platform for publishers, literary agents, translators and writers, driving industry collaboration and global exchange. The festival celebrates culture and built heritage with a signature evening held against the backdrop of the majestic Amer Fort, and the Jaipur Music Stage, featuring performances by leading Indian and international musicians, bringing rhythm, energy, and celebration to Festival evenings. For 19 years, the Jaipur Literature Festival has remained a democratic, inclusive, and non-aligned space for dialogue, intellectual engagement, and cultural celebration.
Save the Dates: 15–19 January 2026
Venue: Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur
For more details, visit: www.jaipurliteraturefestival.org
About Jaipur Literature Festival
Described as the ‘greatest literary show on Earth’, the Jaipur Literature Festival is a sumptuous feast of ideas. The past 18 years have seen it transform into a global literary phenomenon, having hosted nearly 2000 speakers and welcoming over a million book lovers from across India and the globe.
Every year, the Festival brings together a diverse mix of the world’s greatest writers, thinkers, humanitarians, politicians, business leaders, sports people and entertainers on one stage to champion the freedom to express and engage in thoughtful debate and dialogue. Writers and Festival Directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple, alongside Festival producer Teamwork Arts, invite speakers to take part in the five-day programme set in the historic and dynamic state capital Jaipur.
The Festival has featured eminent speakers from various fields, including Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, Booker Prize winners, Sahitya Akademi Awardees, JCB and Baillie Gifford winners. With its rich tapestry of voices and ideas, musical performances, art installations, an artisanal shopping space, food stalls and a host of satellite events, the Festival continues to inspire and captivate attendees worldwide.
The 18th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival was a grand success, fostering literary thought and engaging with the most pertinent global themes. The Festival continues to be a forum for diverse perspectives and meaningful exchange and is a premier space for intellectual engagement, where ideas are debated and stories shared. The 19th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival will be held from 15th-19th January 2026, at Jaipur’s Hotel Clarks Amer and will host an impressive line-up of insightful sessions, performances, book signings, and the simultaneously held Jaipur BookMark and Jaipur Music Stage.
About Teamwork Arts
Teamwork Arts, India’s pioneering arts company, crafting cultural experiences for over 30 years, has taken India to the world and brought the world to India, presenting the finest of Indian performers, writers, change makers and visual artists to the forefront. Every year, we produce over 33 festivals in 45 cities and 19 countries in the fields of performing & visual arts, knowledge and literature.
We produce the world’s largest literary gathering: the annual Jaipur Literature Festival; JLF international now travels to the US, UK, and Europe. Through its digital avatar, the Jaipur Literature Festival reached over 35 million viewers in January 2024. Some key offerings among our digital and hybrid endeavours are – Art Matters, that empowers artists across India to collaborate by commissioning them to create new works, and Be Inspired: Fast tracking the future, that changes the narrative of scientific possibility to innovation. Two new milestones were added to our festival repertoire in 2024 – the Jaigarh Heritage Festival in Jaipur, celebrating India’s regal past and rich legacy of art, culture and architecture, and Voices of Faith in London, exploring the philosophies of faith to find a way towards collective empathy and understanding.