Jaipur: The Jaipur Literature Festival, presented by Vedanta and celebrated worldwide as a premier gathering of writers, thinkers, and cultural voices, has unveiled its second list of distinguished speakers for its 19th edition. The festival will return to Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur, from 15 to 19 January 2026, continuing its legacy as a global platform for literature, ideas, and dialogue.
This newly announced lineup features celebrated minds from across disciplines — from literature and economics to science, art and activism. Among the confirmed speakers are CERN physicist Archana Sharma, former Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian, Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Tanya Talaga, former Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, art historian Debra Diamond, satirist Ian Hislop, authors Jeet Thayil and Kiran Desai, acclaimed nature poet Alice Oswald, critic Andrew Graham-Dixon, bestselling novelist Ashwin Sanghi, writer Kunzang Choden Roder, historian Narayani Basu, renowned nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, Himalayan chronicler Stephen Alter, disability rights advocate Tarini Mohan, publisher William Sieghart, and noted Telugu feminist writer Volga.
Festival Co-Director Namita Gokhale described the upcoming edition as a “cross-fertilisation of ideas in a fractured world,” adding that the festival will continue to showcase the “best of contemporary writing across Indian and global languages.”
Co-Director William Dalrymple called this year’s lineup “one of the most extraordinary since the festival began,” urging audiences not to miss Jaipur 2026, which he promised will be “completely astonishing.”
Teamwork Arts Managing Director Sanjoy K. Roy emphasised the festival’s role as “a celebration of free expression, diversity, and the power of narrative to build bridges.”
Vedanta Resources Director Priya Agarwal noted that the association with the festival reflects the organisation’s belief in “creativity and conversation shaping a more connected and compassionate world.”
The 2026 edition will also feature the festival’s signature Heritage Evenings, Jaipur Music Stage, and the publishing industry conclave Jaipur BookMark (JBM). With its commitment to access, inclusion and global literary exchange, the Jaipur Literature Festival remains one of the world’s most anticipated cultural events.
More details are available at: www.jaipurliteraturefestival.org
