Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday, 3 October 2026, unveiled the official logo and website for the Mumbai Book Festival 2026, formally setting in motion preparations for a six-day celebration of literature, art and culture scheduled from 24 to 29 November 2026 at the University of Mumbai's Kalina Campus. The festival is being organised by the National Book Trust (NBT), India, under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra and the University of Mumbai.

Key Dignitaries at the Launch

The launch ceremony was attended by several prominent stakeholders. Milind Marathe, Chairman of the National Book Trust, India; Ravindra Kulkarni, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mumbai; Ameet Satam, Chief Organiser; Acharya Pawan Tripathi, Chief Convenor; and Yuvraj Malik, Director of the National Book Trust, India, were all present on the occasion. Chief Minister Fadnavis also shared the announcement on social media, underscoring the festival's role in connecting the public with literature.

A Symbolic Date Tied to Marathi Heritage

The choice of 3 October for the launch carries deliberate significance. Exactly two years prior, on 3 October 2024, the Marathi language was officially conferred the status of a 'Classical Language'. According to Chief Minister Fadnavis, announcing the festival on the same date links Maharashtra's proud literary heritage with a renewed commitment to promoting a reading culture across the state.

What the Festival Will Offer

According to Marathe, the Kalina Campus venue will serve as a single destination for readers, families, students and literature enthusiasts across Mumbai. The six-day programme will feature dedicated children and youth zones, interactive learning activities, workshops, and talent-development programmes. Dozens of publishers are expected to display works spanning multiple genres and languages under one roof, and evening performances showcasing local and national performing arts are also planned.

During book festivals of this nature, NBT typically organises 'Meet the Author' sessions, translation workshops and youth writing initiatives, Marathe noted. 'Now, NBT brings this large-scale initiative to India's economic capital,' he said.

NBT's Expanding Literary Footprint

The National Book Trust, established on 1 August 1957, operates on three core mandates: curating diverse literature, fostering multilingual translation, and promoting a reading culture through the translation of outstanding works across Indian and international languages. It focuses on producing India-centric, non-academic, general-reading books for all age groups.

While the New Delhi World Book Fair remains NBT's flagship annual event, the trust has steadily expanded its reach across the country. It has hosted regional festivals including the Gomti Book Festival in Lucknow, the Chinar Book Festival in Srinagar, and events in Patna, Sambalpur, Shillong, Pune, Nagpur, Goa, Ahmedabad, and even at an altitude of 11,500 feet in Ladakh, according to Marathe.

What Comes Next

With the logo and website now live, organisers are expected to begin publisher registrations and programme scheduling ahead of the 24 November 2026 opening. The festival represents a significant expansion of NBT's presence in Maharashtra's cultural calendar and, if successful, could establish Mumbai as a recurring destination on India's literary circuit.