The literary world’s favorite gathering, the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), is turning the page to yet another exciting chapter. Presented by Vedanta, the Festival has announced its second list of speakers for its 19th edition, which will run from January 15–19, 2026, at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur. The newest lineup underscores what JLF has always been about — an eclectic celebration of books, ideas, and the boundless curiosity that unites readers and writers around the world.
The second announcement adds a dazzling array of thinkers, artists, and storytellers to the roster. Names include CERN physicist Archana Sharma, economists Esther Duflo and Arvind Subramanian, former Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, satirist Ian Hislop, Booker Prize winner Kiran Desai, poet Jeet Thayil, art historian Debra Diamond, nature poet Alice Oswald, critic Andrew Graham-Dixon, novelist Ashwin Sanghi, nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, and Telugu feminist author Volga, among others. From Nobel laureates to mountain chroniclers like Stephen Alter, and from Himalayan storytellers to global policymakers, this year’s lineup paints a truly panoramic view of contemporary thought.
Namita Gokhale, Festival Co-Director, called this year’s edition “a multilingual, cross-cultural symphony of ideas,” emphasizing that JLF 2026 will spotlight themes both classic and radical. “With the world more fragmented than ever, literature offers connection and empathy — and the festival remains that meeting ground for words and worlds,” she said.
Her co-director William Dalrymple promised an edition to remember, calling it “one of our most extraordinary lineups since the festival began,” while Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, reiterated JLF’s enduring mission: “It’s not just an event — it’s a movement celebrating freedom of thought, creativity, and the power of stories to build bridges.”
Alongside its main sessions, JLF 2026 will once again feature its Heritage Evenings, which transform Jaipur’s historic spaces into stages for music, poetry, and performance. The Jaipur Music Stage will return with a mix of Indian and global acts, while the Jaipur BookMark (JBM) will continue to serve as a professional hub for publishers, authors, and literary agents. With Vedanta’s partnership, the festival aims to deepen its reach as an inclusive, accessible space for dialogue — reaffirming why it’s hailed as “the greatest literary show on Earth.”