Sikkim Arts and Literature Festival will return to Gangtok from October 28 to 30, bringing writers, poets, artists, performers and cultural practitioners together for a three-day celebration of literature, art and cultural exchange. The second edition will be held at Ridge Park and is expected to strengthen Gangtok’s position as a platform for creative and intellectual engagement in the Eastern Himalayas.
Sikkim Arts and Literature Festival dates confirmed
The organisers have confirmed that the festival will take place from October 28 to 30 at Ridge Park, near White Hall in Gangtok. The event is being presented by the Students’ Welfare Board under the Education Department, Government of Sikkim, in collaboration with Teamwork Arts, the producers of the Jaipur Literature Festival.
The dates were discussed at a preliminary meeting in Gangtok on September 29, where officials and representatives involved in the festival reviewed preparations and the programme for the three-day event. Gangtok MLA Delay Namgyal Barfungpa, Soreng-Chakung MLA Aditya Golay, Gangtok Mayor Tshering Palden Bhutia and Sikkim Students Welfare Board chairman Sonam Chopel Sherpa were among those involved in the preparations.
A platform for writers and artists
The festival will bring together creative voices from Sikkim, the Northeast, other parts of India and beyond. Its programme is expected to include literary discussions, poetry, performances, workshops and conversations around culture and contemporary issues.
The official festival platform lists themes including climate change, biodiversity, culture, folklore, mental health and contemporary literature. It also highlights the importance of connecting local heritage and storytelling traditions with wider national and international conversations.
Earlier planning by the state government also identified areas such as wellbeing through art, climate and environment, illustration, visual storytelling, performing arts, science communication, wildlife conservation, translation, technology and creativity as potential areas for sessions and workshops.
Strong focus on young readers
A major objective of the festival is to encourage young people to read and engage with literature at a time when digital media and artificial intelligence are reshaping how students access information.
At the September 29 preparatory meeting, Barfungpa stressed the importance of reviving reading habits among students and youth. He said platforms of this kind can encourage young people to reconnect with books, learning and intellectual engagement.
The state government had earlier planned active participation from schools and universities, including Nepali-language sessions. A distinctive initiative also allows local students to act as guides for visiting authors, creating opportunities for mentorship and direct interaction.
Why the festival was moved to October
The second edition was initially planned for April 26 to 28. Organisers later postponed the event to October. The change followed scheduling considerations around Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sikkim during the original festival dates and the security arrangements required in Gangtok.
Ridge Park, the planned festival venue, is located close to the Chief Minister’s official residence and within an area affected by heightened security requirements during a high-profile visit. Organisers subsequently selected October, when the monsoon season would have passed and Gangtok could host the event in more favourable conditions.
Local culture at the centre
The Sikkim Arts and Literature Festival is also designed to give local writers, artists and performers a prominent role. Government planning documents said local creative voices would remain at the core of the programme, alongside visiting authors and artists.
The festival is being positioned around knowledge, literature and creative tourism. The state government has said the event can help strengthen Sikkim’s profile as a cultural and literary destination while supporting wider tourism objectives.
With its mix of literary conversations, artistic performances, workshops and cultural activities, the October edition is expected to provide a meeting point for established creators, emerging talent, students and audiences.
As Gangtok prepares for the three-day programme, the Sikkim Arts and Literature Festival is set to bring together local traditions and contemporary ideas from October 28 to 30. The event will offer Sikkim another opportunity to showcase its diverse cultural voices while creating space for young readers, artists and audiences to participate in a wider conversation about literature, creativity and the Eastern Himalayas.