Three days. One iconic sea-facing venue. And a spectacular celebration of books, ideas, conversations and the people who bring them alive.

Mumbai is getting ready to fall in love with words all over again!

The city’s much-loved literary celebration, Godrej Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest 2026, returns to its forever “home-by-the-sea”, the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), from October 23 to 25, 2026.

Now in its 17th edition, the festival has grown over the years into far more than a literary gathering. It is a lively meeting ground for writers, thinkers, artists, performers, journalists, academics, filmmakers and curious readers — bringing together voices and ideas that reflect the world we live in.

And this year comes with an exciting new chapter, with Godrej Industries Group joining as the Title Partner for a multi-year association.

1. Mumbai’s favourite literary weekend is back

For 16 editions, the festival has been adding to Mumbai’s cultural landscape with conversations that make you pause, question, laugh, discover and sometimes see the world a little differently.

The 2026 edition promises to continue that tradition, bringing together an eclectic mix of literature and ideas across generations, disciplines and perspectives.

From celebrated authors and poets to filmmakers, economists, doctors, journalists, sport commentators and technology thinkers, there is something here for almost every kind of curious mind.

2. It’s not just about books anymore

One of the most exciting things about Godrej Literature Live! is the sheer breadth of its conversations.

The 2026 programme travels across literature, cinema, journalism, economics, medicine, history, art, sport, technology, environment, identity and the digital ecosystem.

In other words, whether you are an avid reader or someone who simply loves a good conversation, there is plenty to explore.

3. A stellar gathering of voices

The festival brings together an impressive line-up of personalities from across India’s cultural and intellectual landscape.

Among those featured are Aditi Mittal, Anurag Minus Verma, Ayaz Memon, Boria Majumdar, Cyriac Abby Philips, Faye D’Souza, Gagan Gill, Gulzar, Irwin Allan Sealy, Jaspreet Bindra, Javed Akhtar, Jerry Pinto, Juhi Babbar, Kaushik Basu, Mazda Turel, Naman Ahuja, Pavan K Varma, Ramachandra Guha, Ratna Pathak Shah, Ria Chopra, Shanta Gokhale, Shashi Tharoor, Shefali Shah and Sonali Kulkarni, among others.

With such a diverse gathering, expect conversations that move effortlessly from the page to the stage — and from the past into the future.

4. Celebrating literary excellence

A major highlight of the festival will once again be the Godrej Literature Live! Literary Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions to the literary world.

The awards will include honours for Lifetime Achievement and Poet Laureate, along with recognition for Fiction, Non-fiction and Business books.

For book lovers, it is an opportunity to discover some of the most compelling writing and writers shaping contemporary India.

5. The Great Debate is back

Few things are more enjoyable than a spirited exchange of ideas — and the festival’s much-loved Great Debate promises exactly that.

Expect compelling arguments, contrasting perspectives and the kind of conversations that continue long after the session ends.

6. From book launches to performances, there’s plenty to do

The festival programme goes well beyond panel discussions.

Visitors can look forward to Book in Focus sessions, book launches, workshops, international performances and, of course, the ever-popular book swap.

So come for a conversation, stay for a performance, discover a new author and perhaps leave with a new-to-you book!

7. A stronger spotlight on inclusion

The 2026 edition continues its commitment to creating space for a wider range of voices.

Alongside the Godrej DEI Lab, the festival will continue to foreground voices from the LGBTQIA+ community and minority groups, adding important perspectives to its larger programme of conversations.

It is this diversity of experiences and ideas that makes a literature festival feel truly reflective of the society around it.

8. Little readers get their own festival too

The love of reading starts young — and the festival has something special for Mumbai’s younger bookworms.

The Literature Live! Little Festival, presented in collaboration with the HT Parekh Foundation, will feature specially curated sessions for children.

A wonderful excuse, perhaps, for parents to introduce their little ones to the magic of stories, books and big ideas.

9. A partnership that feels very Mumbai

This year’s new association with Godrej Industries Group brings together two institutions with a deep connection to Mumbai and its cultural spirit.

For more than a century, Godrej has stood at the intersection of art and industry, poetry and progress — an idea reflected in its philosophy of the “Genius of &”.

Its refreshed narrative, “Crafting Tomorrow”, finds a natural connection with a festival that celebrates ideas, imagination and the people shaping the future.

As Sujit Patil, Chief Communications Officer, Godrej Industries Group, puts it, Godrej has long been a house of “poets and engineers; of people who dream and people who build” — a duality that lies at the heart of its purpose, “Crafting tomorrow since 1897.”

For the festival, the association marks a new chapter. For Mumbai, it means another reason to celebrate its extraordinary appetite for culture and conversation.

10. Why Mumbai should have this weekend on its cultural calendar

There is something uniquely special about experiencing literature in Mumbai.

Perhaps it is the sea breeze outside the NCPA. Perhaps it is the chance encounter with a writer whose work you have admired. Or perhaps it is simply sitting among hundreds of people who are equally curious about a new idea.

Godrej Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest has, over the years, become one of those city events that feels distinctly Mumbai — thoughtful, energetic, inclusive and wonderfully eclectic.

This October, expect three days filled with words, stories, arguments, performances, books and plenty of inspiration.

And who knows? You may just walk into the NCPA looking for a good literary conversation and walk out with a new favourite author, a new book — or a completely new way of looking at something.

EVENT AT A GLANCE

What: Godrej Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest 2026
Edition: 17th Edition
When: October 23–25, 2026
Where: National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai
Title Partner: Godrej Industries Group
Highlights: Literary Awards, Great Debate, Book in Focus, book launches, workshops, international performances, book swap and more
For young readers: Literature Live! Little Festival in collaboration with HT Parekh Foundation
Focus areas: Literature, cinema, journalism, economics, medicine, history, arts, sport, technology, environment, identity and the digital ecosystem

Three days. Countless stories. One very Mumbai celebration of the power of words.