Government Of Ireland And Teamwork Arts Announce JLF: Island Of Ireland Edition

At the 19th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), the Government of Ireland, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Teamwork Arts have announced a landmark three-year partnership to bring an all-island edition of the festival to Ireland.

JLF is one of the world’s largest free literary festivals, celebrated annually in Jaipur, India. It was founded in 2006 by celebrated authors Namita Gokhale, Anita Anand and William Dalrymple and produced by Sanjoy Roy of Teamwork Arts. The festival is attended by thousands of readers each year - young and old - and attracts the participation of major international writers. It is also an annual opportunity for debate on a wide range of current affairs topics, both domestic and geo-political.

Due to its growing global reputation, JLF expanded internationally with editions of the festival taking place in other parts of the world. For over a decade, the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi and Culture Ireland have been strong supporters of the festival and have supported the attendance of a range of Irish writers and poets.

The all island edition will be a 10-day festival, taking place in May 2026 (22nd – 31st), starting off in Belfast, then travelling to Armagh and Dundalk, before ending in Dublin. Speakers confirmed for the festival so far include Jeet Thayil, Kavita Puri, Michelle Gallen, Tishani Doshi, William Dalrympie and Jane Ohlmeyer.

The Island of Ireland JLF will have a distinctive historical focus, exploring the places of Ireland and India within the empire: how each was shaped by the experience, where and how their stories intersected, where they sat in the sweep of world history, and what that means for their societies and relations today. It will bring together leading voices from politics, science, and the arts, from the island of Ireland and abroad. It will engage with the growing Indian diaspora on the island, a key thread in the Ireland-India relationship.

Speaking at the launch, Ambassador of Ireland to India Kevin Kelly said: “Ireland’s partnership with Teamwork Arts reflects the growing depth of Ireland-India relations. The all island edition also contributes to building a more shared island: one that better understands how we came to be the way we are and where Ireland and India fit in the wider world. Music, food, and spectacle will bring people together across the border and across communities. We hope this partnership shares the best of Irish art, literature and culture and leads to even greater collaboration with India in the future.”