Kathmandu:The Himalayan Literature Festival and Writers’ Workshop 2027 is set to welcome a diverse group of acclaimed writers, poets, novelists, and literary scholars to Kathmandu for a nine-day celebration of literature, creativity, and cultural exchange from May 29 to June 6.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the festival, organized by White Lotus Book Shop in collaboration with the New York Writers Workshop, will feature renowned literary figures such as Irish novelist Colm Tóibín, American novelist Joyce Maynard, poets Victoria Chang and Ann Hood, and travel writer Suzanne Roberts. These international voices will join prominent Nepali and South Asian writers in various activities.
A six-day international writers’ workshop will take place from May 29 to June 3, offering intensive sessions on poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, travel writing, nature writing, and translation. The public festival program scheduled for June 4 and 5 will include literary discussions, readings, and cultural activities.
The festival will also host the HLF-WWK International Book Awards 2027, recognizing outstanding contributions to poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Additionally, the second edition of its Poetry Film Festival will explore the intersection of literature and cinema. This year’s festival is dedicated to celebrated Nepali poet Lekhnath Paudyal, known as ‘Kavi Shiromani’ (Crest Jewel of Poets), with plans to introduce his works to international readers through translations.
Themed ‘Nature Writing, Travel Writing and the Spirit Writing the Earth, Mapping the Soul,’ the festival aims to establish Kathmandu as a hub for literary tourism, creative learning, and cross-cultural dialogue. The previous 2026 edition successfully brought together more than 75 writers and cultural practitioners from various countries, including Pulitzer Prize-winning poets Tracy K. Smith and Paul Muldoon.