Jaipur Literature Festival Expands to 7 North American Cities in 2026

The Jaipur Literature Festival is expanding its presence in North America, with its US and Canadian editions set to travel across seven cities between September 11 and October 4.

The expanded programme will bring together more than 100 writers, thinkers, historians, artists, entrepreneurs and other cultural figures. The speaker line-up includes author and politician Shashi Tharoor, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Kai Bird, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, Booker Prize-winning author Yann Martel and economist Arvind Subramanian.

The 2026 North American edition will take place across North Carolina, Los Angeles, Seattle, Colorado, Toronto, New York and Houston. Organisers have described it as the festival's largest presence in North America so far.

Los Angeles and Toronto will host the festival for the first time as part of the expanded seven-city programme.

The events will explore a wide range of subjects, including Artificial Intelligence, technology, geopolitics, history, empire, Indigenous rights, climate change, faith, migration, the Indian diaspora, entrepreneurship, art and food.

The programme will examine issues shaping contemporary society, including the impact of AI on work, culture and communities as well as changes in the global balance of power.

Jaipur Literature Festival's seven-city schedule

The North American programme will begin in North Carolina from September 11 to 13.

Los Angeles will host the festival from September 14 to 16, followed by Seattle from September 17 to 20. The programme will then move to Colorado from September 22 to 23.

Toronto will host the festival from September 25 to 26, followed by New York from September 29 to 30. The North American programme will conclude in Houston from October 2 to 4.

Alongside the literary sessions, the festival will feature a travelling visual art exhibition by documentary photographer Vicky Roy. His work will be displayed in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Locally tailored programmes across cities

The organisers said the programme will be adapted according to the interests and requirements of audiences in each city rather than following an identical format everywhere.

The festival's international editions are being developed in collaboration with local institutions and cultural organisations. This approach allows each edition to reflect the character of its host city and create conversations around issues relevant to local communities.

The programme is expected to feature approximately 35% fiction and 65% non-fiction. The discussions will cover areas ranging from mathematics and science to history, politics, sociology, philosophy, food, gender and migration.

The organisers have also highlighted the importance of connecting the arts and sciences. The idea is that creative thinking combined with scientific discipline can contribute to innovation and help shape modern economies.

Speakers at JLF North America

Alongside Shashi Tharoor and Kai Bird, the programme will feature Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani, author Sam Dalrymple, diplomat and author Lakshmi Puri, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Vijay Seshadri and Indian-American businessman Kanwal Rekhi.

The diverse speaker line-up is expected to bring together perspectives from literature, politics, history, economics, science, business and the arts.

The Jaipur Literature Festival is held annually in Jaipur, while its international editions are organised across regions including Australia, Europe, North America, Ireland, the UK and West Asia.

The festival began expanding internationally in 2014 with its first London edition. Its Jaipur edition is also preparing for its 20th edition in 2027.