Third Edition Of Chinar Book Festival To Transform Srinagar Into A Literary Hub From 18–26 July
Srinagar: Against the breathtaking backdrop of Dal Lake, the third edition of the Chinar Book Festival will bring together readers, writers, publishers and artists from across the country for nine days of literature, dialogue and cultural celebration from 18 to 26 July 2026. Organised by the National Book Trust, India, under the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the District Administration, Srinagar and the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), the festival will transform the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) into Kashmir’s largest literary and cultural celebration.
With more than 200 publishers and book stalls displaying titles in English, Urdu, Kashmiri, Hindi and several other Indian languages, the festival will offer readers, students, families and book enthusiasts a chance to be part of the growing culture of reading in Jammu & Kashmir.
This year’s Chinar Book Festival will be inaugurated on 18 July 2026 by Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, in the presence of senior officials of the district administration, School Education Department, Higher Education Department, NCPUL and National Book Trust, India.
Ahead of the press conference for the festival on 16 July, Shri Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, flagged off a Shikarathon, a unique literary prelude to the festival using the iconic shikaras of Dal Lake to celebrate books and reading. While addressing the press, officials also unveiled the festival’s tagline, “Together We Read, Together We Lead” (Mil Kar Padhenge, Mil Kar Badhenge), reflecting a commitment to promoting reading as a shared community movement.
Speaking to the press, Shri Akshay Labroo encouraged people from across Jammu & Kashmir to participate in the festival, emphasising its role as a platform for learning, creativity and inspiration. “The Chinar Book Festival is much more than a book fair. It will bring together authors, artists and eminent personalities from fields such as art, cinema and science, giving young people a unique opportunity to interact with them, learn from their experiences and pursue their own passions. I invite the people of Srinagar and across Jammu & Kashmir to visit the festival and witness the very best that the country has to offer,” he said.
Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India, said the third edition of the Chinar Book Festival has been envisioned as the largest literary and cultural celebration in the region. He added that the festival will host more than 800 artists, including local artists, authors, curators and performers, over nine days, providing them with a platform to showcase the best of their art. Inviting the people of Srinagar and neighbouring districts to participate, he said the festival would be a grand celebration of books, ideas and culture for readers of all ages.
Dr. Amit Wanchoo, Chief Convener of the Chinar Book Festival said that the book festival has been envisioned as a platform for the youth of Jammu & Kashmir. “Students from districts across the Union Territory will participate in the festival, providing them with a unique opportunity to engage with eminent authors, artists, scholars and innovators from across the country and broaden their horizons through books and dialogue,” he added.
He also announced a special Innovators’ Meet to bring together student innovators from the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) and the University of Kashmir. The event will showcase internationally patented innovations, emerging start-ups and young innovators from across the Valley.
Dr Shams Equbal, Director, National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), highlighted the festival’s rich literary and cultural programming, including Mushairas and dedicated Urdu literary sessions. “I appeal especially to the younger generation and lovers of Urdu to participate in these sessions, discover the richness of the language and carry forward its literary traditions. If we read together, we will lead together,” he said.
A Celebration of Books, Ideas and Culture
Across nine days, Chinar Book Festival will host literary discussions, author interactions, book launches, workshops, storytelling sessions, creative activities for children, and cultural performances that reflect the rich diversity of India’s literary traditions.
A major highlight of the festival will be the release of 24 bilingual books developed through the first-ever Gojri Translation Workshop conducted during the 2025 edition of the Chinar Book Festival. The collection comprises four titles in Dogri–Gojri, six titles in English–Gojri, four titles in Kashmiri–Gojri, and five titles each in Urdu–Gojri and Hindi–Gojri, marking a significant milestone in promoting Gojri literature and strengthening linguistic diversity in the region.
The festival will also witness the release of the first set of novels developed under the Rajtarangini Samvad initiative. Conceived through a series of workshops organised by the National Book Trust, India during the festival’s 2025 edition, the project reimagines the iconic characters of 12th-century Kashmiri historian Kalhana’s Rajtarangini for contemporary readers. The inaugural titles include Yashovati: Kashmir Ki Yashasvi Stri Shasak, Lalitaditya: Kashmir Ke Chakravarti Samrat, Jayapida: Kashmir Ke Parakrami Samrat, Kota Rani: Sahas, Balidan aur Kootneeti Ki Katha and Matrigupta: Kashmir Ke Nyayapriya Raja, bringing the Valley’s historical legacy to a new generation of readers.
The inaugural ceremony will further witness the release of two significant publications: The City of Seven Bridges, the English translation of noted Kashmiri author Gauri Shankar Raina’s acclaimed Hindi work Saat Pulon Ka Shahar and ‘An Indian Muslim Speaks’ by noted Islamic scholar and educationist Dr. Hafeezur Rahman.
At the heart of the festival is a wide range of literary sessions featuring renowned writers, journalists, scholars, educationists, filmmakers and public intellectuals. These include thought-provoking discussions on journalism and storytelling, Urdu and Kashmiriyat, multilingual education under the National Education Policy, public policy, women’s leadership, youth and nation-building, Indian cinema’s Urdu legacy, fashion and craft traditions, environmental sustainability and Kashmir’s literary heritage. Apart from these, Mushairas, Sufiyana performances and cultural evenings will round out nine days of ideas and dialogue.
Reading Beyond The Classroom
The festival’s Children’s Corner will feature creative workshops, storytelling sessions and interactive activities designed to nurture curiosity and a lifelong love for reading. Apart from this, visitors can explore Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, a digital library platform offering free access to thousands of e-books across genres and languages.
A landmark addition this year is the ‘5K Reading Run’, a flagship event of Shiksha Saptah 2026, introducing a first-of-its-kind reading movement to Srinagar. The event brings together thousands of schoolchildren in a celebration of reading, fitness and lifelong learning.
From 18 to 26 July, the Chinar Book Festival warmly invites readers, students, educators, writers and families to come together and celebrate the joy of books and reading set against the timeless beauty and cultural warmth of Kashmir.
