George Town Literary Festival | George Town
Celebration
The 2026 George Town Literary Festival, Malaysia's most important international literary festival and its 16th edition, will be held from November 27th to 29th in George Town, Penang, a UNESCO World Heritage city. The festival, themed "Metropolis," explores the essence of the city as an intersection of language, faith, memory, and possibility through literature, translation, history, and food culture. It brings together 53 speakers from 20 countries and regions (including 16 local voices such as the National Poet Laureate and Booker Prize-winning author). The event will feature a rich array of activities at historical and cultural venues such as Wisma Yeap Chor Ee, Bangunan U.A.B., and the Penang State Museum, including panel discussions, literary dialogues, readings, book launches, workshops, and student projects. It will also include a special opening ceremony, "Letters from Penang's Diaspora," a rainforest stage reading, and a midnight dialogue with signing events. Many activities are free to the public, aiming to explore diversity, coexistence, and identity through literary dialogue.