Hyderabad Literary Festival 2026 Starts On January 24: From Literature To Live Performances, Full Guide

Hyderabad is all set to immerse itself in books, ideas, art and performance as the Hyderabad Literary Festival 2026 begins on January 24.

Now in its 15th edition, the three-day festival will be held from January 24 to 26 at Sattva Knowledge City in Hitec City for the third year in a row. Free and open to the public, the festival continues to position itself as a space where literature meets culture, creativity and community conversations.

Describing itself as a celebration of literature, culture, art and conversations that transcends borders and generations, the festival once again brings together writers, artists, performers and audiences from across the country, while also highlighting India's linguistic diversity and a specially curated guest nation.

Creative zones, galleries and pop culture corners

Beyond books and panel discussions, the festival offers a wide range of interactive spaces. A canvas gallery curated by artist Radha Yamini will spotlight fresh and emerging creative voices from Hyderabad. Visitors can also explore a flea market featuring local businesses, along with a Documentary Booth created in collaboration with Project Non Fiction, dedicated to screening thought-provoking non-fiction films.

For those keen on visual storytelling and social media trends, the Reel Booth provides a space to create short videos and interact with dance group Team Nritya. Another experiential zone, "Manifest Your Route," invites audiences to visualise and share their dream travel stories.

Adding a playful element is "Corner Jenga," where participants can collaborate to create comic strip illustrations using Jenga blocks. A retro-themed photobooth promises "retro madness" moments for visitors looking to capture memories from the festival.

Voices, satire and independent publishing

The festival also creates space for alternative voices and social commentary. A special gallery titled "Meme Mail" has been designed with a "societal satire voice on the issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community."

Zine enthusiasts can spend time at a dedicated zone celebrating independent, non-commercial publications that focus on unconventional themes. The space allows visitors to read, create or purchase zines. Alongside this is a souvenir store described as "a shop for the lil memories of life," and a Kashmiri edition of a hopscotch competition where participants need to be a "pop-culture nerd" to win.

Live performances, storytelling and climate conversations

On the performance front, the "Youngistaan Nukkad" will host a range of creative expressions, including open mics, flash mobs, improv sessions and live jamming. The segment is designed as an open platform where artists and audiences can come together through performance.

The Storyweavers segment will feature storytelling sessions by Hyderabad-based participants as well as speakers from across the country, focusing on narratives rooted in personal experience, folklore and culture.

The festival also places strong emphasis on sustainability through its Climate Conversations segment, curated by EkoGalaxy. The platform brings together prominent voices from the fields of climate action and biodiversity. EkoGalaxy partners with schools in India and Europe and represents the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership. STEM stalls will also be part of the festival, with participation from institutions such as BITS Pilani Hyderabad, IIT Hyderabad and the University of Hyderabad's astronomy club.

Author talks, exhibitions and a royal tribute

Stage Talks will feature well-known authors and speakers including Namita Devidayal, Rekha Bhatnagar, Sumana Chandrashekar, Arshiya Sethi and Anuradha Naik, among others. These sessions will explore literature, society, history and contemporary issues.

The festival will also host several curated exhibitions, ranging from the history of Hyderabad and textile displays to photography exhibitions capturing dogs during the pandemic and other niche subjects.

A special book event is scheduled for Saturday, January 24, featuring Anuradha Naik in conversation with Prince Azmet Jah. The session will also discuss a dedicated exhibition commemorating the birth anniversary of Mukarram Jah, the last recognised Nizam of Hyderabad, adding a historical layer to this year's literary celebration.