New Delhi, Jan 29: The 14th edition of the annual Delhi Literature Festival (DLF) returns with renewed purpose and intellectual vibrancy, reaffirming its position as one of India’s most inclusive and dynamic platforms for ideas, dialogue, and cultural exchange. To be held from 6–8 February 2026 at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Janpath, the festival will bring together some of the most influential voices from literature, culture, public life, and the arts. The festival will be inaugurated on Friday, 6 February 2026 at 6:00 PM by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Union Minister for Culture & Tourism as the Chief Guest.
Rooted in the theme “Sahitya, Sanskriti aur Samriddhi”, the festival celebrates the enduring power of literature to shape culture and contribute meaningfully to societal progress. Bringing together eminent authors, thinkers, poets, policymakers, artists, and young voices from across India and the world, the Delhi Literature Festival seeks to foster thoughtful conversations that bridge tradition and modernity. Through engaging sessions, discussions, readings, and performances, the festival aims to inspire critical thinking, nurture creativity, and highlight the vital role of literature and culture in building a more informed, empathetic, and prosperous society.
Over three days, the festival will host authors, poets, jurists, policymakers, diplomats, artists, and young thought leaders from India and abroad, offering a rich confluence of conversations, readings, performances, and reflections that explore the intersection of literature, culture, and societal progress. The theme underscores the belief that literature (Sahitya) and culture (Sanskriti) together form the bedrock of holistic prosperity (Samriddhi) – one that extends beyond material wealth to include intellectual depth, social harmony, and creative abundance.
The 2026 edition also coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Spain, being commemorated as the India–Spain Dual Year of Culture, Tourism, and Artificial Intelligence, adding a significant global dimension to the festival’s cultural dialogue.
Guests of Honour include Smt. Rekha Gupta, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi; Shri Kapil Mishra, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister for Culture & Tourism, Delhi; Sushri Bansuri Swaraj, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha); and Dr. Meenakshi Jain, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha).
Keynote addresses will be delivered by Shri Keshav Chandra, Hon’ble Chairman, NDMC; Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary and Executive & Academic Head, IGNCA; and Shri K. Satish Nambudiripad, Director General, Doordarshan. A special address will be delivered by Mr. Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO India.
The festival will culminate in the Delhi Literature Festival Author Awards 2026, recognising outstanding contributions to literature and thought leadership.
The speaker lineup for Delhi Literature Festival 2026 comprises some of the most revered voices of our time, such as Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, former Chief Justice of India; Vinod Kumar Shukla; Acharya Prashant; Rahul Pandita; Shalini Passi; Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri; Rahul Bhattacharya; Dr. Mani Rao; Nilotpal Mrinal; and Shambhu Shikhar, among others – representing a powerful amalgamation of literature, law, spirituality, journalism, art, and social thought.
With its expansive vision, distinguished speakers, and strong cultural ethos, the Delhi Literature Festival & Author Awards 2026 promises to be a landmark celebration of ideas, one that reinforces the enduring relevance of literature and culture in building a more endearing, thoughtful, compassionate and thriving society.
