Lucknow, September 11 (TNA) Known for its rich tradition of poets, writers and scholars, Lucknow is once again ready to establish itself as a prominent literary centre of North India. The fifth edition of the Gomti Book Festival, organised by the National Book Trust, India (NBT), will be held from September 12 to 20, 2026, at Lucknow University.
The nine-day festival will be a grand celebration of books, literature and culture, featuring literary discussions, cultural programmes and a wide range of activities for readers of all age groups.
At a press conference held at the A.P. Sen Auditorium, Lucknow University, on September 11, Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India, and Prof. Roli Mishra, Head, Department of Economics and Librarian, Lucknow University, shared details about the festival.
Addressing the media, Prof. Roli Mishra said that it is an important occasion for Lucknow University to host such a major event in collaboration with the National Book Trust. She said that the joint efforts of the Central and State Governments to promote a culture of reading have made this event possible.
She said, “Under the guidance of the Governor, we are working towards the vision of ‘Padhe Lucknow, Badhe Lucknow’ and ‘Padhe Vishwavidyalaya, Badhe Vishwavidyalaya’. With the support of NBT, we are now going to witness the grand Gomti Book Festival. It will provide an opportunity to interact with good books and good authors and will inspire us to organise more such programmes with NBT in the future.”
Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India, said that the fifth edition of the Gomti Book Festival shows that it has become one of the most popular and established annual events. He said that the festival is not limited to books but also provides a platform to young writers, speakers, intellectuals, local multilingual authors, as well as artists from the cultural and performing arts.
He said that books are an important medium for nation-building and for creating responsible and informed citizens. He further added that various activities and competitions will be organised every day for children and Gen Z. Entry to the festival will be completely free.
The Director said that the festival is being organised with the support of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, NBT, Lucknow University, and the Basic and Secondary Education Departments. It is also part of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s efforts to promote libraries and a culture of reading. He added that organising two major national-level book fairs in Lucknow and Gorakhpur is an important achievement for Uttar Pradesh.
Chandra Prakash, Senior Coordinator, Organising Committee, Gomti Book Festival, said that books are an antidote to Artificial Intelligence (AI). He said that everything available on the internet is not verified or authenticated, and therefore one cannot depend only on AI for accurate knowledge.
He appealed to people to participate in the Gomti Book Festival in large numbers. The Gomti Book Festival 2026 will be inaugurated on September 12 by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath. The inaugural ceremony will be attended by Prof. Jai Prakash Saini, Vice-Chancellor, Lucknow University; Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman, NBT-India; Sandeep Singh, Minister of State for Basic Education; Yogendra Upadhyay, Minister of Higher Education; Gulab Devi, Minister of State for Secondary Education; Avanish K. Awasthi, Advisor to the Chief Minister; Partha Sen Sharma, ACS, Basic and Secondary Education; and Yuvraj Malik, Director, NBT-India, among other dignitaries.
Around 250 book stalls will be set up at the festival, with 121 publishers participating. They will showcase and sell thousands of books in Hindi, English, Urdu, Awadhi and other Indian languages. The festival is not only about books but also brings together India’s rich traditions and contemporary concerns. Literary discussions and interactive sessions with renowned authors and experts will be organised on various subjects related to literature, culture and technology.
The sessions will cover topics such as women’s identity, youth literature, sustainable development, translation, heritage and folk tales, space and science, and spirituality. Prominent personalities participating in these special sessions include Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, renowned folk singer Malini Awasthi, author Shantanu Gupta, and Padma Shri awardee Dr Vidya Vindu Singh, along with several other well-known artists, writers, experts and authors from different fields.
The sessions will also include discussions on India’s literary heritage, young adult literature, translation, books and contemporary journalism.
Special ‘Bal Mandap’ for Children
For young book lovers in Lucknow, the National Centre for Children’s Literature, the children’s literature division of the National Book Trust, India, has prepared a special ‘Bal Mandap’ for all nine days of the festival.
A variety of activities will be organised for children of different age groups, including puppet shows, Kamishibai and storytelling, Vedic mathematics, mindfulness workshops, clay art, poster-making, calligraphy, a caricature studio, poetry recitation, mandala art and creative writing workshops.
Painting and quiz competitions will also be organised. Children will also get a special opportunity to interact with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.
Cultural Programmes Every Evening
Every evening, the festival will feature cultural programmes showcasing the rich traditions and cultural heritage of Uttar Pradesh. The programmes will include a performance by Paras Band, Kathak performances, the Kathak dance-drama ‘Raghuvamsham’ by Birju Maharaj Kathak Sansthan, an evening of light music, a mushaira featuring Shambhu Shikhar and other poets, folk performances, a theatre presentation by Bharatendu Natya Akademi, and a special Dastangoi session dedicated to Begum Akhtar.
Several other music performances will also be organised during the festival.
Children and young readers visiting the festival will also get an opportunity to learn about and use the National e-Library. It is a digital library platform offering more than 7,000 e-books in different genres and languages. From readers and students to teachers and authors, the Gomti Book Festival 2026 invites everyone to celebrate Lucknow’s vibrant literary, cultural and creative spirit.