Colombo Literary & Arts Festival 2026
PhysicalThree days of readings, workshops, and performances celebrating Sri Lankan and South Asian storytelling.
Welcome to the Colombo Literary & Arts Festival, a flagship gathering for readers, writers, illustrators, and performing artists. Over three days at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), explore author conversations, poetry evenings, children’s storytelling hours, and craft workshops. Food stalls from local publishers and independent bookshops line the outer courtyard. Bring your ticket QR to any open gate. Weekend and multi-day passes admit one entry per festival day. Family passes admit up to four people on a single scan. Organised with support from national cultural partners and Colombo’s independent book community.
Location
Open in Google MapsBauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo
Sponsors
Title
Gold
Silver
Community
Resource persons
Dr. Anusha Perera
Novelist & University of Colombo lecturer
Author of Tide Lines and After the Monsoon. Her fiction explores coastal communities and memory across generations.
Kasun Fernando
Poet & spoken-word performer
Founder of Open Mic Pettah. Performs in Sinhala and English with a focus on urban youth voices.
Meera Jayasinghe
Children’s illustrator
Creator of the Island Friends picture-book series. Leads drawing workshops for young readers.
Prof. S. Rajendran
Tamil literature scholar
Writes on contemporary Tamil poetry in Sri Lanka and the diaspora. Editor of Northern Pages quarterly.
Ishara de Silva
Journalist & non-fiction author
Long-form reporter covering culture and cities. Latest book: Maps of a Changing Colombo.
Agenda
Aug 27, 2026
Festival opening & welcome
Ribbon cutting, welcome address, and a short performance by the BMICH choir.
Ishara de Silva
Keynote: After the Monsoon
Dr. Anusha Perera in conversation about craft, coastlines, and writing across languages.
Dr. Anusha Perera, Ishara de Silva
Tamil poetry now
Readings and discussion on new Tamil poetry from Jaffna, Batticaloa, and Colombo.
Prof. S. Rajendran
Open mic — evening voices
Sign up at the information desk. Five minutes per performer.
Kasun Fernando
Aug 28, 2026
Picture-book workshop for families
Hands-on illustration session for ages 6–12. Materials provided. Limited to 40 seats.
Meera Jayasinghe
Writing the city
Panel walking notes and short prose. Bring a notebook.
Kasun Fernando, Ishara de Silva
Publishers’ marketplace talks
Independent presses share how to submit manuscripts and self-publish responsibly.
Aug 29, 2026
Young writers showcase
Secondary-school finalists read winning short stories.
Dr. Anusha Perera, Meera Jayasinghe
Closing panel: Literature across languages
Sinhala, Tamil, and English writers on translation and shared audiences.
Dr. Anusha Perera, Prof. S. Rajendran, Ishara de Silva
Poetry under the stars
Outdoor readings on the BMICH lawn. Free for all ticket holders.
Kasun Fernando, Prof. S. Rajendran
Resources
Ready to attend?
Register for tickets