Kolkata is poised to celebrate its grand literary heritage as the much-loved Kolkata Literary Meet (KaLaM) prepares to unfold its 14th edition. The festival is set to return in a dynamic multi-venue format across the Alipore Museum premises, promising five enriching days of conversations and culture starting from January 22, 2026.
A Stellar Gathering of Literary Luminaries
This year's edition boasts an impressive roster of over 100 speakers from India and across the globe. The festival will be inaugurated by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri, who will engage in a public discussion about her work Roman Stories. Her appearance marks a significant return, being her first major literary event in the city since her tour for The Lowland nearly a decade ago.
Another highlight is the return of Booker Prize winner Kiran Desai after a prolonged absence from Kolkata's literary scene. The international contingent is further strengthened by the presence of Banu Mushtaq, author of the International Booker Prize-winning Heart Lamp, alongside celebrated names like Barbara Kingsolver, Geoff Dyer, Deborah Baker, Daisy Rockwell, and Lucy Hannah.
On the home front, the festival will be anchored by literary giant Amitav Ghosh, who will bring a sharp focus on climate writing and non-fiction to his hometown. They will be joined by a powerful array of Indian fiction writers and thinkers including Upamanyu Chatterjee, Manu Joseph, Megha Majumdar, and Rana Dasgupta, many of whom are planning extended engagements beyond brief book promotions.
Beyond Books: A Cultural Mosaic
KaLaM 2026 ambitiously expands its scope to celebrate Kolkata's vibrant cultural ecosystem. The programme seamlessly weaves in celebrated voices from cinema, music, and popular culture, exploring the deep connections between literature and other arts.
Esteemed figures like Javed Akhtar, Nandita Das, Saeed Mirza, Piyush Mishra, Nasreen Munni Kabir, and designer Prabal Gurung will share the stage. The festival also welcomes prominent journalists and writers such as Rujuta Diwekar, Ghazala Wahab, Harinder Baweja, Snigdha Poonam, and Shefalee Vasudev.
Local cultural icons are strongly represented, with poet-lyricist Srijato, singer-composer Anupam Roy, filmmakers Goutam Ghose and Srijit Mukherji, and theatre personalities Bratya Basu and Bratati Bandyopadhyay playing key roles. Performances by Sourendro-Soumyojit, Rupam Islam, Vikram Iyengar, and the Rangakarmee theatre collective will add a dynamic, performative dimension to the gathering.
Festival Format and Engaging Additions
The five-day intellectual feast will unfold across multiple stages, ensuring a rich and varied experience for attendees. A dedicated focus on translation and scholarship will see the participation of experts like Arunava Sinha, Ananya Vajpeyi, Supriya Chaudhuri, and Rudrangshu Mukherjee.
Keeping the younger audience in mind, the festival will feature an expanded Junior KaLaM segment. Bibliophiles can look forward to the central Story stall, which will facilitate author interactions and book signings, making the connection between reader and writer more personal.
With its unique blend of deep literary discourse and wide-ranging cultural dialogue, the 14th Kolkata Literary Meet is shaping up to be more than just a book festival; it is a comprehensive celebration of ideas, arts, and the enduring intellectual spirit of the city of joy.
