Kathmandu - The organisers of the Himalayan Literature Festival & Writers’ Workshop (HLF-WWK) 2026 proudly announce the second edition of one of South Asia’s leading international literary gatherings, bringing together celebrated poets, novelists, memoirists, translators, filmmakers, scholars, journalists, and emerging writers from Nepal and across the world.
In collaboration with Ncell Foundation, the 2026 edition expands into an eight-day international programme, dedicated to Guru Prasad Mainali, honouring his enduring contribution to Nepali literature.
The event is scheduled to be held from 29 May to 5 June in Kathmandu, centering around the themes of healing, consciousness, creativity, memory, and cultural dialogue in a rapidly changing world. The week-long programme features Masterclasses, workshops, keynote addresses, poetry readings, literary conversations, film screenings, cultural excursions, and interdisciplinary discussions exploring the transformative power of literature and the arts.
Internationally acclaimed participants attending the event include Pulitzer Prize-winning poets Tracy K. Smith and Paul Muldoon, bestselling novelist Jean Hanff Korelitz, poet and translator Tony Barnstone, world-renowned Himalayan poet Yuyutsu Sharma, Irish Times literary editor Martin Doyle, first Brooklyn Poet Laureate Tina Chang, and many distinguished literary voices from Nepal, India, Ireland, Austria, Poland, the United States, and beyond.
“Literature is not a luxury. It is the oldest form of healing we have. The festival is a celebration of the great glory of the Himalayan nation, Nepal, its rich cultural heritage and vibrant life. The festival celebrates Nepal and brings its great glory to the forefront of the world,” said Yuyutsu Sharma, organiser of HLF-WWK 2026, addressing a press conference on Sunday.
Through this festival collaboration, Ncell Foundation is contributing to helping preserve and promote Nepal’s rich literary and cultural heritage while creating meaningful spaces for dialogue, creativity, and global cultural exchange.
“At Ncell Foundation, we believe literature and storytelling play an important role in preserving cultural heritage, inspiring creativity, and fostering meaningful dialogue. Through our collaboration with the Himalayan Literature Festival, we are proud to support a platform that celebrates Nepal’s rich literary culture while connecting local and global creative voices,” said Bishakha Lakshmi Khadka, Head of Corporate Communications, Marketing and Sustainability (Director) at Ncell.
The festival will open with an inauguration ceremony celebrating the meeting of Himalayan and global literary traditions. Sessions throughout the festival will address poetry, memoir, magical realism, AI and creative writing, women’s literature, indigenous storytelling, trauma and healing, meditation and creativity, translation, performance, and the future of literature in the digital age.
A major focus of the festival remains the nurturing of emerging voices through youth poetry platforms, mentorship programmes, workshops, and international collaborations. Nepali poets and writers including Sailendra Sakar, Narayan Dhakal, Hari Adhikari, Usha Sherchan, Laxmi Mali, among others writing in both Nepali and English will be prominently featured alongside global literary guests, reaffirming Nepal’s growing presence in the international literary landscape.
The festival will also include screenings of Irish, Austrian, Polish, Portuguese, and poetry films, as well as visits to important cultural and heritage sites including Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Boudhanath, Budhanilkantha, and Nagarkot, offering participants a deeper engagement with Nepal’s artistic, spiritual, and cultural heritage.
Organised as a platform for dialogue, creativity, and cross-cultural understanding, the Himalayan Literature Festival & Writers’ Workshop continues to strengthen Kathmandu’s position as an important global literary destination and a meeting ground for diverse artistic voices.
During the press meet, two trailers of poetry films— Clouded Reveries chronicles the life of Irish poet and thinker – Doireann Ní Ghríofa and Wide Awake, a film about Austrian poet Bodo Hell directed by Carola Mair—were screened. Similarly, Stephen Bookas’s film on Yuyutsu Sharma’s poem based in the earthquake in Nepal in 2015 entitled. ‘I see my world shaking’ was also screened.
