India has always been a country where literature has played a crucial role whether we’re talking about ancient India or modern India. India’s regional book fairs are more than just literary gatherings. They’re vibrant celebrations of language, culture, and storytelling. From the bustling lanes of the Kolkata Book Fair to the cozy stalls of Patna or Jaipur, each fair offers a unique glimpse into India’s diverse reading traditions. Here, authors meet their readers, local publishers find their audience, and literature comes alive in countless languages.
Here are top 10 book fairs in India, known for there wide range of books, cultural events, and participation by renowned authors, publishers and readers.
1. Jaipur Literature Festival (Jaipur, Rajasthan)
Described as the ‘greatest literary show on Earth’, the Jaipur Literature Festival is a sumptuous feast of ideas. The past 18 years have seen it transform into a global literary phenomenon, having hosted nearly 2000 speakers and welcoming over a million book lovers from across India and the globe.
Every year, the Festival brings together a diverse mix of the world’s greatest writers, thinkers, humanitarians, politicians, business leaders, sports people and entertainers on one stage to champion the freedom to express and engage in thoughtful debate and dialogue. Writers and Festival Directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple, alongside Festival producer Teamwork Arts, invite speakers to take part in the five-day programme set in the historic and dynamic state capital Jaipur.
The Festival has featured eminent speakers from various fields, including Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, Booker Prize winners, Sahitya Akademi Awardees, JCB and Baillie Gifford winners. With its rich tapestry of voices and ideas, musical performances, art installations, an artisanal shopping space, food stalls and a host of satellite events, the Festival continues to inspire and captivate attendees worldwide.
The 18th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival was a grand success, fostering literary thought and engaging with the most pertinent global themes. The Festival continues to be a forum for diverse perspectives and meaningful exchange and is a premier space for intellectual engagement, where ideas are debated and stories shared.
The 19th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival will be held from 15th-19th January, 2026, at Jaipur’s Hotel Clarks Amer and will host an impressive line-up of insightful sessions, performances, book signings, and the simultaneously held Jaipur BookMark and Jaipur Music Stage
2. New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF), Delhi
The New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF), being held for the past 53 years, is a major calendar event in the publishing world. NDWBF 2026 is scheduled to be held from 10 to 18 January 2026 in Halls 2-6 at the centrally located Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The Fair is organized by National Book Trust, India (under the Ministry of Education, Government of India). ITPO (under Ministry of Industry and Commerce) is the co-organiser/venue partner of the fair.
India is the third largest in the world in terms of publishing and book trade. NDWBF offers exhibitors a unique opportunity for business with this growing industry and serves as a gateway to the publishing and intellectual world of India.
3. Kolkata International Book Fair (Kolkata, West Bengal)
The Kolkata Literature Festival is probably the only lit fest that is held within a large book fair. It was started as an endeavor to cater to the growing book lovers and bring them closer to their authors but now it has also grown to open up doors for international literature and bring in visibility. Over the years, KLF have hosted more than 25 countries at Literature Festival with an average international participation of 6-7 countries per year.
Every year 65-70 authors, from all over India and abroad participate in the festival. KLF hosted international Man Booker shortlisted author Graeme Macrae Burnet, Val McDermid, The Lion author, Saroo Brierly, Preti Taneja of We That are Young and Maya Jasanoff of The Dawn Watch.
They have a strong presence of stalwarts of Bengali literature. From late Nirendranath Chakraborty to Sankha Ghosh, Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, Sanjib Chattopadhyay and Samaresh Majumdar, Bani Basu, everyone has supported the festival with their presence. KLF got support from all the leading Indian publishing presses as well, Westland, Penguin India, Harper Collins, Hachette among others. KLF hosted a number of international programs on the KLF stage. The Village, The City and The Valley project with Wales, the Bridges Beyond Boundaries project with Scotland and British Council and Bonjour India closing ceremony with France and the French book office.
4. Chennai International Book Fair (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
The Chennai International Book Fair (CIBF) is organized by the Tamil Nadu Government with the vision of “Taking Tamil to the World, Bringing the World to Tamil,” through global literature and cultural exchanges.
CIBF features a combination of International conferences, Rights trade, and Literary events. This B2B platform offers a unique opportunity for translators, writers, and publishers to meet in one place and engage in rights exchanges. It aims to foster global knowledge exchange and promote literary interactions among diverse cultures.
The Government of Tamil Nadu has successfully organized three editions of the CIBF in 2023, 2024, and 2025, achieving remarkable milestones. In CIBF 2023, 24 countries participated, and 365 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed. In CIBF 2024, 40 countries participated, and 752 MoUs were signed. In CIBF 2025, 64 countries participated, and 1,354 MoUs were signed between Indian publishers and their global counterparts for the exchange of translation copyrights.
5. Hyderabad Book Fair (Hyderabad, Telangana)
The Hyderabad Book Fair is one of South India’s most cherished literary events, celebrating the joy of reading and the vibrant world of books. Held annually, it brings together publishers, authors, readers, and students from across the country, transforming the city into a lively hub of literature and culture. The fair showcases a wide range of books in multiple languages from Telugu and English to Hindi and Urdu reflecting Hyderabad’s rich linguistic diversity. Beyond just book sales, it also hosts literary discussions, author interactions, and cultural performances, making it not just a marketplace for books but a true festival for book lovers.
