An Ocean Of Stories is set to unfold in Panaji as the Goa Book Festival 2026 takes place from 4 to 8 February at the Bhausaheb Dayanand Bandodkar Ground.
Organised by the National Book Trust, India (Ministry of Education) in association with the Government of Goa, Samarth Yuva Foundation, and Lokmanya Cultural Foundation, the festival promises a five-day celebration of books, ideas and culture.
The festival will be formally inaugurated by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on 4 February in the presence of Dr. Ramesh Tawadkar, Minister of Art and Culture, Sports and Youth, Government of Goa; Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman, National Book Trust, India; Prasad Lolayekar, IAS, Secretary, Education, Government of Goa; Dr. Kiran Thakur, Chairman, Lokmanya Cultural Foundation; Rajesh Pandey, Trustee and Chief Convenor, Pune Book Fair; and Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India.
Addressing a press conference, Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India, said in keeping with NBT’s mandate to promote books and reading culture across the country, the Trust is exploring the idea of developing the Goa Book Festival at a national scale, on par with major book fairs held across other states.
He emphasised that all events under the festival are free and open to the public, with the larger aim of reconnecting society with the enduring power of books.
The festival will feature over 250 book stalls by over 100 publishers, showcasing a wide and diverse range of titles in English, Konkani, Marathi, and other Indian languages.