The Galle Literary Festival is an event that takes place around the same time most years and is must if you love nothing more than losing yourself in the pages of a good book. What’s more, it takes place in beautiful Sri Lanka! Set within the ancient colonial walls of Galle’s Dutch Fort, the festival is packed full of talks and discussions led by world-renowned authors and speakers from the literary world. The setting is as special as the talks themselves, plus, over recent years the festival has expanded to feature cookery exhibitions, live music performances, stand-up comedy and even art trails around the city. So, there’s plenty for everyone! It’s one of our favourite reasons to head to Sri Lanka’s southwest coast in the new year. If you’re thinking about going in 2027, now’s a good time to start planning.
When is the Galle Literary Festival 2027?
The organisers have confirmed the festival will return in early 2027, but they haven’t announced the dates yet. The 2026 festival was due to run in January but was postponed while the team reviews how it’s funded and run. They’ve said they’ll share plans for a refreshed festival once that work is finished. As a guide, recent festivals have run over four days in late January or early February: 25–28 January in 2024 and 6–9 February in 2025. It’s a lovely time to be on the south coast, with dry, sunny days and calm seas. Galle’s boutique hotels inside the fort are small and fill up fast in festival week. If you’re keen, get in touch now. We can start shaping your trip around late January and firm up the details as soon as the dates are announced.A note from Rebecca, HA Sri Lanka expert
“If you can time your visit to Sri Lanka to coincide with the Galle Literary Festival, I’d hugely recommend it! Galle always has a lovely buzz about it – it’s one of my favourite spots in Sri Lanka for that reason – but it really comes to life on another level over the festival. Stroll down the cobblestone streets filled with authors, poets and great thinkers from all around the world. Listen to readings, join in discussions, and even share a cup of Sri Lankan tea with your favourite author if you’re lucky! The event gets better every single year and the talks are always brilliant.” Rebecca, HA Sri Lanka expert
If you fancy timing your Sri Lanka holiday to coincide with the Galle Literary Festival, we’re here to help! Our Sri Lanka experts, Rebecca, Lisa and Dawn, are ready and waiting to design a holiday that’s perfect for you. Get in touch today.
Who’s spoken at the Galle Literary Festival?
Galle has a habit of drawing big names to a small stage. Recent festivals have welcomed Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka, Anthony Horowitz, Alexander McCall Smith, war correspondent Christina Lamb and historian Peter Frankopan. Speakers have also included Sathnam Sanghera, Louise Minchin, and Jenny Erpenbeck with her translator Michael Hofmann, who shared the 2024 International Booker Prize. Talks take place in heritage buildings and courtyards around the fort, which gives the whole festival a relaxed, intimate feel. The 2027 lineup will appear on the festival website once it’s confirmed.
How do I get tickets for the Galle Literary Festival?
Tickets are sold through the festival website once the programme is announced. Smaller events, like the literary lunches and dinners held in heritage venues, have limited places, so it’s worth booking those early. Once you’ve booked your Sri Lanka holiday with us, your destination expert will keep an eye on the 2027 announcement and let you know when tickets go on sale. Then you can choose the talks you’d like to see.Exploring Galle beyond the festivities
Without doubt, these festivals are a must if you’re able to time your Sri Lanka holiday for the start of the year. But beyond the festivals, Galle is a real treat of a city to explore. Wander around the ancient streets of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Galle Fort, and don’t miss a stroll along the fort walls as the sun sets – the perfect time of day to get a snap of the iconic lighthouse. There are countless bars, restaurants, coffee shops and quirky art studios to explore in the city itself, and when you’re ready to venture further afield, a short tuk tuk drive away will see you walking on the most beautiful white sand beaches (with plenty of them to choose from!).Why plan your Sri Lanka holiday around the Galle Literary Festival?
Galle is worth a few days at any time of year, but festival week gives the fort something extra. You can spend the morning at a talk, walk the ramparts at sunset to watch the light fade over the lighthouse, and still find time for the beach, just a short tuk-tuk ride away. We’d suggest three nights in Galle. That fits easily into a wider trip: misty tea country, the ancient cities of the Cultural Triangle, or a few days looking for leopards in Yala. Because every holiday we design is tailor-made, we can plan the rest of your trip around the festival dates once they land. You won’t have to squeeze the festival into a fixed itinerary. Browse our selection of Sri Lanka holiday itineraries to get an idea of what might be possible, and then give our experts a call to get your adventure plans started today.
