Jaipur Literature Festival visits Belfast Campus

The inaugural edition of JLF Island of Ireland, scheduled to take place across a ten-day run between venues in Belfast, Armagh, Dundalk and Dublin from 22–31 May, 2026, has unveiled an early peek into its programme and the conversations that will shape its diverse narrative.

JLF Island of Ireland is an international edition of the globally renowned Jaipur Literature Festival that happens annually in the Pink City of Jaipur in Rajasthan, India. The programme preview was part of a small pre-festival event in Dublin, bringing together select voices from the literary industry and guests for an early look at the festival.

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. The Belfast campus programme will includes local writers such as:   Eoin McNamee,  Rosemary Jenkinson, Lucy Caldwell, Sinead Gleeson, Leo Varadkar,  Sinead Morrisey,  Paul McVeigh, and Wendy Erskine in the company of some of India's leading authors and international speakers like William Dalrymple and Jane Ohlmeyer.

You can register to attend here: JLF Island of Ireland: Belfast

The full programme is available here: JLF Island of Ireland Programme

Cathy Gormley Heenan, Provost at Ulster University welcomed the festival saying, “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."

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.”

JLF Island of Ireland will continue with programming in Armagh, Dundalk and Dublin.