It is an unspoken truth that readers love to hang out with other readers – or writers – the most. They can understand the references, go on lengthy discussions and give you different analyses of your favourite books. And the best place to meet such like-minded people? Book festivals!
Also known as the literary festival, it’s a gathering of writers, readers, and thinkers in a specific place. There are different events, reading sessions and activities – all of which aim to foster a deep love for literature. There are many such festivals conducted globally, and that too in all corners of the earth.
People flock to famous cities and obscure towns to attend these – and you can too! Get a kickstart with the following list of the top 12 Literary festivals around the world!
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Jaipur Literary Festival (JLF)
When: January. Where: Jaipur, India.
Jaipur Literary Festival is a name that sparks a vivid mood board of thousands of books and like-minded people getting together in a very traditional Indian setting. This festival has been around since 2006 and is an initiative of the Jaipur Virasat Foundation (JVF). JLF isn’t limited to just authors; you’ll find the guests to be a diverse blend of politicians, entertainers, humanitarians, and sportspeople.
Referred to as the largest (and free) book event in the world, it offers tons of things for visitors. Music shows, live readings, debates, discussions, and interviews are only some of the many events. Notable figures have attended this festival, including Margaret Atwood, Girish Karnad, J.M. Coetzee, Amish Tripathi, and Gulzar.
Every attendee has only great things to talk about this book festival. You can visit India whenever it takes place to experience it yourself. In case you can’t attend it, it is also available digitally.
Find out more at: https://jaipurliteraturefestival.org/
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Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: February. Where: Dubai, UAE.
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is Dubai’s own way of attracting book lovers! It has been hosting people from around the world in the February of every year since 2009. The festival is an interesting mix of events, from workshops and panel discussions to readings and classes.
The theme changes yearly and all the events are designed around this exciting theme. The festival entertains children as much as adults, and you get to meet your favourite national and international authors.
Its main focus is to put the limelight on literature and how it affects the world. Moreover, it also hopes to foster an interest in Arabic literature in the hearts of global cities. By the way, it hosts more than 40,000 people every year, so the festival seems to be meeting its goal fantastically well!
Find out more at: https://emirateslitfest.com/
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LA Times Festival of Books
When: April. Where: Los Angeles, USA.
The LA Times Festival of Books is the largest book event in the USA, attracting more than 100,000 visitors every year. It dates back to 1996, founded to celebrate the texts. It involves many fun events, such as poetry readings, film screenings, band performances, and live artwork.
Most of these take place outside on the grassy campus of the University of California, which is free. But there are indoor events as well, which you can only attend through advanced reservation or paying a small fee on the spot.
Hosted by the Los Angeles Times, this festival attracts many authors, book vendors, and publishers. While the duration is only two days – the last weekend of April – the craze among the bookaholics is sky-high!
Find out more: https://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/
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PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature
When: April. Where: New York City, the United States.
Salman Rushdie, Esther Allen and Michael Roberts came together in 2005 to launch one of the most exciting book festivals! This famous festival is the PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature. It was founded as a literary remedy for isolationism after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
A unique thing about this event is that it is an initiative by a non-profit organization to focus on free expression in literature. As a result, the activities here are all-inclusive, focusing on authors and works from all corners of the world. The festival also focuses on giving insights to budding writers into the issues they could face in this charged political climate.
You can attend conversations, debates, readings, and discussions by prestigious authors, activists, and journalists. The location might be New York City, but the festival takes you all over the area for different events. This way, you get to attend the fest as well as explore this City of Dreams.
Find out more: https://worldvoices.pen.org/
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Hay Festival of Literature and Arts
When: May. Where: Multiple Locations.
Hay Festival of Literature and Arts is one of the award-winning literary festivals. It is also one of the oldest, having been founded in 1988. The fest started as a books-only event and has now expanded to include musical performances and movie previews. The attendees get to see and listen to a mesh of the most talented writers, publishers and dramatists. It also conducts a smaller festival called Hay Fever exclusively for children.
While Hay Festival is originally conducted in a small town in Wales, the sister festivals take place all over the world. Some of these places are Bangladesh, Ireland, India, Denmark, and Lebanon. So, even if you’re unable to go to Hay-on-Wye, you can make it to any other sister event!
The festival won The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in 2009, and its sessions have appeared in a handful of television and radio programs. You can gauge just how great this festival is when famous personalities – such as Bill Clinton and Tony Benn – attest the same.
Find out more: https://www.hayfestival.com/home
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Stoke Newington Literary Festival
When: June. Where: London, United Kingdom.
Referred to as the best book bashes in the UK, Stoke Newington Literary Festival is a feast for bookish hearts. It started in 2010 to celebrate the literariness of its location – Stoke Newington. The offered programs are as attractive as they are insightful, which keeps you engaged throughout.
But wait! Let’s find out why this location is so important. Along with a rich history, the town has been home to many locals and visitors, including Joseph Conrad, Daniel Defoe, Edgar Allan Poe, and Wynne Edwin Baxter. It is easy to see why this recent addition to the list of literary festivals is so popular. It’s because the venue itself is full of literary significance!
