2025 Galle Literary Festival: Some early highlights
View(s):The Galle Literary Festival has unveiled its literary programme for 2025. With over 100 talks, workshops and events from February 6-9, the festival’s dominating themes will centre around home and identity, legacy and global cultural connections.
The Festival presents a strong opening with Shyam Selvadurai, Afua Hirsch and Sathnam Sanghera and closes with an all-Sri Lankan panel on identity in books.
Some early highlights from the 2025 Galle Literary Festival programme:
Catalysts of Creativity: Why Writing Prizes Matter-Romesh Gunesekera, Maduranga Kalugampitiya and Kate Mosse with Louise Minchin
A New Wave of Democracy in South Asia?
Daniel Alphonsus & Peter Frankopan with Rahul Jacob
Behind the Curtain: Writing for Theatre
Michael Attenborough, Jenny Erpenbeck and Greg Mosse with Tracy Holsinger
Legacy: Who Do We Choose to Remember?
Afua Hirsch, Simon Lister and Ben Macintyre in conversation with Julia Wheeler
AI in Writing: Friend, Foe or Tool?
Adam Rutherford and Yudhanjaya Wijeratne
Worrell: Caribbean Cricket & Post-Independence Identity
Simon Lister in conversation with Simon Parker
Repatriation: Objects of Empire
Naazima Kamardeen, Sathnam Sanghera and Nicholas Thomas with Georgina Godwin
Wild Encounters, Wise Choices: Shaping Sustainable Wildlife Tourism
Saba Douglas-Hamilton and Manori Gunawardena in conversation with Anushka Wijesinha
“We’re thrilled to share this year’s programme, which represents our most dynamic lineup to date,” said Saskia Walker, Festival Curator. “With brilliant guests joining us from within Sri Lanka and abroad, we have put together an array of inspiring and engaging discussions, creating a platform for curiosity, creativity and global conversations in Galle. We look forward to welcoming everyone to celebrate the power of stories and ideas at GLF this coming February.”
Outside of the festival pass sessions, the vibrant calendar of events includes literary lunches and dinners and cultural and nature explorations. The Festival’s tea-and-poetry sessions and social soirées provide an opportunity to connect with authors in a comfortable setting.
The South brims with entertainment during the Festival. In addition to interactive workshops led by visiting speakers, panel discussions and solo presentations, there will be jazz evenings, comedy sets, dance and drama performances and screenings, offering vibrant and diverse experiences.
Festival passes are now available from galleliteraryfestival.com
Festival passes: Rs. 45,000
Day passes: Rs. 12,000 – Rs. 15,000
Festival passes include access to talks highlighted in the programme.
Tickets for lunches, dinners and workshops are individually priced and go on sale in January.
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