The second edition of the Sikkim Arts and Literature Festival (SALF) 2026 will be held at Ridge Park in Gangtok from October 28 to 30. The three-day festival will bring together writers, poets, artists, thinkers and cultural practitioners from Sikkim, across India and beyond.
Organised by the Students’ Welfare Board under the Education Department of the Sikkim government, the festival is being produced by Teamwork Arts, known for producing the Jaipur Literature Festival. The event is an initiative of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) and will remain free and open to the public.
Festival to Connect Himalayan Stories with Global Conversations
SALF 2026 aims to showcase Sikkim’s literary traditions, diverse communities, languages, histories and oral storytelling heritage.
The programme will explore themes including identity, memory, belonging, contemporary culture and the Himalayan landscape. It will also address climate change, biodiversity, wildlife conservation, folklore, mental health, architecture and literature from the Northeast.
Organisers aim to create a platform where local voices can engage with national and international perspectives.
William Dalrymple, Mamang Dai Among Featured Speakers
The festival will feature several prominent writers and cultural figures, including William Dalrymple, Mamang Dai, Ranjit Hoskote, Chuden Kabimo, Nawaraj Parajuli, Yuvan Aves, Guru T. Ladakhi and Stephen Alter.
The programme will include discussions, poetry presentations, literary sessions, music, book launches and workshops.
One of the key sessions, ‘Echoes of Verse’, will feature Mamang Dai and Ranjit Hoskote in conversation with Guru T. Ladakhi. The discussion will explore poetry, memory, landscape and lived experiences.
Another programme, ‘Kavita Concert: Beats of Poetry’, will feature poet Nawaraj Parajuli, bringing poetry to the stage through performance.
Sessions to Explore Identity and Himalayan Life
The session ‘These Hills Called Home’ will bring together Chuden Kabimo and Stephen Alter in conversation with Sharda Chhetri. It will examine identity, belonging, memory and the relationship between people and the Himalayan landscape.
Another session, ‘A Borderland State of Mind’, will feature Akhilesh Upadhyay, Pema Wangchuk Dorjee and Satyadeep S. Chettri in conversation with Anuradha Sharma.
The discussion will focus on experiences and identities shaped by life in borderland regions. These sessions will connect personal stories and regional experiences with wider cultural conversations.
Workshops to Encourage Young Readers
Youth engagement will remain a central part of the festival.
Gangtok-based creative organisations Tangible Tangerines and Mind Matters will facilitate workshops for children and young adults. The activities aim to encourage creativity, critical thinking and cultural exchange.
The festival also forms part of the wider ‘Read and Grow’ initiative, which seeks to strengthen reading habits among students.
Organisers said the programme would provide young audiences with opportunities to interact with established writers, artists and thinkers.
Organisers Highlight Community Participation
Gangtok MLA Delay Namgyal Barfungpa said the festival could help promote reading habits and strengthen the city’s cultural environment.
Soreng-Chakung MLA Aditya Golay Tamang highlighted the role of the Students’ Welfare Board in bringing the festival to a wider audience.
Board chairman Sonam Chopel Sherpa said the event would create opportunities for students to engage with literature, art and ideas.
Teamwork Arts senior vice-president Syed Shams Jawaid said the festival would bring together voices from Sikkim, the wider Himalayan region, India and beyond.
Free Entry for Visitors
The Sikkim Arts and Literature Festival 2026 will be held at Ridge Park, Gangtok, from October 28 to 30. Registration is available free of cost through the festival’s official website.
With literary discussions, poetry, performances and workshops, the second edition aims to strengthen Sikkim’s cultural presence while encouraging young people to participate in creative and intellectual exchanges.