The dawn of 2025 brings a fresh wave of literary gatherings and January promises to be a spectacular start.
With as many as five festivals happening in 5 iconic cities, literature lovers in India are set to have a blast. Meanwhile, Europe joins the celebration with a festival each in the Netherlands and England.
The literary gatherings in these European nations will brave the winter chill, proving that even temperatures hovering around 2-3°C can’t deter true bibliophiles.
Back in India, the sun-drenched days, gentle breezes and varying tropical climates provide the perfect backdrop for these vibrant festivals, ensuring a literary experience as diverse as the country itself. Here is the list of top must-attend literary festivals in January 2025:
1. ApeeJay Kolkata Literary Festival
🗓️ 10-12 January 2025
- The Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival stands out as India’s only literary festival started by a bookstore in Kolkata. Set against the iconic Oxford bookstore, this lit event is not to be missed.
- Must-attend sessions: Ukrainian poet Iryna Vikyrchak (Love Beyond Borders), historian William Dalrymple, and poetic retrospectives by Javed Akhtar.
Check out this year’s complete program for an incredible lineup of sessions featuring acclaimed speakers from around the globe.
Closer to home, luminaries such as Ramachandra Guha explores environmentalism before climate change in addition to Shobhaa De, Milind Soman and Rajdeep Sardesai, covering topics from women in media to elections.
2. The Hindu Lit for Life
🗓️ 18-19 January 2025
- Known as ‘The Sharpest Literature Festival in India,’ it stands out for balancing books with broader cultural and societal themes, engaging audiences with diverse perspectives.
- Highlights: Nobel laureate Venki Ramakrishnan, literary powerhouse Shashi Tharoor, iconic Indian actor Kamal Hassan, renowned historian Peter Frankopan and music legend L. Subramaniam
The Hindu Lit for Life Fest, started in 2010 as a one-day event, has grown into a three-day celebration of literature. Founded by Dr. Nirmala Lakshman, Chairperson of The Hindu Group, the festival celebrates free speech and connects literature to the masses, exploring fiction, non-fiction, politics, history, arts, cinema, and more.
3. Kerela Literature Festival
🗓️ 23-26 January 2025
- The Kerala Literature Festival (KLF), Asia’s largest literary gathering, returns to Kozhikode Beach from January 23–26, 2025.
- This four-day event attracts over 600,000 visitors and features 500+ speakers from 15 countries, including Nobel laureates, Booker Prize winners, and thought leaders.
The 8th edition highlights France as the Guest Nation, bringing luminaries like Nobel laureate Esther Duflo, Philippe Claudel, and Julie Stephen Chheng, in collaboration with the French Institute in India and the Embassy of France.
Attendees can also engage with Booker winners Jenny Erpenbeck and Michael Hofmann (Kairos). Check out the full list of speakers here.
KLF 2025 combines literature with cultural performances in music, dance, and theatre, making it a must-visit for literature enthusiasts. Best of all, attendance is free!
4. Writers Unlimited
🗓️ 23-26 January 2025
- A premier international festival in The Hague, blending diverse voices and cultures.
- Standouts: Elif Shafak (The Bastard of Istanbul), Andrey Kurkov (Diary of an Invasion), and Timothy Snyder (On Freedom).
Since its inception in 1995, Writers Unlimited has grown into one of the most significant international literature festivals.
This year’s lineup features many more celebrated international names such as Viv Groskop (UK), Asta Olivia Nordenhof (Denmark), and Mikaella Clements & Onjuli Datta
With a focus on diverse voices and cultural exchange, it promises to be a great celebration of literature, creativity, and dialogue.
5. Hyderabad Literary Festival
🗓️ 24-26 January 2025
The Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) 2025 is set to celebrate literature in its diverse forms from January 24–26. Since its inception in 2010, HLF has become a cultural landmark, reflecting the cosmopolitan ethos of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
- Highlights: Sindhi as the Indian Language in Focus and Lithuania as the Guest Nation.
- Engaging sessions on climate, indigenous languages, and book discussions, alongside cultural performances.
This year’s festival spans three dynamic days with over 150 sessions, 300+ speakers and 85,000+ visitors. All in all, HLF 2025 promises to be an engaging experience for all lit lovers.
6. Jaipur Literature Festival
🗓️ 30 January-3 February 2025
A global literary phenomenon, Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) has hosted nearly 2,000 speakers and welcomed over a million book lovers over 17 years.
- Hailed as the “greatest literary show on Earth,” the fest returns for its 18th edition in 2025 at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur.
- This five-day extravaganza brings together renowned writers, thinkers, humanitarians, politicians, scientists and artists from around the world.
Take a look at the speakers and it’s clear why JLF is a true magnet for literary greatness.
Curated by Festival Directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple, JLF 2025’s schedule promises insightful sessions, thought-provoking debates, performances, book signings, and more. It is a must-attend for lovers of literature and culture.
7. Wolverhampton Literature Festival
🗓️ 31 January-2 February 2025
The Wolverhampton Literature Festival celebrates the literary and creative spirit of Wolverhampton and the West Midlands. This year, the 9th edition runs from January 31 to February 2, 2025, across various city venues.
Organized by the City of Wolverhampton Council with support from Arts Council England, the festival features a dynamic mix of renowned authors, poets, storytellers, and emerging local talent.
- Highlights: Al Murray (Arnhem: Black Tuesday), Abi Daré (And So I Roar), and Shappi Khorsandi’s comedic take on ADHD in Scatter Brain.
It’s going to be a weekend of storytelling and ideas – something that promises a great time for literary enthusiasts across the UK.
Which festival are you adding to your calendar? Share your plans in the comments and spread the word with your fellow book lovers on social media. Let’s kick off 2025 with the magic of literature.
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