MBIFL 2027 TO EXPLORE ‘ERA OF RIDDLES’ AS LITERATURE CONFRONTS AN UNCERTAIN WORLD

The eighth Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters will take place in Thiruvananthapuram from 28 to 31 January 2027 under the theme ‘Era of Riddles’. Bringing together more than 500 voices from around the world, the festival aims to examine contemporary dilemmas and celebrate literature’s enduring role in inquiry.

As technological advances accelerate, identities evolve and certainty appears increasingly elusive, the organisers of the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL) have chosen a theme that seeks to capture the complexity of the contemporary moment. The eighth edition of South India’s largest literary festival will be held from 28 to 31 January 2027 at the historic Kanakakkunnu Palace in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, under the theme ‘Era of Riddles’.

The theme is intended as an invitation to writers, thinkers, scholars, artists and readers to engage with some of the most pressing and perplexing questions of the present age. In a world marked by contradictions, where technology often advances faster than ethical frameworks can adapt and where questions of identity and belonging continue to shape public discourse, the festival aims to create space for reflection, dialogue and intellectual exploration.

According to the organisers, ‘Era of Riddles’ also reflects the enduring relevance of literature as a medium through which societies can examine uncertainty and complexity. At a time when access to information has never been greater, the festival seeks to highlight the continuing importance of critical thinking, curiosity and a willingness to challenge assumptions.

More than 500 distinguished participants from India and around the world are expected to take part in the four-day event. The line-up includes political leader and author Dr Shashi Tharoor, acclaimed writers Geetanjali Shree and Meg Mason, innovator Sonam Wangchuk, critic Baradwaj Rangan, translator Daniel Hahn, musician Manik Kaur and several other notable voices from literature, the arts, academia and public life. Aria, Saurav Das, Shelly Van Pelt, Avinash Kaul, Lavanya Lakshminarayan, Anant Sonawane and Disha Mullick are also among those slated to participate.

Festival Chairman M V Shreyams Kumar said the theme reflects a defining characteristic of the present era.

“‘Era of Riddles’ captures the moment we are living in, when answers are easy to find but understanding is not,” he said. “Literature has always been a way of staying with difficult questions instead of rushing past them. We want the festival to be a space where writers and readers can question openly, disagree thoughtfully and discover something new together.”

The festival has, over the years, established itself as a major cultural platform, attracting audiences eager to engage with leading voices from across disciplines. This year’s edition seeks to deepen those conversations by focusing on the unresolved questions that increasingly define public, cultural and personal life.

Festival Curator Dr V Venu emphasised the importance of bringing diverse perspectives together in a shared space.

“MBIFL has always been a meeting point for ideas, and this edition brings together more than 500 voices from India and across the world over four days,” he said. “Writers, thinkers, scholars and artists will share the same spaces as readers at Kanakakkunnu, and we hope the conversations that begin on stage carry on well beyond the palace grounds.”

With its focus on inquiry rather than certainty, the 2027 festival promises to position literature not merely as a repository of stories, but as a vital tool for navigating an increasingly complex world.