PVLF 2025

Kalinga Literary Festival Expands Globally, Announces 2026 Edition

Kalinga Literary Festival expands globally, announcing 2026 edition in Bhubaneswar and new events in Colombo, Bali, and Bhutan. Join the literary movement!
on Mar 31, 2025

The 11th edition of the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) ended on a high note, further cementing its position as one of South Asia's premier literary festivals. With over 100 sessions and over 400 specialist panelists, the festival this year gathered writers, poets, journalists, translators, policymakers, industry captains, civil society members, literary entrepreneurs, publishers, and book lovers to discuss literature, culture, arts, cinema, and geopolitics in an engaging manner. 12th Kalinga Literary Festival will take place on January 8 to 11, 2026, at Mayfair Hotel, Bhubaneswar.

KLF has announced the 4th Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival on October 11,12, 2024, at Kathmandu. The last day of the festival was attended by Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Shri Arun Sao, who delivered a valedictory address highlighting the abiding power of literature to build societies. He said: "Literature is the real mirror of society; it shows us our values, aspirations, and conflicts. A world without literature is unthinkable, for it is through literature that we transmit our civilization and heritage." Addressing the Temple City of Bhubaneswar, Sao also spoke about the strong cultural and historical bond between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, speaking about the 'Roti-Beti Ka Rishta', which reflects the common traditions, family relations, and cultural exchange between the two states.

KLF 2025: A Truly International Gathering

This year, Indonesia was the official Country Partner, marking a significant milestone in KLF’s expansion into South and Southeast Asian literary collaborations. The festival saw participation from a distinguished Nepalese delegation comprising poets, authors, and young voices, as well as representation from Sri Lanka, further strengthening the regional literary ecosystem.

KLF Expands Beyond Borders: Upcoming Editions in Colombo, Bali, and Bhutan

With increasing reach, KLF declared new international editions in Colombo, Bali, and Bhutan, besides its current presence in Kathmandu. These new expansions are designed to revive the historic literary and cultural links between India and South & Southeast Asia while consolidating discourse within Indian languages, indigenous culture, and new global literature. The new editions will concentrate on bridging civilizations, consolidating indigenous oral traditions of storytelling, and establishing cross-border literary interfaces.

Festival CEO Ashok Kumar Bal noted the festival's increasing reach:

"KLF has grown from being a literary festival—it is a global cultural movement. Our outreach to new venues will enable more meaningful engagement with regional writing, allowing greater intellectual and cultural cross-pollination between India and the world."

Festival Director Rashmi Ranjan Parida underscored KLF's twin mandate of making global literature available to Indian readers and showcasing Indian languages and literature globally:

This year's issue has been a milestone in introducing contemporary global writings to Indian readers and bringing Odia and Indian literature onto the world stage. KLF strives to consolidate literary networks within the Global South and facilitate an ongoing exchange between diverse literary traditions."

Recognizing Literary Excellence: Awards and Competitions

The festival ended with awards and prizes being awarded to student champions, identifying up-and-coming literary talent in different competitions. The last day also included parallel sessions on women entrepreneurs, cinema, arts, and regional cultural exchanges, further solidifying the interdisciplinary nature of the festival.

KLF 2026: Save the Dates

The 12th edition of Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF 2026) is scheduled to be organized from 8th January to 11th January 2026, at Mayfair, Bhubaneswar. While KLF continues its journey of literature and culture across nations, it abides by the commitment to honour the power of words, ideas, and narrative that bind civilizations.

Watch out for more details as KLF sets the trend for greater literary and cultural connect in the times to come!

About KLF: Ever since 2013, KLF has featured more than 6,000 speakers and performers, making it a melting pot of ideologies and imagination. Entering its 11th edition, KLF remains a soft power vehicle, showcasing Odisha and India on the global literary map. Meet us in Bhubaneswar this March for three days of impactful dialogue, creativity, and celebration.

Apart from its main festival, KLF has also conducted an international literary festival in Kathmandu since 2022, drawing a broad spectrum of speakers across various fields. In the future, KLF aims to have festivals in Colombo and Bali with the objective of reviving the ancient connection Kalinga had with Southeast Asian countries.

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