JAMMU, Sep 1: As the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) prepares for its landmark 20th edition in January 2027, the globally recognised literary platform is celebrating two decades of bringing together writers, thinkers, artists and readers to engage with books, ideas and conversations that shape contemporary society.
With the continued support of the Government of Rajasthan, the 20th edition of the festival will be held in Jaipur from January 14 to 18, 2027, under the theme “20 Years of Ideas. Stories. Conversations.”
Since its inception in 2008, the festival has grown from a gathering of writers and readers in Jaipur into an internationally recognised literary and cultural platform. According to the organisers, JLF has hosted more than 8,000 writers, speakers and artists, welcomed over 5 million visitors on-ground and reached an estimated 1 billion-plus audiences through digital platforms, broadcast partnerships and media networks.
Over the past two decades, the festival has helped bring literature and intellectual discourse into wider public conversations. Its open and accessible format has enabled audiences beyond traditional publishing and academic circles to engage with books, ideas and diverse perspectives.
The festival has also developed an international presence, with more than 15 editions across countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, Australia, the Middle East, Maldives and Ireland. Through this expanding global network, JLF has sought to connect India’s literary traditions with international audiences while bringing global ideas into dialogue with Indian perspectives.
The festival has featured prominent voices from literature, culture and public life, including Nobel Laureates, Booker Prize winners, heads of state, economists, philosophers, artists and global thinkers. Its programming has expanded beyond literature to encompass history, politics, science, economics, philosophy, gender studies, health, migration, environment and contemporary culture.
A key aspect of JLF’s journey has been its commitment to multilingual storytelling and cultural diversity. Through multilingual programming, translation initiatives and sessions involving writers from different linguistic traditions, the festival has provided greater visibility to regional voices and encouraged cross-cultural and cross-linguistic exchange.
As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, the festival’s announcement has also been released simultaneously in all 22 official languages of India, reinforcing its emphasis on linguistic plurality and accessibility.
Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director, Teamwork Arts and Producer, Jaipur Literature Festival, said the festival was built on the belief that books and ideas could bring people together, adding that its journey had been sustained by writers, audiences and a commitment to dialogue across languages, cultures and perspectives.
Namita Gokhale, Festival Co-Director, highlighted India’s literary heritage and linguistic diversity and said the milestone edition would pay tribute to the country’s many languages through the Bhasha Swarmala series.
Preeta Singh, President, Teamwork Arts, said the festival had grown into a leading global literary and cultural platform while remaining rooted in books, ideas and meaningful dialogue. She emphasised the importance of partnerships and collaborations in taking the festival into its next chapter.
The organisers said the continued support of the Government of Rajasthan, dating back to the festival’s inception, has played an important role in its growth. The festival has, in turn, helped position Jaipur and Rajasthan prominently within global literary and cultural conversations.
As JLF enters its third decade, its organisers said the festival will continue working towards making literature and ideas more accessible, participatory and relevant across generations, languages and geographies.