By Galle Literary Festival
The Galle Literary Festival, taking place from February 6–9, has grown into one of South Asia’s most anticipated literary events since its launch in 2007.
Most event tickets have been sold out .
The festival celebrates all forms of creative expression, showcasing the works of writers and poets while also featuring painters, dancers, chefs, architects, photographers, and cinematographers.
Literary Lineup
This year’s literary festival boasts an impressive roster of writers, including:
Romesh Gunasekara- Prominent Writer
Kate Mosse – Adventure and ghost story writer
Saba Douglas-Hamilton – Raised among elephants in Tanzania by her renowned zoologist parents, now an anthropologist and wildlife filmmaker
Peter Frankopan – Oxford history professor
Simon Parker – British travel writer
Jenny Erpenbeck – International Booker Prize winner
Greg Mosse, Helen MacDonald, Ben Macintyre, and more
Gourmet Galle – The Food Festival
Among the chefs participating in Gourmet Galle, mother-daughter duo Andi and Miquita Oliver will bring Caribbean flavors and spice, while Ravinder Bhogal shares her experiences running Jikoni, a chic London restaurant specializing in British immigrant cuisine.
Art Trail by ARTRA
The Art Trail by ARTRA, running alongside the literary festival, will feature art exhibitions, art walks, and Meet the Artist sessions. The event also marks the launch of ARTRA Magazine’s South Asian Contemporary Art Edition 68 (2025).
The line-up includes contemporary artists from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, such as:
Ali Kazim, Tayeba Begum Lipi, and Anoli Perera, whose works are housed in major collections like the Tate, Qatar Museums, and the Guggenheim.
Pushpakumara Koralagedara, a key figure in Sri Lanka’s 1990s art movement, known for addressing the brutality of the civil war.
Gihan de Chickera, a political cartoonist presenting a segment on comics and satirical drawings.
Children’s Festival
The Children’s Festival will take place at the Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum, Koggala, on February 8. Early learning specialist Shanya Perera and origami artist Shazad Synon will lead an action-packed morning filled with storytelling, puppetry, a “Smile Safari,” and craft activities-click here for Literature Festival Web Site
