The Guwahati Literature Festival (GLF) 2026 will be held on October 10 at The Belasian, on the fifth floor of NRB City Mall at Six Mile, Khanapara, from 3 pm onwards.
Supported by Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) and organised in collaboration with The Belasian, the festival will feature award presentations, literary discussions and cultural performances.
GLF secretary Abid Azad said that, in view of the hardships faced by Assam’s flood-affected communities, the organisers have planned a modest and more intimate gathering this year. A special session will focus on long-term rehabilitation in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts.
Writer, former Asam Sahitya Sabha president and former Assam Director General of Police Dr Kuladhar Saikia will deliver the inaugural address as chief guest. Writer and GLF chief adviser Mayur Bora will deliver the welcome address, followed by the festival address by GLF president Purabi Borah.
Padma Shri Rongbong Terang will receive the GLF Dhrupadi Asomiya Bhasha Award 2026 for his lifelong contribution to the Assamese language and his role in promoting cultural harmony.
Sculptor and painter Biren Singha will receive the GLF Ghanashyam Khanikar Kalāratna Award 2026, while writer Sibani Borah will be honoured with the GLF Nathan Brown Literature Award 2026 for her contribution to contemporary Assamese literature, particularly her historical storytelling.
The GLF Dadhichi Award 2026 will be presented collectively to Assam’s teaching community in recognition of its dedication to education and service to society beyond the classroom.
Special felicitations will be accorded to Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University; Galpakatha, the storytelling initiative of Atanu Bhattacharyya and Mitali De; Tholgiri; The Buddha Grove; and publishers Bandhav and Barna.
Former District and Sessions Judge Darak Ullah, Brahmaputra Cruise Director Shanti Doley, DD News Assam Assistant Director and Assamese Yojana editor Maruf Alam, and S B Deorah College principal Dr Dharmendra Nath will also be felicitated.
A panel discussion titled “Humans vs AI – The Future of Creativity and Literature” will feature writer and critic Arindam Borkataki, author Aranyak Saikia and Aakhor AI co-founder Kabyanil Talukdar. Writer and journalist Nasreen Habib will moderate the discussion.
The special session, “Post-Flood Sivasagar and Charaideo – What’s Next?”, will focus on education, community participation and sustained rehabilitation. It will bring together writer Dr Rita Chowdhury, educationist Nitumoni Dutta, filmmaker Kenny Basumatary, author Gobin Kumar Khound and Dristi Nandana, alongside perspectives from Axomi24, Project Rua and Raindrops’ Pakhi children’s library initiative.
Students of Gyanjyoti Academy Higher Secondary School, Sivasagar, will perform the skit Watermark, followed by a solo vocal performance by Adrika Priyam Borah (Nupur).
Further details may be obtained at 9854202964 or 6026328808.
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