Sunita Williams, Jimmy Wales & Ben Johnson Spark Kerala Literary Fest

The Kerala Literature Festival (KLF 2026) opened in Kozhikode on January 22 with a strong international line-up that places science, technology, literature and public discourse on the same stage.

The four-day event, concluding on January 25, is being held at Kozhikode’s beachfront venues and has drawn speakers and audiences from across India and abroad.

The festival was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who highlighted the role of literature festivals in sustaining democratic debate and cultural exchange.

Organised by the DC Kizhakemuri Foundation in association with DC Books, KLF 2026 speakers include more than 400 voices from 18 countries, reinforcing its position as one of Asia’s largest literary festivals in India.

• Sunita Williams joins Kerala Literature Festival with global speakers
• Jimmy Wales headlines KLF 2026 discussions on open knowledge
• KLF 2026 opens in Kozhikode with 400+ speakers from 18 countries

A major highlight this year is the participation of Sunita Williams, whose presence marks one of the rare occasions an active astronaut has featured at the festival. The Sunita Williams KLF sessions focus on space exploration, science education and leadership, attracting students, researchers and general readers alike.

The programme also features Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, who is addressing issues related to open knowledge, digital collaboration and the future of information. The Jimmy Wales Wikipedia discussions examine how community-driven platforms shape public understanding. Sports writer and commentator Ben Johnson adds a cultural perspective through sessions linking sport, society and storytelling, strengthening the Ben Johnson KLF segment of the programme.

Germany is the guest nation for KLF 2026, with curated events presented in partnership with the Goethe-Institut. A dedicated pavilion showcases German literature, art and performance, reinforcing the festival’s international scope.

The festival also features leading writers and thinkers, including Abdulrazak Gurnah, Kiran Desai, Shashi Tharoor, Romila Thapar and Pico Iyer.

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With strong public turnout and packed sessions, Kozhikode literature festival events this year underline the city’s role as a hub for ideas, debate and culture, confirming Kerala Literature Festival as a key fixture on the global literary calendar.