India's January Literary Festivals: Celebrating Storytelling, Inclusivity, and Intellectual Engagement

January has long been India’s most vibrant month for literary and storytelling gatherings, bringing together writers, performers, thinkers, and audiences from across the country and beyond. From oral storytelling and folklore to contemporary literature and cultural dialogue, these January festivals create spaces where ideas are exchanged, voices are amplified, and narratives come alive through words, music, and performance. 1. Udaipur International Storytelling Festival Udaipur Tales International Storytelling Festival, India’s one-of-a-kind international oral storytelling festival, proudly announces the return of its 7th edition in the scenic city of Udaipur. This unique festival celebrates diverse storytelling genres such as contemporary, romance, dastangoi, historical, mystery, horror, thriller, and folk traditions, among others. Dates: 9–11 January 2026 Venue: Park Exotica Resort City: Udaipur The 2026 festival lineup includes Divya Dutta, Rajit Kapur, Arif Zakaria, Divy Nidhi Sharma, Meiyang Chang, Danish Hussain, Mayur Kalbag, Prithwiraj Choudhury, Geetika Lidder, Vilas Janve, Jyoti Pandey, and others. Each artist brings a distinctive interpretation of storytelling, spanning theatre and cinema, folklore, poetry, music, fantasy, and contemporary narratives. In a remarkable step towards inclusivity, the festival will also host performances by inmates from Udaipur’s Central Jail, who will share their stories and music on stage. With sign-language interpreters, participation from blind school students, and honours for master storytellers, the festival embodies accessibility and inclusion. Emerging voices will be celebrated through the open-mic segment Jamghat and children’s storytelling competitions. Whether you’re a passionate storyteller or a lover of timeless narratives, the Udaipur Tales International Storytelling Festival promises a space where every story finds a home. Tickets are available on the BookMyShow website. 2. Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) A major literary gathering in eastern India, the Kalinga Literary Festival showcases more than 400 speakers across multiple venues. Sessions span literature, poetry, philosophy, science, and the arts, while also addressing contemporary issues such as AI, climate change, and geopolitics, fostering wide-ranging intellectual engagement. The confirmed lineup includes Booker Prize winners Deepa Bhasthi, Banu Mushtaq, and Daisy Rockwell, alongside Indian literary heavyweights such as Vikas Swarup, Anand Neelakantan, Perumal Murugan, and poet-critic Ranjit Hoskote. Dates: 8–11 January 2026 Venue: Mayfair Lagoon City: Bhubaneswar 3. Jaipur Literature Festival 2026 One of the world’s most celebrated literary gatherings, the Jaipur Literature Festival brings together authors, thinkers, artists, and readers from across the globe for talks, debates, workshops, readings, and music. The festival also features Jaipur BookMark, a dedicated publishing industry platform, along with live performances. The 19th edition’s lineup includes Jeet Thayil, Kiran Desai, Esther Duflo, and Ian Hislop, among others. Dates: 15–19 January 2026 Venue: Hotel Clarks Amer City: Jaipur 4. Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF 2026) A long-running festival held along Park Street, the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival features over 100 speakers, book launches, storytelling sessions, and special children’s programmes. It remains a vibrant event for readers of all ages and a highlight of the January literary calendar in eastern India. Dates: 9–11 January 2026 Venue: Allen Park and Park Street City: Kolkata 5. Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF 2026) A community-focused celebration of literature, culture, and Indian writing, the Hyderabad Literary Festival features author talks, panel discussions, and interactive sessions. Dates: 24–26 January 2026 Swipe Left For Next Video Venue: Sattva Knowledge City, HITEC City