Visakhapatnam is preparing to welcome young readers, aspiring writers and storytelling enthusiasts as the fifth edition of the Vizag Junior Literary Fest (VJLF) approaches.

Scheduled for November 21 and 22, 2026, the two-day festival will take place at Hawa Mahal on Beach Road. Organised by Lit Lantern Culture and Literature Welfare Society, the event aims to encourage reading, creativity and literary exploration among children.

With registrations gaining momentum, several limited-capacity sessions are filling up quickly, according to the organisers.

Around 100 Sessions for Young Readers

The festival will feature approximately 100 sessions covering a wide range of activities, including:

• Creative writing workshops

• Storytelling and interactive reading

• Author interactions and book discussions

• Illustration workshops

• Puppetry and performances

• Activities focused on emotional well-being

The programme is designed for children between 4 and 16 years, with sessions divided into three age groups: 4–7 years, 8–12 years and 13–16 years.

Authors, Illustrators and Storytellers to Participate

Around 20 authors, illustrators, storytellers and performing artists are expected to participate in the festival.

The participating authors include Shweta Taneja, Samina Mishra, Varsha Seshan, Sanjay Arora, Anushka Ravishankar and Vikas Joshi.

Illustrators Canato Jimo, Sonal Gupta Vaswani and Monica Tata will also engage with young participants through interactive sessions. The programme includes storytelling performances, Telugu-language sessions and activities led by artists.

Registration Details and Entry Fees

Entry to the festival grounds is free. However, selected sessions with limited seating require prior registration.

• Individual session registration: ₹250

• School group bookings: ₹150 per student

• Open sessions: Free entry, with advance seating arrangements for larger school groups

Parents and schools can enquire about registrations at:

• Tanishq showroom, VIP Road

• Pages Bookstore, Rednam Gardens

• BookMagic Library, Lawsons Bay Colony

A Platform to Encourage Reading

The festival also aims to bring children closer to books through interactive learning and direct engagement with writers and artists.

A dedicated bookstore featuring more than 1,000 titles from Indian publishers is also planned as part of the event.

With storytelling, creative activities and opportunities to interact with literary personalities, the Vizag Junior Literary Fest is expected to offer children an engaging weekend focused on imagination and learning.