Aligarh Literature Festival to be held from December, 2026; aims to build a global platform for literary and cultural dialogue

• Aligarh Literature Festival debuts with a vision to celebrate literature, ideas, culture and inclusivity  

NEW DELHI: The Aligarh Literature Festival (ALF), a new literary and cultural initiative aimed at creating a global platform for dialogue, creativity, and exchange of ideas, is scheduled to be held from December, 2026, in the historic city of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. 

Known for its deep-rooted tradition of learning, scholarship, and intellectual movements, Aligarh has been home to generations of scholars, writers, reformers, and thinkers who have shaped ideas and inspired social change. Taking forward this rich legacy, the Aligarh Literature Festival seeks to provide a contemporary space where literature, culture, arts, and diverse voices can come together. 

The Aligarh Literature Festival was formally announced at the India International Centre, New Delhi, in the presence of Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, former Governor of Assam & Nagaland ; Prof. Jasim Mohammad, Chairman, Centre for NaMo Studies; Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari, former Chief Justice of Patna High Court; Swami Devendra Brahmachari; Maya Kulshreshtha, Member, Rajbhasha Samiti, Ministry of Home Affairs; Jawaid Rahmani & Prof Divya Tanwar along with several eminent scholars, educators, and cultural personalities. 

The festival is expected to bring together some of India’s leading literary and creative voices, including Film Director Mahesh Bhatt, MP Kangna Ranaut, renowned poet Wasim Barelvi, eminent poet and critic Ashok Vajpeyi, celebrated writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar, along with _Kiran Bedi IPS, Padma Shri Ananad Kumar, BLF’s Dr Aparna Singh, Journalist Anil Maheshwari, Prof Rahman Mussavvir and other distinguished writers, poets, artists, academics, and cultural thinkers. 

Welcoming the initiative, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, former Governor of Assam, said that the Aligarh Literature Festival represents an important effort to promote literature, dialogue, and cultural understanding. 

Speaking about the vision of the festival, Prof. Jasim Mohammad, Founder of the Aligarh Literature Festival, said ALF has been envisioned as a celebration of ideas, stories, and human connections. 

“The Aligarh Literature Festival is a celebration of creativity, knowledge, and the human spirit. Literature has the power to bring people together beyond cultures and boundaries and helps us understand different perspectives,” he said.