Bhubaneswar, the vibrant temple city, is abuzz with excitement as it prepares to host the 12th annual Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF). Scheduled from January 8 to January 11, 2026, at the beautiful Mayfair Lagoon, this edition promises an extraordinary gathering of influential writers and profound thinkers.
Organized by the Odisha Diary Foundation and Kalinga Literary Festival Private Limited, KLF 2026 will unfold across five distinct venues. The festival boasts an impressive lineup of more than 400 eminent speakers and thought leaders, both from India and across the globe.
The festival’s scope is remarkably broad, exploring every facet of human intellectual pursuit—from engaging fiction and poignant poetry to deep dives into history and heritage, insightful discussions on science and sustainability, and critical examinations of philosophy and public policy, alongside showcases of art and activism. Key themes for this year include timely topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), geopolitics, mental health awareness, climate action, gender identity, and the art of translation, as announced by the KLF organizers.
Attendees can also look forward to dedicated sessions celebrating literature, philosophy, various art forms, music, cinema, and the sciences.
This prestigious event will feature celebrated Booker Prize winners, including Banu Mushtaq, Deepa Bhasthi, and Daisy Rockwell. They will be joined by other prominent literary figures such as Perumal Murugan and Anand Neelkanthan, ensuring a diverse and stimulating intellectual exchange.
KLF truly embodies diversity and dynamism, bringing together Booker and Sahitya Akademi awardees, alongside cultural historians, visual artists, diplomats, scientists, and master storytellers, all contributing to a rich cultural mosaic.
Ashok Kumar Bal, Festival Patron and CEO, remarked, “Kalinga Literary Festival 2026 is poised to be a landmark event, deeply rooted in India’s rich literary traditions while warmly embracing global perspectives. Our sessions will weave through the vast expanse of human experience, from ancient myths to cutting-edge machine learning, and from local idioms to world literature. In an age where digital noise often overshadows the written word, KLF stands as a powerful testament to storytelling as humanity’s most enduring and vital technology.”
Beyond its literary offerings, KLF 2026 will also proudly present the 10th edition of the Kalinga Art Festival. This parallel event will gather talented painters, sculptors, and visual storytellers for a spectacular exhibition of creative expression.
Since its inception in 2012, KLF has been a vibrant hub, hosting over 5,000 speakers and performers, and fostering a unique melting pot of ideas and creative energy.
Building on its success, KLF has expanded its reach, organizing an international literary festival in Kathmandu since 2022, which has drawn a diverse array of speakers. Looking ahead, KLF plans to further extend its global presence by hosting festivals in Colombo and Bali, aiming to revive the historic cultural connections that ancient Kalinga shared with Southeast Asian nations.