Ulster University will host the opening weekend of the inaugural edition of JLF Island of Ireland, a major new all-island literary festival taking place from 22–31 May 2026. The Belfast programme, hosted at Ulster University from 22–24 May, will launch the ten-day festival, bringing together leading writers and thinkers from Ireland, India, and across the world.
An international edition of the globally renowned Jaipur Literature Festival that happens annually in the Pink City of Jaipur in Rajasthan, India, has unveiled an early peek into its programme and the conversations that will shape its diverse narrative, which will unfold across venues in Belfast, Armagh, Dundalk, and Dublin.
The all-island edition will feature leading writers and thinkers from Ireland, India and beyond, exploring themes spanning history, politics, climate, identity, language, and culture, with a programme that also spans literature, current affairs, poetry and performance.
Supported by the Government of Ireland and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, it marks the first time an international JLF edition has been presented as a cross-border, multi-city event of this scale.
Belfast (22–24 May)
The festival opens in Belfast with a programme rooted in history, political thought and global context, bringing together leading voices to examine empire, identity and the forces shaping contemporary society, including
- Empire: Ireland, India and the Making of the Modern World with William Dalrymple, Nandini Das and Jane Ohlmeyer in conversation with Christopher Kissane
- Living Constitution with Shashi Tharoor and David Kenny
- Fragments of a Nation with Aanchal Malhotra, Kishwar Desai and Marie Coleman in conversation with Susan McKay
- The Heat Will Kill You First with Jeff Goodell in conversation with Kirstin Lemon
- Tongue, Tribe, Self: The Language of Identity with Lee Reynolds, Pól Deeds and Lata Sharma in conversation with Colin Graham
- Exits and Entrances: The Craft of the Playwright with Colin Murphy, Rosemary Jenkinson, Rachel Trezise and Ursula Rani Sarma
- Speaking My Mind with Leo Varadkar in conversation with Shona Murray
Cathy Gormley Heenan, Provost at Ulster University, welcomed the festival:
“Ulster University is delighted to host the Jaipur Literature Festival in May this year as part of its all-island celebration. This free, inclusive and iconic celebration of literature, dialogue, and the arts aligns with the University’s commitment to fostering intellectual exchange and creative expression, fostering a truly vibrant and inclusive community of ideas. The festival promises to be a celebration of ideas, stories, and connections that celebrates our shared cultures and love of art, literature, food and music."
Armagh (26–27 May)
In Armagh, the programme explores themes of history, memory, politics and storytelling, bringing together voices reflecting on both Irish and global contexts. Sessions include:
- The Book of Everlasting Things with Aanchal Malhotra in conversation with Paul McVeigh
- For and Against a United Ireland with Fintan O’Toole and Sam McBride in conversation with Dearbhail McDonald
- A live music performance featuring Soumik Datta, Michael Gallen and Cormac Byrne
- Sound Healing Workshop by Kartikeya and Makrand
Dundalk (28 May)
In Dundalk, the festival presents a focused one-day programme centred on contemporary storytelling, featuring:
- The Crossroads of Crime with Paul Waters in conversation Sharon Dempsey
- Sound Healing Workshop by Kartikeya and Makrand
Dublin (29–31 May)
In Dublin, the programme brings together writers and thinkers across literature, history, food, politics and global affairs, exploring the connections between Ireland, India and the wider world through a diverse range of conversations and performances.
- Yeats, Gandhi and Tagore with Gopalkrishna Gandhi and Roy Foster in conversation with Manasi Subramaniam
- Food, Memory and Culture with Darina Allen and Romy Gill in conversation with Susan Flavin
- Ireland, Bengal and the Politics of Hunger with Kavita Puri and Pádraic X. Scanlan in conversation with Jane Ohlmeyer
- Egrets, While War: Poetry in Motion with Tishani Doshi, introduced by Claire Power
- Empires Old and New with Caroline Elkins, David McCullagh and Aanchal Malhotra in conversation with Jane Ohlmeyer
- Fractured World with Fredrik Logevall, Philip Stephens, Ali M. Ansari and Avi Shlaim in conversation with Mary Fitzgerald
- The Alchemy of Writing with Ruchir Joshi and Sinéad Gleeson in conversation with Manasi Subramaniam
- The Undying Light: India’s Futures with Gopalkrishna Gandhi in conversation with Fintan O’Toole
- The Homes We Cannot Keep with Niamh Campbell and Garrett Carr in conversation with Fintan O’Toole
- For and Against a United Ireland with Fintan O’Toole and Sam McBride in conversation with Cathy Gormley-Heenan
Helen McEntee, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, said:
“JLF Island of Ireland is an ambitious new cultural initiative, one that will take place across four cities and towns this May. The programme reflects the depth and breadth of conversations shaping our world today. Bringing together voices from Ireland, India and beyond, the festival will deepen connections and create space for dialogue across this island and internationally.”
Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said:
“The 2026 programme for JLF Island of Ireland offers audiences the opportunity to engage with a diverse range of writers and ideas, spanning literature, history, politics and culture. Its presence across multiple locations ensures that audiences can connect with work of global relevance, while reflecting conversations that resonate strongly within communities across the island.”
Mr. Sanjoy K Roy, Managing Director, Teamwork Arts. Pvt Ltd said:
“JLF Island of Ireland brings together voices from Ireland, India and beyond across Belfast, Armagh, Dundalk and Dublin. This edition reflects our enduring commitment to creating a shared space for ideas, dialogue and cultural exchange. At a time when the world feels increasingly fragmented, literature offers a way to connect across histories, identities and borders. We are delighted to bring this all-island celebration to Ireland, continuing our belief in the power of words to inform, inspire and bring people together.”
JLF Island of Ireland will be free and open to all, continuing the festival’s commitment to accessibility and public engagement. Further programme details will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information, visit: https://jlflitfest.org/ireland
