Shillong, October 9: The Shillong Literary Festival 2026 has announced Booker Prize-winning authors Kiran Desai and Damon Galgut for its sixth edition, adding two of the most distinguished voices in contemporary fiction to its international line-up. Their participation strengthens the festival’s growing stature as a literary destination, bringing global storytelling to the heart of Northeast India.
The event will be held from November 12 to 14, at Ward’s Lake, Shillong
Kiran Desai, who won the 2006 Booker Prize for The Inheritance of Loss, returns to the literary spotlight following the 2025 Booker Prize shortlist for her latest novel, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. Also, the author of Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard, Desai is widely recognised for her nuanced exploration of migration, identity, family and the intersections of personal lives with larger social realities.
Joining her is South African novelist and playwright Damon Galgut, who won the 2021 Booker Prize for The Promise. Shortlisted for the prestigious award three times, Galgut has earned international acclaim for his distinctive narrative style and incisive engagement with history, memory, family and the legacies of apartheid. He published his first novel at the age of 17.
The announcement marks the first major names in the line-up for the sixth edition, with more celebrated authors, thought leaders and literary voices set to be announced in the coming weeks, building anticipation for three days of conversations, ideas and storytelling in Shillong.
The festival’s pre-event programme will feature First Bloom: Discovering New Writing from the Northeast, an open call for emerging writers in fiction and narrative non-fiction, with entries closing on October 20 and a total prize pool of Rs 75,000, including Rs 50,000 for the winner and Rs 25,000 for the runner-up.
The festival will also host three workshops at the State Convention Centre, Shillong:
- Career Prospects by Kanishka Gupta (October 26, 10:30 AM): A 360-degree overview of careers in the book industry, spanning publishing, book publicity, literary agencies, editing, and the challenges and opportunities presented by AI.
- Creative Writing by Mitra Phukan and Lalnunsanga Ralte (October 26, 3:00 PM): A workshop exploring the craft of creative writing with two established literary voices.
- Ways of Visual Practice by Menty Jamir, Indrajit Khambe and Bipin Aspatwar (November 11, 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM): A photography workshop featuring conversations, practical sessions, portfolio reviews and reflections on developing a visual perspective, finding stories in everyday life, and cultivating observation.
The 6th Shillong Literary Festival will be held from November 12 to 14, 2026, at Ward’s Lake, Shillong, supported by the Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya. The festival will bring together writers, thinkers and readers while celebrating the literary heritage and storytelling traditions of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo communities alongside wider national and international narratives.q
