Kashmir Literature Festival

The Kashmir Literature Festival is a literary and cultural festival held in Srinagar, bringing together authors, poets, thinkers, journalists, artists and readers.

Its programme combines literary conversations with book launches, poetry and storytelling, open-mic sessions, live performances and discussions on culture, history, media and contemporary ideas.

• Festival period — The festival has been held at different times of the year, with recent editions taking place in spring and autumn.
• Typical duration — About two days for the main public programme.

Literary exchange — The festival creates a setting for writers and readers to discuss books, ideas, poetry and storytelling.

Cultural dialogue — It connects literary activity with Kashmir's languages, heritage, arts and wider intellectual traditions.

New voices — Sessions and open platforms provide opportunities for emerging writers, performers and young participants to engage with established voices.

The present Kashmir Literature Festival was established by the Srikula Foundation as a dedicated literary platform in Srinagar. Its early editions developed a programme combining literature with discussions, book launches, artistic expression and cultural performances.

The festival has subsequently moved between different seasonal periods while retaining its focus on literature, knowledge, culture and dialogue.

At the festival venue — Visitors attend panel discussions, author conversations, book launches, poetry readings, storytelling sessions and performances.

For writers and artists — Authors, poets, journalists, academics and performers participate in conversations, readings, launches and public presentations.

For audiences — Readers can listen to sessions, meet authors, discover books and take part in open-mic or interactive activities when offered.

The programme generally opens with an inauguration or keynote session, followed by parallel conversations, book discussions and cultural activities. Across the festival, audiences move between literary panels, author interactions, poetry and storytelling sessions, launches and performances before the programme concludes with closing sessions or cultural presentations.

Srinagar — The main festival is centred on Srinagar, with recent programmes using the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre and its setting near Dal Lake.

Kashmir Valley — The festival's literary themes draw on the region's languages, history, oral traditions, arts and contemporary writing while also welcoming participants from elsewhere in India and beyond.

• Author conversations
• Book launches
• Poetry readings
• Storytelling sessions
• Panel discussions
• Open-mic performances
• Cultural performances

Books — Represent reading, publishing and the exchange of knowledge.

Poetry and storytelling — Reflect Kashmir's long literary and oral traditions and the continuing role of spoken expression.

Dal Lake and Srinagar — Provide the geographical setting for the festival and connect its contemporary literary programme with the cultural landscape of Kashmir.

• The festival is organised by the Srikula Foundation and is centred in Srinagar.
• The programme brings together writers, poets, journalists, thinkers, artists and readers.
• Its activities can extend beyond conventional author talks to book launches, storytelling, open mics, podcasts and live performances.
• The Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre has hosted recent editions of the festival.
• The festival has changed its seasonal timing across editions rather than following a single fixed month.
• Kashmiri, Urdu, English and other languages are part of the wider literary environment represented by the festival and its participants.