Goa Book Festival 2026 concludes with attendance of over 1.25 Lakh readers, writers and young minds

The first edition of the Goa Book Festival concluded on 8 February at the DB Bandodkar Grounds, Panaji, after five vibrant days that brought together books, ideas, culture and over 1.25 lakh visitors.

Organised by the National Book Trust, India in association with the Government of Goa, Lokmanya Cultural Foundation and Samarth Yuva Foundation the festival unfolded as an ocean of books, drawing readers of all ages to literary conversations, cultural performances and a sprawling book fair featuring over 250 stalls by more than 100 publishers across languages. From serious debates on language, history and spirituality to music, cinema and children’s storytelling, the festival established itself as a dynamic new cultural fixture in Goa’s public life.

A defining feature of the festival was its strong focus on young readers, with the Children’s Corner buzzing every morning with carefully curated activities designed to spark imagination and participation. Across all five days, students from Classes 1 to 12 took part in storytelling with puppets, cartooning workshops, theatre and body movement sessions, riddle games, logo and bookmark designing, slogan writing, quizzes and folk performances.

Sessions such as Into the Storyland with Vidya Nesarikar, Tales of Valour by Mrinal Kulkarni, cartoon workshops inspired by legendary artist Mario de Miranda, and hands-on art activities introduced children not just to books, but to storytelling as a lived, creative experience. The closing day alone saw nearly 500 students participating, with children stepping onto the stage to enact stories, hold puppets, and engage directly with artists and storytellers.

The event also seamlessly blended tradition with innovation for young audiences. Children were introduced to Goa’s revived Kaavi Art by artist Sagar Naik Mule, learning about its history and techniques using natural red pigments etched onto lime-plastered surfaces. At the same time, digital reading found its place through interactive sessions with the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, a National Digital Library initiative offering access to over 6,000 e-books in multiple Indian languages, reinforcing that reading today spans both print and digital worlds.

Beyond children’s programming, the Author’s Corner remained packed throughout the festival, hosting conversations with senior journalists, historians, filmmakers, actors, philosophers and writers. Sessions featured veteran actor Sachin Pilgaonkar, senior journalist Uday Mahurkar, filmmaker and scholar Chandraprakash Dwivedi, historian Mohan Shete, legal expert Sumant Batra, author and political analyst Shantanu Gupta, scholar Medha Khasgiwale, philosopher and author Acharya Prashant, Marathi writer and Sahitya Akademi Award winner Sadanand Shridhar More, and actors Mrinal Kulkarni and Avika Gor alongside astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, AC.

The conversations spanned history, cinema, law, spirituality, language and public life were marked by extended audience interaction, reinforcing the festival’s emphasis on dialogue rather than monologue.

As families, students, educators and book lovers filled the grounds each day, browsing stalls, attending sessions and returning with bags full of books, the Goa Book Festival demonstrated that reading remains a shared cultural joy in Goa. With its strong turnout, rich programming and exceptional engagement with children, the Goa Book Festival has laid the foundation for an enduring literary tradition in the state.