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The Jaipur Literature Festival draws international visitors every January. In 2027, the festival celebrates its 20th edition from 14 to 18 January. It anchors India’s winter cultural season.
However, it is not the only event worth planning around. Book fairs, art fairs, classical music conferences and dance festivals fill the calendar from December to February. This guide lists each one with dates checked in October 2026.
| Festival | Place | Dates |
| Konark Festival | Konark, Odisha | 1–5 December 2026 |
| Serendipity Arts Festival (11th) | Panjim, Goa | 13–20 December 2026 |
| Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival (72nd) | Pune | 13–17 January 2027 |
| Jaipur Literature Festival (20th) | Jaipur | 14–18 January 2027 |
| New Delhi World Book Fair | New Delhi | 16–24 January 2027 |
| International Kolkata Book Fair (50th) | Kolkata | 22 January–3 February 2027 |
| Dover Lane Music Conference | Kolkata | January (2027 dates unconfirmed) |
| India Art Fair (18th) | New Delhi | 4–7 February 2027 |
| Khajuraho Dance Festival | Khajuraho | February (2027 dates unconfirmed) |
Festivals bring each city’s cultural life into one place. Writers, artists and musicians gather together. As a result, a few days can show you more than weeks of ordinary sightseeing.
Festival travel also gives structure. You arrive with a reason, a schedule and a community of fellow visitors. Consequently, it suits seasoned travellers who want depth.
The festival began in 2006. Its first edition featured 18 writers. Since then, it has hosted more than 8,000 writers, speakers and artists, according to the organisers. Teamwork Arts produces it.
The festival began at Diggi Palace, a heritage property in Jaipur. Since 2025, it has taken place at Hotel Clarks Amer. The venue moved to handle its growing scale.
The 20th edition runs 14–18 January 2027. The previous edition ran 15–19 January 2026. Additionally, the Tech Mahindra Global India Book Prize will announce its inaugural winner during the January 2027 festival.
The programme will bring together voices from literature, culture, academia and the arts. Speakers for 2027 were still being announced in October.
The festival offers paid “Friend of the Festival” access packages. Check the official website for current options and registration. Jaipur’s hotels fill quickly during festival week. Therefore, book accommodation as early as possible.
Use mornings for sightseeing and afternoons for sessions. Amber Fort and the Jantar Mantar both suit early starts. Evenings then belong to the festival’s music and informal gatherings.
The New Delhi World Book Fair runs 16–24 January 2027 at Bharat Mandapam. It is a large publishing and reading event. It overlaps with the Jaipur festival, so choose your priority.
The International Kolkata Book Fair runs 22 January to 3 February 2027. It marks its 50th edition, making it the first Indian book fair to reach that milestone. It began in 1976 and takes place at the Central Park Mela Ground in Salt Lake.
The fair suits travellers who want a local, bookish crowd. Kolkata’s cafés and old bookshops add to the experience.
The 18th India Art Fair runs 4–7 February 2027 at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in Okhla, New Delhi. It is South Asia’s largest contemporary art fair. Galleries, talks and special projects fill the four days.
Serendipity comes earlier, on 13–20 December 2026 in Panjim, Goa. It spans visual arts, craft, music, dance, theatre, film and culinary arts across the city. Therefore, it works well with a Goa Christmas trip.
Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is a multidisciplinary public arts event. The 2026 edition ran nine days from late January into early February. The 2027 dates were unconfirmed at the time of writing.
The sixth edition ran from December 2025 to 31 March 2026. The biennale is held every two years. Therefore, no edition takes place in winter 2026–27.
The festival in Pune dates to 1953. Traditionally a December event, its 72nd edition runs 13–17 January 2027 at the Fergusson College grounds. The organisers announced the dates on 19 October 2026.
Expect long evenings of Hindustani classical music. Arrive early, and plan to stay late.
Kolkata’s Dover Lane Music Conference began in 1952. It takes place every January at Nazrul Mancha. Concerts run through the night and attract listeners from around the world. The 2027 dates were unconfirmed at the time of writing.
The Konark Festival has run since 1986. It takes place from 1 to 5 December 2026 at the open-air auditorium beside the UNESCO-listed Sun Temple. Odisha Tourism lists the dates.
Watching Odissi dance in the shadow of a 13th-century temple is unforgettable. Pair it with Puri and Bhubaneswar.
The Khajuraho Dance Festival began in 1975. The 52nd edition ran 20–26 February 2026 among the Khajuraho temples, with free entry. Expect the 2027 edition in February, though dates were unconfirmed.
The Pune and Jaipur festivals overlap almost entirely. Therefore, you cannot attend both.
GeTS Holidays builds these routes with private guides, curated access and well-placed heritage hotels.
When is the Jaipur Literature Festival 2027?
The 20th edition runs 14–18 January 2027 at Hotel Clarks Amer in Jaipur. Teamwork Arts produces it. Registration opens through the official festival website. Book accommodation early, because Jaipur hotels fill quickly during festival week.
Can I attend both the Jaipur and Pune festivals?
No. Pune’s Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival runs 13–17 January 2027. The Jaipur Literature Festival runs 14–18 January. The dates overlap almost entirely. Choose Jaipur for literature or Pune for classical music.
When is India Art Fair 2027?
The 18th edition runs 4–7 February 2027 at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in Okhla, New Delhi. It is South Asia’s largest contemporary art fair. Check the official website for tickets, preview days and gallery programmes.
When is the International Kolkata Book Fair 2027?
It runs 22 January to 3 February 2027 and marks its 50th edition. It takes place at the Central Park Mela Ground in Salt Lake, Kolkata. It is the first Indian book fair to reach this milestone.
Is there a Kochi-Muziris Biennale this winter?
No. The sixth edition ran from December 2025 to 31 March 2026. The biennale is held every two years. Therefore, no edition takes place in winter 2026–27.
Which Indian dance festivals are worth planning a trip around?
The Konark Festival in Odisha (1–5 December 2026) and the Khajuraho Dance Festival in Madhya Pradesh (held each February) are the finest. Both stage classical dance beside UNESCO-listed temples. Confirm dates before booking.
India’s cultural calendar rewards travellers who plan around it. At GeTS Holidays, we build festival-timed journeys for seasoned international travellers across India, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Begin with the Jaipur Literature Festival, or choose your own route, at [www.getsholidays.com].
Last updated October 2026. Festival dates change. Confirm with each organiser before booking.
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