Teamwork Arts, the producer of the annual Jaipur Literature Festival, and JLF International Festivals, recently announced the return of JLF USA. This year, the festival started on-ground on 5 September and will go on till 27 September 2025, travelling across five cities in the United States – The festival will begin in Houston (5-7 September), followed by New York (8-10 September) Boulder, Colorado (13-14 September), Seattle (19-21 September), and shall conclude in North Carolina (26-27 September).
JLF USA, a multi-city festival of books, ideas and perspectives, has been a key part of our international offerings for well over a decade, and 2025 promises to take it to new heights. Having just concluded successful editions of JLF Valladolid Spain and London in June 2025, we now look ahead to weaving more worlds with words in our upcoming US journey. Each edition is a stage for powerful conversations, robust discourse, and cultural dialogue with writers, thinkers, historians, scientists, and artists converging from across the world, the press release said.
This year’s festival will explore a rich and diverse range of themes, including filmic adaptation, memoir writing, graphic narratives, folkloric traditions, sacred verse, diasporic identities, migration and displacement, the politics of gender, the nature of free speech, constitutional framework, the geopolitics of democracy, the ongoing climate crisis, mathematics, culinary heritage, and modern medicine.
The festival is renowned for fostering an open, welcoming atmosphere and a deep sense of community, showcasing South Asia’s unique multilingual literary traditions, while fostering shared narratives with the wider world. Each city promises an immersive experience, featuring powerful sessions, eclectic performances, and engaging conversations. JLF Houston shall launch the USA leg of the festival in September 2025, from 5 to 7, across several iconic venues, including Asia Society Center, Rothko Chapel, Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston, and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. This edition will celebrate the spirited energy of the Bayou City in association with Inprint. Following Houston, JLF New York will take place from 8 to 10 September 2025 at Asia Society, The National Arts Club, and The Center for Fiction. JLF New York will infuse the city’s vibrant cultural scene with its signature blend of dialogue, diversity, and literary brilliance.
JLF Colorado will be hosted at the Boulder Public Library on 13 and 14 September 2025. This edition celebrates the natural beauty of the Rockies and prairies, combined with the intellectual vibrancy that defines the city. The second edition of JLF Seattle will be held from 19 to 21 September 2025, at the Seattle Asian Art Museum and Town Hall Seattle. Set in the stunning seaport city, nestled between water, mountains, and temperate forests, Seattle’s edition will honor its rich musical history and strong academic culture. JLF North Carolina 2025 will take place on 26 and 27 September 2025, at the University of North Carolina. With its strong academic roots and spirited community, JLF North Carolina promises to deliver an unmatched literary celebration filled with intellectual engagement and our signature spirit of collaboration and dialogue.
JLF North Carolina 2025, sponsored by UNC’s Carolina Asia Center, promises to be an unmissable iteration of the JLF USA series. JLF USA is an immersive journey being held in association with the Consulate General of India in Houston, New York, and Seattle, the City of Boulder and JLF North Carolina shall take place with the support of UNC’s Carolina Asia Center, the Modern Indian Studies Initiative, the College of Arts and Sciences, Carolina Performing Arts, and other public and private partners across the state.
Sanjoy Roy, managing director of Teamwork Arts, said, “JLF USA platforms voices from across the world, and champions their coming together to celebrate the written word, explore innovative ideas, and uphold the spirit of dialogue, diversity, and shared understanding. In 2025, we are delighted to present writers and thinkers in five different cities with editions which span from east to west, creating inclusive platforms for cultural exchange, literary narratives, and meaningful conversations that resonate far beyond the festival stage and open up new horizons.”
In January 2025, the 18th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival was held in the pink city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, and was a resounding success. With a stellar line-up of speakers and sessions, the festival reaffirmed the power of words and ideas. Its vibrant and inspiring energy captivated audiences both on-ground and online. That same dynamic spirit will now travel across the United States, continuing JLF’s legacy of celebrating books, creativity, diversity, and dialogue in multiple cities.
