Global literary stars to headline 10th Neev Literature Festival in Bengaluru

BENGALURU, SEPT 17: International literary stars, leading Indian authors and illustrators, and thousands of young readers are set to converge in Bengaluru for the 10th edition of the Neev Literature Festival (NLF), scheduled to be held on September 26 and 27.

The festival, themed “Stories from the Heart,” will be hosted at the Neev Academy campus in Yemalur and will feature 80 delegates, 105 sessions and more than 2,000 curated children’s titles. The two-day event is free and open to all.

The 2026 edition will bring together an international line-up of acclaimed creators from the fields of children’s literature, fantasy, illustration and publishing. Among the featured speakers are New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Corinna Luyken, British fantasy writer Frances Hardinge, and US author M.T. Anderson, a Newbery Honor and National Book Award recipient.

Other international participants include Christopher Myers, a Caldecott Honoree and head of the Make Me A World imprint at Penguin Random House US; New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed; Namrata Tripathi, president and publisher of Kokila Books; and Caldecott Honoree Angie Kang.

They will share the stage with 66 Indian writers, illustrators, editors and other creators, including Devika Rangachari, Anushka Ravishankar, Shabnam Minwalla, Nina Sabnani, Priya Kuriyan, Suprita Das, Kunaal Majgaonkar, Sayoni Basu and Shobha Viswanath.

Designed for children aged three to 18, the festival will feature masterclasses, book readings, signings and panel discussions covering writing, illustration, book production and emerging trends in publishing.

The festival will also place a strong focus on parents and educators, with its marketplace offering more than 2,000 curated children’s titles and programmes aimed at encouraging reading and engagement with literature.

The 10th edition follows a strong response to last year’s festival, which attracted more than 4,700 visitors, reflecting growing interest in children’s literature and reading-focused events.

A key highlight this year will be the announcement of the Neev Book Award for the best Indian children’s book published during the past year. The winner will receive a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh, along with a trophy and citation. Each of the five shortlisted authors will receive Rs 1 lakh.

The festival will also host the finals of the national NLF Reading Challenge Quiz for children aged nine to 12. The top four teams will compete for the grand prize after emerging from a field of 707 participating teams.

The organisers said the festival aims to create an inclusive platform connecting children, families, educators and creators while encouraging young readers to discover new stories, voices and forms of storytelling.

With its 10th edition, NLF is expanding its focus beyond books and authors to encompass the wider ecosystem of reading, creativity and children’s publishing.