Legacy of the Hyderabad Book Fair: First Hyderabad Book Fair was held in the year 1985 at City Central Library, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad. A few essential publishers and Booksellers participated in the fair. There was an enormous response from the book lovers and the people of Hyderabad. Later on, the Book Fairs were held at Nizam College Grounds, Public Gardens, Exhibition Grounds, Keshav Memorial High School Ground etc. For the last four years onwards it has been continuously running at Telangana Kala Bharati (NTR Grounds). Within a short time, Hyderabad Book Fair has become very popular throughout India.
6. Patna Book Fair (Patna, Bihar)
Patna Book Fair has been a significant cultural and educational event in Bihar since its inception in 1985. Organised by CRD, a registered trust under NGO Darpan of NITI Aayog, Patna Book Fair has grown into a major annual gathering, the third largest in India, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
Recognising the role of education as a big contributor in transforming lives, the organizers of the Patna Book Fair have built a robust platform to share and leverage views and news from the world of knowledge through the annual CRD Patna Book Fair – something that has come to be the most sought-after annual event on the calendar of the State’s who’s who, as well as the vast masses of common people.
Once again, Patna is set to host the eagerly awaited CRD Patna Book Fair in December 2025. Recognizing the need for a dynamic platform to exchange ideas and insights from the vast world of literature, the Patna Book Fair, which began its journey in 1985, now celebrates its 41st year. This year, the fair will be held from December 5th to 16th, 2025, at the historic Gandhi Maidan, Patna.
7. Pune International Literary Festival & Book Fair (Pune, Maharashtra)
Pune International Literary Festival (PILF) is the prime annual three-day literary festival of India. It is free for all to attend and aims to engage, explore, and experiment with all forms and genres of creativity. PILF is a festival with a heart, which celebrates the written word in all forms and media. Since its inception in 2013, hundreds of eminent authors, speakers, and creative personalities have played an important part in raising the bar of PILF.
PILF was mainly conceived, brought to life and solely sustained for all these years, by its founder director Dr. Manjiri Prabhu who herself is an English author and novelist. PILF vision is to engage, explore and experiment with all forms and genres of the written word inspiring you to fall in love with the written word… and light the lamp of knowledge!
PILF Mission
To give Pune its first ever English literary festival. To create an exciting and interactive platform in Pune for writers, publishers and readers. To showcase talented authors/writers/creative personalities from all media and demystify the gloss around the creative word.
8. Lucknow Book Fair
For book lovers in Lucknow, September was an unforgettable month, filled with the aroma of fresh paper and the excitement of discovering new stories. The city became a literary haven, hosting not one but two major book events: the 22nd National Book Fair at Balrampur Garden and the 4th Gomti Book Festival at Lucknow University. The events drew bibliophiles of all ages, from children enthusiastically flipping through picture books to adults eagerly hunting for the next great read.
The National Book Fair was a vibrant spectacle, with stalls showcasing a breathtaking variety of books. One could find timeless classics alongside the latest bestsellers, with a notable display of foreign works translated into Hindi, such as Dostoevsky’s Apradh aur Dand. Beyond the bustling aisles, the air was alive with cultural programs, creating a dynamic and engaging atmosphere that extended far beyond a simple book-buying experience.
The literary celebrations continued at the Gomti Book Festival, which focused on a more interactive and educational approach. Here, the focus was not just on sales but on fostering a deeper love for reading through workshops, author interactions, and lively panel discussions. It was a perfect blend of commerce and culture, providing a rich, multi-layered experience for attendees and leaving a lasting impression on all who participated.
9. Kerela Literary Festival & Book Fair (Kozhikode, Kerela)
Kerala Literature Festival (KLF), Asia’s largest literature festival, is all set to adorn the beaches of Kozhikode. The eighth edition of this festival will be held from the 23rd to the 26th of January 2025. KLF is bringing together 500 acclaimed speakers, including Nobel Laureates, Booker Prize winners, and celebrated writers and thinkers from across the globe, in over 300 sessions, with an expected footfall of more than half a million over the four days.
With its dynamic programming and dedication to promoting literature and the arts, KLF has earned international acclaim as a premier platform for literature, art, music, performance, cinema and dialogues. The most anticipated literature festival in Asia, KLF acts as a point of convergence, bringing the best of the literary world together.
Well known writer Prof. K Satchidandan is the festival Director. Supported by Government of Kerala, Kerala Tourism, and Department of Culture, and content curated by the editorial team of DC Books, KLF ensures a rich and engaging experience to all its participants.
10. Bangalore Book Festival (Bengaluru, Karnataka)
Beautiful gardens and parks, the gulmohar in full bloom, the most salubrious weather – Bengaluru has always inspired creative thinkers and authors. The Bangalore Literature Festival celebrates this creative spirit of the city popular as the Garden City of India and commemorates the literary diversity it offers, bringing it in conversation with the best minds in the world of literature within and outside India.
Founded in 2012, as a non-profit trust, the Bangalore Literature Festival has had thirteen successful editions to date with close to 2000 authors and speakers from India and abroad participating through the years. The founders conceptualized the Festival with the guiding principle of making it a flagship annual literature festival rooted in Bengaluru and with global aspirations and to create a compelling space for engaging and thought provoking discussions on literature and life.
The Festival is India’s largest independent and community-funded literary conclave and Bengaluru city’s flagship annual literary and cultural experience focused on rekindling the romance with literature and fostering fine reading and writing, especially amongst the young population of the city.
