The White Owl Literature Festival & Book Fair will return in 2026 with its third edition, and this time it will once again shine a light on the rich storytelling traditions of Northeast India. The festival will be held in Nagaland from February 5 to 7, and will bring together writers, artists, performers, and readers from across the region and the country.The festival will take place at Zone Niathu by The Park in Chümoukedima, near Dimapur. The theme for the event is “Celebrating Stories, Inspiring Minds.” Organisers say the focus will be on both old and new storytelling traditions — from age-old oral histories to modern literature. The festival is being organised by Penguin Random House India, in partnership with The White Owl, a literary institute that works to promote reading and writing in the Northeast.
Several well-known names from the world of books and the arts are expected to attend. These include author Daribha Lyndem, Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar winner Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, actor Merenla Imsong, known from the web series Paatal Lok Season 2, and noted musician Alobo Naga. Organisers say more speakers and performers will also be part of the programme.Festival Director Viketuno Rio said the event has steadily grown over the years while remaining closely connected to the culture of the Northeast. He said the 2026 edition will bring together voices from the region as well as from across India, creating space for conversations on stories, identity, and creativity. The three-day festival will feature discussions, readings, workshops, and interactive sessions. Topics will include children’s reading, fiction and non-fiction writing, translation, mental health, culture, media literacy, podcasting, social media, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, and legacy-building.
One of the major attractions will be Penguin’s writing mentorship programme “The Perfect Pitch.” Through this initiative, new and unpublished writers from across India are invited to submit stories inspired by the Northeast. Entries will remain open until January 10, 2026.Programme Director Deepthi Talwar, who is also an Executive Editor at Penguin Random House India, said the festival aims to bring together a wide group of creative people — including storytellers, translators, podcasters, academics, illustrators, and entrepreneurs. She said the event has become one of the most thoughtfully planned literary gatherings in the region. Tickets for the festival are available online. However, students from schools and colleges will be given free entry on showing valid identity cards. The organisers hope this will encourage more young people to attend and develop an interest in reading and writing.
