New Delhi: The Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) will host the 66th SAARC Literature Festival in the capital from November 9 to 12, 2025, bringing together leading writers, poets, scholars, and cultural thinkers from across South Asia.
Participants from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives, and Afghanistan are confirmed, while Pakistan will not take part this year.
The four-day event will take place at the Academy of Fine Arts and Literature in Siri Fort Institutional Area, running daily from 10 am to 6 pm. The festival will feature poetry sessions, literary readings, discussions on contemporary themes, cultural performances, and conversations focused on shared heritage and artistic exchange across borders.
The festival will open with a special inaugural session. Padma Shri Ajeet Cour, celebrated writer and FOSWAL President, will lead the ceremony. Madhav Kaushik, President of Sahitya Akademi, will attend as the chief guest, while noted political psychologist Ashis Nandy will deliver the keynote address.
Senior diplomats, including the High Commissioners and Ambassadors of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Maldives, along with KS Rao, Secretary of Sahitya Akademi, will be present as guests of honour.
Ajeet Cour said the festival stands as a reminder that art has the power to build bridges where politics creates distance. She has been central to this initiative since its inception in 1986, championing literature and cultural dialogue as a means to strengthen South Asian unity.
FOSWAL holds a unique position as the only recognised non-governmental platform across all SAARC nations dedicated to cultural diplomacy and creative collaboration. Over the decades, it has led landmark literary interactions, including the first visit of Pakistani writers to India after Partition in 1987 and a reciprocal literary caravan to Pakistan in 2002. Its efforts also contributed to cultural cooperation being formally included in the SAARC Charter during the Kathmandu summit in 2005.
This year’s festival aims to deepen those connections, spotlight emerging voices, and celebrate the shared history, imagination, and artistic spirit of the region. With discussions spanning identity, modern storytelling, folklore, and peace-building through creativity, the gathering will reinforce the idea that literature remains one of South Asia’s most powerful tools for dialogue and understanding.
