Godrej Literature Live! Mumbai

Godrej Literature Live! Mumbai LitFest 2026 Announces October Dates

Mumbai LitFest 2026 is set to return from October 23 to 25 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai. The 17th edition of Godrej Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest will bring together writers, authors, journalists, performers and thinkers for three days of literary discussions, debates, workshops and cultural experiences. This year, Godrej Industries Group joins the festival as its title partner.

Table Of Content

• Mumbai LitFest 2026: Dates and Venue
• Godrej Literature Live! Returns for Its 17th Edition
• Mumbai LitFest 2026 Speaker Line-Up
• Literary Awards and Festival Highlights
• Conversations Beyond Literature
• The Little Festival for Young Readers
• What Visitors Can Expect
• Key Details

Mumbai LitFest 2026: Dates and Venue

The Mumbai LitFest 2026 will take place from October 23 to 25 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, popularly known as NCPA, in Mumbai. The venue, located at Nariman Point, has long been associated with the city’s cultural and performing arts scene.

The three-day festival will offer audiences opportunities to engage with authors, attend discussions and debates, explore new books, and experience performances. The programme will span several subjects, including literature, cinema, journalism, economics, history, medicine, technology, sports, environment and identity.

With its mix of literary sessions and wider cultural conversations, the festival is expected to attract readers, students, writers and audiences interested in contemporary ideas.

Godrej Literature Live! Returns for Its 17th Edition

The 2026 edition marks the 17th year of Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest. The festival was founded by Anil Dharker and has grown into an annual gathering celebrating literature, ideas and creative expression. It has been presented annually since 2010.

This year, Godrej Industries Group joins as the title partner, giving the festival the name Godrej Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest 2026. The partnership connects the event with the Group’s emphasis on creativity, ideas and cultural engagement.

The festival’s programme continues to bring together voices from different generations and professional backgrounds, creating a space for conversations that extend beyond books and writing.

Mumbai LitFest 2026 Speaker Line-Up

The Mumbai LitFest 2026 line-up features personalities from literature, cinema, journalism, politics, history, economics and the arts. Among the announced speakers are Gulzar, Javed Akhtar, Shashi Tharoor, Ramachandra Guha, Jerry Pinto, Shanta Gokhale and Kaushik Basu.

The programme also includes actors and performers such as Ratna Pathak Shah, Shefali Shah, Sonali Kulkarni and Juhi Babbar. Other announced names include journalist Faye D’Souza, sports writer Ayaz Memon, poet Gagan Gill and writer Anurag Minus Verma.

The diverse line-up reflects the festival’s focus on bringing different perspectives together. Sessions are expected to explore storytelling, public life, culture, society and the ideas shaping contemporary India.

Literary Awards and Festival Highlights

A key part of Mumbai LitFest 2026 will be the Godrej Literature Live! Literary Awards. The awards will recognise contributions across categories including Lifetime Achievement, Poet Laureate, Fiction, Non-fiction and Business books.

Alongside the awards, the festival will feature several of its signature formats, including the Great Debate and Book in Focus sessions. Visitors can also look forward to book launches, workshops, international performances and the popular book swap.

These activities offer different ways to engage with literature, whether through listening to authors discuss their work, discovering new titles or participating in interactive sessions.

Conversations Beyond Literature

The Mumbai LitFest 2026 programme will extend beyond traditional literary discussions. Sessions will cover subjects such as cinema, journalism, economics, medicine, history, art, sport, technology, the environment, identity and the digital ecosystem.

This wider approach positions the festival as a platform for exchanging ideas across disciplines. Conversations involving writers, journalists, historians, artists and public figures can offer audiences different perspectives on subjects that influence everyday life.

The festival will also continue its focus on inclusion through the Godrej DEI Lab, with programming that highlights voices from LGBTQIA+ communities and minority groups.

The Little Festival for Young Readers

Young readers will have a dedicated space through the Literature Live! Little Festival, organised in collaboration with the HT Parekh Foundation. The programme will feature sessions curated especially for children.

The Little Festival adds a family-friendly dimension to the wider event, introducing younger audiences to books, storytelling and creative expression.

For families attending the main festival, these sessions offer an opportunity for children to engage with literature through programming designed around their interests and age groups.

What Visitors Can Expect at Mumbai LitFest 2026

Visitors attending Mumbai LitFest 2026 can expect a varied programme combining author conversations, debates, literary awards, workshops, performances and book-related activities.

The event’s range of speakers and subjects means that it is not limited to readers of fiction or poetry. People interested in journalism, cinema, history, public affairs, business and contemporary culture will also find topics represented in the programme.

With the festival returning to NCPA from October 23 to 25, attendees can plan their visit around the sessions and activities that interest them. Visitors should check the official festival programme for the latest schedule, session timings and participation details.

Mumbai LitFest 2026 — Key Details

Conclusion

Mumbai LitFest 2026 will return to NCPA from October 23 to 25, bringing together a wide range of writers, thinkers, performers and public figures for its 17th edition. With literary awards, debates, book launches, workshops, performances and sessions spanning multiple disciplines, the festival offers a varied programme for readers and culturally curious audiences. The event’s return also continues Mumbai’s tradition of hosting a major annual celebration of literature and ideas.