Teamwork Arts, producer of the Jaipur Literature Festival and its international editions, recently announced the return of JLF North Carolina, scheduled for 26–28 September 2025. The highly anticipated 2nd edition will be presented in partnership with UNC’s Carolina Asia Center, and in association with UNC’s Department of Music, UNC’s Institute for the Arts and Humanities, and the Chapel Hill Public Library. The festival will be hosted across venues, bringing audiences an immersive celebration of books, ideas, and dialogue.
For three days, JLF North Carolina will once again provide a platform where global and local voices converge. Writers, historians, performers, and cultural thought leaders will engage in conversations that bridge disciplines, geographies, and generations. The festival promises to continue JLF’s enduring legacy of fostering intellectual exchange and celebrating the written and spoken word.
JLF USA, a multi-city festival of literature, ideas, and perspectives, has been a cornerstone of the Jaipur Literature Festival’s international journey for well over a decade. From Houston to Boulder, New York, Seattle, and now North Carolina, JLF USA has evolved into a vibrant platform that reflects the diverse voices and cultural landscapes of the US. The 2025 edition promises to reach new heights, following the recent successful editions in Valladolid, Spain, and London earlier this summer. With each destination, JLF continues to weave “worlds with words,” curating conversations that transcend boundaries and encourage cross-cultural understanding.
The 2025 line-up
This year’s programming will feature globally acclaimed speakers and performers, including:
- William Dalrymple — Festival co-director, historian, and author of numerous award-winning works
- Kathleen DuVal — Historian with expertise in early America and transatlantic history, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in History in 2025
- Kiran Desai — Booker Prize–winning novelist acclaimed for her international bestseller The Inheritance of Loss, whose new novel, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, has been longlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize for Fiction
- Kal Penn — Actor, author, and political activist whose career spans Hollywood, literature, and public service
- Maneet Chauhan — James Beard Award-winning chef and Food Network personality
- Meherwan Irani — James Beard Award-winning chef behind Chai Pani
- Prajakta Koli – Actor, digital creator and author
- Martin Puchner — Literary critic, philosopher and author
Together, they will bring diverse perspectives that embody the spirit of the Jaipur Literature Festival: inclusive, thought-provoking, and celebratory.
Speaking on the upcoming edition, Sanjoy K Roy, managing director of Teamwork Arts, said, “JLF has always been a space where transformative ideas take center stage. In North Carolina, we are excited to build fresh conversations that reflect local perspectives and connect seamlessly with global dialogues.”
I’m really excited to hear more about what JLF North Carolina has in store for 2025. The intersection of traditional publishing and new tech like 3D printing and digital media is fascinating. I’m hoping for some insightful discussions on where the industry is headed.