12th Kalinga Literary Festival 2026: Where Literature Meets AI, Geopolitics and Contemporary Global Discourse

The 12th Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) will take place from January 8 to 11, 2026, at Mayfair Lagoon in Bhubaneswar. Organized by the Odisha Diary Foundation, this globally recognized event has established itself as a premier gathering for literary minds and intellectuals from around the world.

The upcoming edition will showcase more than 400 distinguished speakers from India and international locations across five different venues. The festival's comprehensive program will address a wide spectrum of subjects, including fiction, poetry, historical narratives, scientific discussions, philosophical debates, and contemporary issues such as artificial intelligence, geopolitical developments, climate action initiatives, and mental health awareness.

KLF remains committed to honoring India's rich and diverse linguistic traditions and literary heritage. The initial roster of speakers features renowned personalities including Vikas Swarup, Anand Neelkanthan, Ram Madhav, Perumal Murugan, Divya Dutta, Preeti Shenoy, and Daisy Rockwell, among numerous others. This impressive lineup encompasses Booker Prize winners, Sahitya Akademi awardees, cultural historians, accomplished artists, and notable scientists.

Complementing the literary component, the 2026 KLF will also host the 10th Kalinga Art Festival, providing a platform for painters, sculptors, and various visual artists to showcase their creative expressions.

Ashok Kumar Bal, Writer, Festival Patron, and CEO, expressed, "Kalinga Literary Festival 2026 will be a landmark edition rooted in India's literary soul yet open to the winds of global thought. Our sessions will traverse the rich tapestry of human experience from mythology to machine learning, from village idioms to world literature. At a time when the written word is competing with the digital din, KLF stands as a reminder that storytelling remains humanity's most enduring technology."

This cultural initiative has a distinguished history dating back to 2012, having hosted over 5,000 speakers throughout its existence. Looking toward the future, festival organizers plan to expand their influence by establishing new international literary festivals in Colombo and Bali.