JLF USA returns in 2026 with its largest edition yet, expanding across six American cities with the addition of Los Angeles marking a significant new chapter in the festival’s growth across North America. Bringing together internationally acclaimed writers, thinkers, artists, journalists, historians, policymakers and changemakers, JLF USA continues to establish itself as one of America’s leading platforms for literature, ideas, and cross-cultural dialogue.
Produced by Teamwork Arts, the producer of the globally acclaimed Jaipur Literature Festival, JLF USA has grown into an international platform where literature becomes the starting point for conversations about geopolitics, democracy, history, climate, science and technology, identity, business and innovation, the arts and society. Alongside international editions in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and Australia, JLF USA reflects the growing global footprint of one of the world’s most impactful literary festivals.
Rooted in the spirit and depth of the Jaipur Literature Festival, JLF USA draws upon South Asia’s rich traditions of storytelling, intellectual inquiry and cultural exchange while creating a distinctly American platform where diverse perspectives meet, ideas are exchanged freely and conversations transcend borders. More than a literary festival, it is a forum that brings together authors alongside emerging voices from across generations and geographies, encouraging curiosity, debate and democratic discourse.
Over the past decade, JLF USA has steadily built literary communities across North America through partnerships with leading universities, cultural institutions and civic organizations. The addition of Los Angeles reflects the growing demand for a festival that connects global conversations with local audiences while creating meaningful cultural exchange across communities.
Jaipur Literature Festival, where it all started, was founded in 2006, has welcomed more than 8,000 writers, speakers and artists, attracted millions of attendees, and reached an estimated global audience of over one billion through digital platforms, broadcast partnerships and international media. Widely recognized as one of the world’s leading literary festivals, it has become a global meeting point for Nobel Laureates, Booker and Pulitzer Prize winners, heads of state, economists, historians, scientists, artists and public intellectuals.
Expanding the JLF USA Journey
The 2026 edition will travel across:
- North Carolina | September 11th – 13th
- Los Angeles | September 14th – 16th (New)
- Seattle | September 17th – 20th
- Colorado | September 22nd – 23rd
- New York | September 29th – 30th
- Houston | October 2nd – 4th
Each edition reflects the character of its host city while remaining connected to JLF USA’s larger vision of creating spaces where literature, ideas and culture intersect. Through collaborations with universities, libraries, museums, cultural institutions and community partners, the festival continues to build meaningful relationships that connect global conversations with local audiences.
The expansion to six cities represents JLF USA’s most ambitious edition to date, reinforcing its commitment to making literature, ideas and public dialogue accessible to increasingly diverse audiences across the United States.
As JLF USA enters this new phase of growth, its vision remains clear: to foster a lasting cultural platform where literature, ideas and open dialogue bring people together across disciplines, generations and borders. By creating spaces where diverse perspectives can meet, the festival continues to affirm the enduring power of storytelling, intellectual enquiry, and cultural collaboration.
