Kathmandu. The organizers of the Himalayan Literature Festival and Writers Workshop 2026 have officially announced the upcoming edition of one of South Asia’s premier international literary gatherings. Poets, novelists, memoirists, translators, filmmakers, scholars, journalists and emerging writers from Nepal and the world will participate in the festival.

This year’s eight-day international event, being conducted in collaboration with Ncell Foundation, is dedicated to recognizing his long-lasting contribution to Nepali literature.

This year’s festival to be held in Kathmandu from May 29 to June 5, 2026 will focus on the themes of healing, awareness, creativity, memory and cultural dialogue in a rapidly changing world. The week-long programme will include master classes, workshops, keynote addresses, poetry readings, literary dialogues, film screenings, cultural tours and interdisciplinary discussions focusing on the transformative power of literature and art.

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Tracy K. Renowned novelist Jean Hanff Korelitz, poet and translator Tony Barnstone, world-renowned Himalayan poet Yuyutsu Sharma, Irish literary editor Martin Doyle, Brooklyn poet laureate Tina Chang, and other literary personalities from Nepal, India, Ireland, Austria, Poland, the United States of America and other countries will participate in the event.

The festival will be inaugurated with a special ceremony to celebrate the confluence of Himalayan and world literary traditions. Throughout the festival, sessions will be held on diverse topics such as poetry, memoirs, magical realism, artificial intelligence (AI) and creative writing, women’s literature, indigenous fiction, trauma and healing, meditation and creation, translation, performing arts and the future of literature in the digital age.

Speaking at a press conference organized in Kathmandu on Sunday, Yuyutsu Sharma, the organizer of Himalayan Literature Festival and Rights 2026, said, “Literature is not a luxury. It is the oldest means of healing with human civilization. The festival is a glorious celebration of the Himalayan nation of Nepal, its rich cultural heritage and vibrant lifestyle. The festival highlights Nepal’s pride on the world stage. ”

Through this collaboration, Ncell Foundation will contribute to preserve and promote Nepal’s rich literary and cultural heritage, to create a meaningful forum for dialogue, creativity, and cultural exchange globally.

“At Ncell Foundation, we believe that literature and storytelling will play an important role in preserving cultural heritage, inspiring creativity, and promoting meaningful dialogue. “Through this partnership with Himalayan Literature Festival, we are proud to support this platform that brings together creative voices from local and global while celebrating Nepal’s rich literary culture,” said Vishakha Laxmi Khadka, Corporate Communications, Marketing and Sustainability Director.

The main objective of the festival is to promote emerging literary voices. New talents will be encouraged through youth poetry stings, mentorship programs, workshops and international collaborations. Nepali poets and writers including Shailendra Sakar, Narayan Dhakal, Hari Adhikari, Usha Sherchan, Laxmi Mali and others will be present along with international literary guests, which will further strengthen Nepal’s growing presence in the international literary arena.

Irish, Austrian and Polish films based on poetry will be screened as part of the festival along with excursions to cultural and natural heritage sites such as Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bouddhanath, Budhanilkantha and Nagarkot, which will connect participants deeper with Nepal’s artistic, spiritual and cultural heritage.

The Himalayan Literature Festival and Writers’ Workshop, established as a platform for dialogue, creativity and intercultural understanding, has been further strengthening Kathmandu as a global literary destination and an important destination for diverse artistic voices.

During the press conference, trailers of two films based on poetry were shown. These include “Clouded Reveres,” based on the life of Irish poet and philosopher Doreen Ní Ghrifa, and “Wide Awake,” directed by Carola Mayer, about Austrian poet Bodo Hale. The film ‘I See My World Shaking’ based on Yuyutsu Sharma’s poem based on the 2015 Nepal earthquake by Stephen Bukas was also screened.