National Book Trust, India to Organise 4th Pune Book Festival 2026
The National Book Trust, India is set to bring the fourth edition of the Pune Book Festival, reaffirming the city’s growing reputation as a vibrant hub for books, reading and literary culture. The nine-day festival will bring together authors, publishers, booksellers, readers, children and cultural enthusiasts through a diverse programme of books, conversations, performances and creative activities.
The Pune Book Festival, organised by the National Book Trust, India, has emerged as a major celebration of books, reading, literature and culture, bringing together readers, authors, publishers, students, children and the wider community. Building on its previous editions, the 4th edition will be held from 12 to 20 December 2026 at Fergusson College, Pune. It will offer a vibrant, multilingual literary and cultural experience, focused on promoting reading, encouraging children and young readers, and celebrating India’s diverse literary traditions.
Key Highlights of Pune Book Festival 2026
– Author’s Corner: dedicated spaces for author interactions, book launches, conversations, signings and discussions, with a special focus on Marathi literature alongside other Indian languages.
– 3-Day Pune Lit Festival: a three-day literary programme with prominent authors, writers, thinkers, artists and public personalities, through conversations, panels and thematic sessions.
– Daily cultural programme: performances and cultural programmes celebrating the artistic traditions of Maharashtra and India across all nine days.
– Daily children’s activities: storytelling, creative workshops, interactive sessions, literary activities, art and puppetry, building a love of reading early and drawing lakhs of children.
– Book exhibition and sales: publishers and booksellers offering books across languages, genres and age groups.
A Festival with a Growing Legacy
The 2025 edition, the third, was attended by Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and featured Dr. S. Jaishankar, Ricky Kej, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Banu Mushtaq, among other literary and cultural figures.
The Festival is known for large-scale public participation and Guinness World Records. It has so far been associated with 13 Guinness World Records, including the largest book mosaic, the largest book sculpture and the largest online photo album of books.
The 4th edition will build on this legacy, expanding the Festival’s literary, cultural and public-engagement dimensions and strengthening Pune’s identity as a vibrant centre for books and reading.