Jaipur, Jan 15: The 19th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), often hailed as the “Greatest Literary Show on Earth,” officially commenced today, January 15, 2026, at the Hotel Clarks Amer. Under the winter sun of the Pink City, thousands of bibliophiles, students, and global thinkers have gathered for a five-day intellectual carnival that continues to redefine the boundaries of literature, politics, and science.
The festival was inaugurated by Co-Directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple, alongside Managing Director Sanjoy K. Roy. This year’s theme, “Old City, New Voices,” highlights the festival’s commitment to linguistic diversity and the evolving nature of storytelling in the digital age.
The 2026 lineup is particularly star-studded, featuring:
- Nobel Laureates: Economist Esther Duflo and child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi.
- Literary Giants: Stephen Fry, Booker Prize-winner Kiran Desai (discussing her latest work, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny), and Nobel novelist Olga Tokarczuk.
- Global Icons: World Wide Web pioneer Tim Berners-Lee and chess legend Viswanathan Anand.
While fiction remains the heart of JLF, the 2026 sessions are tackling some of the most pressing issues of the mid-2020s:
- The Future of Intelligence: Extensive panels on AI and creativity, exploring how large language models are shifting the landscape for authors and poets.
- The Politics of Translation: A dedicated focus on “Indian Literature in Global Translation,” featuring International Booker winners Daisy Rockwell and Banu Mushtaq.
- Geopolitics & Identity: Former Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Polish Deputy PM Radosław Sikorski are scheduled to discuss the shifting power dynamics between the East and West.
The atmosphere at Hotel Clarks Amer is electric. Beyond the major speaking venues like the Vedanta Front Lawn and Charbagh, the festival offers a multisensory experience:
- Jaipur Music Stage: Evening performances blending folk, Sufi, and contemporary genres.
- Jaipur BookMark (JBM): South Asia’s largest publishing conclave, where industry leaders are debating the ethics of digital rights and the resurgence of physical bookstores.
- Bazaar & Food: A vibrant marketplace showcasing Rajasthani handicrafts and a culinary spread that mirrors the diversity of the attendees.
Accessibility and Global Reach
Continuing its tradition of inclusivity, JLF 2026 remains accessible to all. While “Friend of the Festival” packages offer luxury lounges and private dinners, student passes are priced at a subsidized rate of ₹100, ensuring that the next generation of thinkers is at the forefront of the conversation. For those unable to travel to Jaipur, a robust virtual platform is streaming key sessions to a global audience of millions.