The festival brings a variety of talented guests from around the globe. Pair those with stimulating sessions – and you’ve got yourself a few days of literature and leisure.
Find out more: https://stokenewingtonliteraryfestival.com/
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International Literary Festival of Paraty (FLIP)
When: July. Where: Paraty, Brazil.
Make your way to Rio de Janeiro for some FLIP fun! The International Literary Festival of Paraty, also called FLIP, is a unique event organized by Liz Calder, co-founder of Bloomsbury. It started in 2003 and has since brought together literature and culture.
The festival designs the events in a similar manner, where you get to listen to lively discussions about everything under the sun. FLIP also hosts special sessions for children and teenagers, making it a great place for every age group.
FLIP has gone on to become one of South America’s most interesting literary events. But what makes the festival even more attractive are the guests. You will see an exciting mix of renowned figures and unpublished writers here. It’s because of this that the number of attendees increases in number every year!
Find out more: https://www.flip.org.br/
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Edinburgh International Book Festival
When: August. Where: Edinburgh, Scotland.
Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF) is hailed as the largest festival of its kind in the world. And rightfully so! It started in 1983 as a biennial thing before shifting to an annual festival in 1997. This festival is all about debates and sessions on cultural, political and literary themes.
People from all corners of the world flock to Edinburgh to take part in the literary festivities. The festival is made all the more appealing by writers and prominent figures who entertain the visitors for a total of two weeks.
It takes place around the time of the Edinburgh International Festival, a world-renowned festival of art, dance, and music. Visiting Edinburgh around the time of these festivals will definitely open an avenue for all things interesting for you!
Find out more: https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/
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Berlin International Literature Festival
When: September. Where: Berlin, Germany.
Berlin International Literature Festival was first hosted at the start of the century and has been going strong ever since! It strides forward with one aim – to engage the audience in a way that may be new yet intriguing to them. And they are successful in doing so through literature!
The festival is unique in a way that it has neat sections, with some of them further divided into sub-sections. The most beloved segments are Scritture Giovani, an international competition for young authors, a Graphic Novel Day, and Literatures of the World, where the texts are recited and performed!
The themes of this event are fresh each time, all of which are explored through discussions, reading sessions, and other activities. You can meet a variety of guests here, from upcoming writers to Nobel Prize winners in literature! Some former guests include Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Arundhati Roy, John M. Coetzee, Irvine Welsh, and Judith Hermann.
Find out more: https://literaturfestival.com/en/
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Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA)
When: October. Where: Toronto, Canada.
Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) is quite an old event, founded in 1974, with the aim to increase people’s interest in reading and writing. It is safe to say they have succeeded, as it is now Canada’s biggest literary festival which allows everyone to meet with fellow authors and readers.
The festival packs a lot of events and activities in its 11-day celebration. Some of these are Toronto Lit Up, a platform for book launches in the city; The International Visitors Programme, an exchange program with a literary twist; and the MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival for all the mystery-lovers out there.
People – including visitors and guests – visit from over 100 countries to attend this festival, which just goes on to show its reach!
Find out more: https://festivalofauthors.ca/
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Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF)
When: October. Where Ubud, Bali.
Bali is natural, exotic, and also the destination for a literary escape! It is all possible because of Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF), a four-day festival held every October. The festival has been around since 2004 and is considered to be one of the most meaningful literary events in Southeast Asia.
The planned sessions and activities are plenty, which ranges from critical discussions and book launches to readings and even performances. UWRF brings in more than 120 writers, performers, and thinkers who help add joy and peace to the festivities. Guests like Mohsin Hamid, Audrey Magee, Amitav Ghosh, Teju Cole, and Nick Cave have made their presence known before.
It is the brainchild of the non-profit foundation, Yayasan Mudra Swari Saraswati, as a healing project after the first 2002 Bali bombings. And you know what? It is still peaceful and healing!
Find out more: https://www.ubudwritersfestival.com/
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Miami Book Fair
When: November. Where: Miami, Florida.
Miami Book Fair is the perfect mix of a literary festival and books fair in Vice City – Miami. It was inaugurated in 1984 by Miami-Dade College with the name Books by the Bay. This festival lasts a little over a week, garnering more than 500 authors to conduct various events. These come in all shapes and forms, including literary sessions, cultural events, and educational activities.
One thing that sets Miami Book Fair apart from other festivals on the list is the attendance of book exhibitors. This fest has over 200 national and international book exhibitors showcasing their collections. A hefty list of renowned figures has graced this festival with their presence, including Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, Michael Ondaatje, Amy Tan, James Baldwin, and Toni Morrison!
Miami Book Fair takes place every November, so it is a perfect way for you to end the year!
Find out more: https://www.miamibookfair.com/
These annual book festivals are so different yet so similar at the same time. How? In spite of their difference in every little aspect, they are the same because they all have the same goal – to help people get closer to the literary world. You can experience their appeal firsthand by attending any of these festivals. After all, who doesn’t love to have some nerdy fun with fellow bookaholics?
