Thiruvananthapuram: Australia will be the guest nation at the Kerala Literature Festival to be held from January 21 to 24 at Kozhikode Beach.
The announcement was made by Chief Minister V D Satheesan here.
The official declaration was made in the presence of Transport Minister C P John, Australian Consul-General Silai Zaki, Vice Consul Katrina Knapp, KLF Chief Facilitator Ravi DC and Co-facilitator Govind DC, according to a statement.
The upcoming edition will host delegations from 17 countries including the USA, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Slovakia, Japan and Nigeria, making it a truly global celebration of literature and culture. These international representation underscores the global significance of KLF in fostering worldwide literary dialogue.
The German participation will include a dedicated pavilion, literary showcases, workshops, and a series of cultural events curated in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut and partner institutions. In addition, a special light installation will illuminate the Kozhikode beachfront during the festival, symbolising the spirit of artistic exchange and the shared values that define the Kerala Literature Festival.
KLF 2026 will host a remarkable gathering of Nobel Laureates, Booker Prize winners, historians, scientists, philosophers, activists, filmmakers, and artists, creating hundreds of sessions that explore both the familiar and the new. The conversations will span fiction and non-fiction, politics and history, folklore and contemporary culture, science and philosophy, reflecting the festival’s core belief that the exchange of ideas is the most powerful form of creativity.
“At KLF, we strive to create a space where ideas transcend borders. Each edition brings together outstanding voices from across the world, enriching the cultural fabric of Kerala,” said Ravi Deecee, Chief Facilitator of the Kerala Literature Festival. “With Germany as the Guest Nation this year, we look forward to presenting a deeply engaging and diverse programme that reflects the festival’s commitment to creativity, inclusion, and global dialogue.”
Some of the notable attendees include Nobel Laureates Abdulrazak Gurnah, Olga Tokarczuk, and Abhijit Banerjee, Olympian Ben Johnson, business leader Indra Nooyi, artist and illustrator Cheyenne Olivier, writer Gabriela Ybarra, economist Arvind Subramanian, linguist and author Peggy Mohan, author and columnist Shobhaa De, writer and former diplomat Amish Tripathi, actor and singer Piyush Mishra, curator Helen Molesworth, writer and activist Banu Mushtaq, writer and journalist Deepa Bhasthi, celebrated essayist Pico Iyer, renowned environmental activist Dr. Vandana Shiva, Jnanpith award-winning writer Pratibha Ray, eminent historian Romila Thapar, acclaimed novelist Anita Nair, noted Telugu author Volga, conservation biologist and writer Neha Sinha, actor and social commentator Prakash Raj, author-diplomat Pavan K. Varma, and author, parliamentarian and public intellectual Dr. Shashi Tharoor.
The ninth edition of the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) will be held from January 22 to 25, 2026, at the Kozhikode beachfront, the city recognised as India’s first UNESCO City of Literature. Over four days, the festival will feature over 400 speakers and 250 sessions spread across seven parallel tracks, with ten sessions per track each day, over 6 Lakhs visitors, followed by evening performances and musical events on Kozhikode beach. Fireside chats at night with a plethora of the biggest acts and performing artists from around the world will make up the cultural nights.
With its blend of literature, art, performance, and public dialogue, KLF 2026 promises to continue its legacy as one of the most influential cultural gatherings in Asia, celebrating creativity, connection, and the enduring power of storytelling.
