Valladolid is preparing to become, for four days in June, one of the literary epicenters and most prominent cultural events from the Hispanic-Indian scene. The new edition of the JLF Valladolid Spain Literature Festival will bring internationally renowned writers, thinkers, artists, and chefs to the city, consolidating this event as a key gathering for those who enjoy books, the exchange of ideas, and culture as a meeting place.
The fourth edition of this Spanish extension of the prestigious Jaipur Literature Festival will be held from 11 al 14 de juniowith activities spread between Madrid and Valladolid. Framed within the Spain-India Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial IntelligenceThe event aims to strengthen ties between both countries and show how words, music, film, and gastronomy can function as authentic bridges between very different but connected societies.
A literary bridge between Spain and India under the motto "Words Are Bridges"
JLF Valladolid Spain presents itself, once again, as a "literary bridge" between Spain and India, maintaining the festival's global motto, Words Are Bridges / Words create bridgesThe central idea of ​​the entire program is to use literature and the arts as tools for dialogue, exchange, and joint reflection on major contemporary challenges.
During the official presentation, held at the House of India of ValladolidIt was explained that this fourth edition will be one of the central milestones of the Dual Year, which will be evident both in the relevance of the guests and in the diversity of content. The festival aims to transform the city into a global dialogue spacewhere voices from very different backgrounds can converse one-on-one with the Spanish and European public.
This time, the program is designed to cover everything from the most popular literary genres to more specialized fields of analysis, with panels that will touch on the poetryfiction, crime novels, gastronomy, history, and geopoliticsIn addition, there are debates on very current issues such as climate action and Artificial Intelligence, one of the central thematic axes of the Dual Year between both countries.
In addition to the conversations surrounding books, the festival will continue to focus on a multidisciplinary programming It integrates music, dance, critical thinking, film, and workshops, so that visitors can experience a complete cultural experience, beyond the usual presentations.
Dates, venues and a city fully committed to the festival
The JLF Valladolid Spain 2026 tour will begin in Madrid, with a Opening ceremony on the morning of June 11 at IE UniversityWith this gesture, the festival reinforces its international character and its connection with the academic and educational field, opening the program to a wider audience than just the strictly local one.
That same afternoon, the activity will move to ValladolidThe event will begin with a welcome session at the Casa de la India, symbolically kicking off the gathering in the city. official opening of the festival It will take place on Friday, June 12th in the well-known Plaza del Libro in Campo Grande, an already emblematic venue for JLF fans.
Throughout June 13th and 14th, a A very comprehensive program of talks, readings, debates, and participatory activitiesDesigned for literature enthusiasts, families, and the general public alike, Valladolid will be filled with voices, accents, and cultural offerings during those days, transforming the city into a veritable cross-border window between India, Spain, and the Spanish-speaking world.
The appointment will maintain the structure that links Madrid and ValladolidBut with a clear expansion of venues within the Castilian capital. According to municipal sources, the festival promises to "transform the city into a space for global dialogue," with programming spread across key locations and a strong presence in the city center.
El festival closing It will arrive on Sunday, June 14th with a closing gala at the hotel and winery. Retuerta LeDomaine AbbeyLocated in the heart of the Ribera del Duero region, this historic enclave, whose origins date back to the 12th century, has become a key partner of the festival and will once again serve as the closing venue for this edition.
New spaces and a greater presence in Valladolid
One of the main new features that has been announced is the geographical expansion of the festival within ValladolidIn addition to the already traditional Campo Grande —with its Plaza del Libro— and the Casa de la India itself, the program will extend to other key points in the city.
Among these new scenarios, the following stands out: Cervantes House MuseumThe venue, which joins the festival as a location to host some of the literary sessions and meetings with authors, is steeped in symbolism for Spanish literature and strengthens the dialogue between European literary tradition and contemporary voices from India and other countries.
La Zorrilla Square It will once again be another important focal point, especially in the musical sphere, hosting concerts and artistic collaborations that will enliven the evenings. There, live performances will take place, blending Indian and Spanish sounds, shaping one of the festival's distinctive features: the fusion of cultures.
In addition to these points, the organization has announced that a emblematic location yet to be revealedwhere a special concert co-produced with the events platform Fever will take place. This space, which is being kept secret for the time being, will add an element of surprise and reinforce the festival's connection with live music and the contemporary cultural scene.
The network of locations is completed with the India House, the true driving force behind the project in Valladolid, and with other institutional collaborators such as the University of Valladolid or the Casa Cervantes Museum, which contribute to making the city a complete cultural map during those days.
An international lineup with top names
The 2026 edition of JLF Valladolid Spain arrives with a guest list of enormous international prestigewhich combines established voices with promising emerging artists. Among the confirmed names, the following stand out: Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, recognized for his fight against child exploitation and in defense of the right to education for children and young people.
It will share a program with Banu Mushtaq, Winner Man Booker International Prize 2025 for his work Heart Lamp: Selected Storiesand with the Indian journalist and historian Shrabani Basu, known for investigations such as Spy Princess and for the book that inspired the film Victoria & Abdul, where the relationship between Queen Victoria and Abdul Karim is explored.
Another of the major figures present will be the British historian William Dalrympleauthor of such influential titles as The last Mongol o The golden roadHis ability to explain the history of the Indian subcontinent from an accessible and rigorous perspective makes him one of the most anticipated voices at the festival.
The Hispanic community will be represented by, among others, Jorge Volpi, Mexican writer who has won awards such as the Biblioteca Breve for In search of Klingsor or the Alfaguara by A criminal novelHe was also distinguished as a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters of France. His presence reinforces the Latin American dimension of the meeting.
The lineup is completed by figures such as Jeet Thayil, Indian poet and novelist, winner of the Sahitya Akademi Prize and a Man Booker Prize finalist; the academic Tara K. Menon, a professor at Harvard University whose first novel, underwaterIt has been translated into more than thirty languages; and the historian and doctor of Architecture Alberto Garin, known for his work in historical dissemination and for his YouTube channel "Sierra de historias".
Literature, thought and current debates
The core of JLF Valladolid Spain will continue to be the literature in all its formsbut surrounded by other languages ​​and perspectives that enrich it. The program includes panels on poetry, contemporary novels, and fiction. black gender, historical essay and journalistic chronicle, with the aim of offering a broad overview of current creation.
At the same time, specific tables have been designed on history and geopoliticsThese discussions will address issues such as the colonial legacy, political transformations in Asia, and the new balance of global power. They will connect India's experiences with the European context and with the democratic and social challenges of the 21st century.
La climate action and Artificial Intelligence These are among the most prominent thematic areas. Writers, scientists, academics, and journalists will reflect on the role of literature and critical thinking in addressing climate change, the environmental crisis, and the impact of new technologies on daily life and cultural creation.
Another important section will be dedicated to the gastronomy and culinary culturenot only from a sensory perspective, but also as a narrative of identity, diaspora, and cultural fusion. These sessions will analyze how cuisine can tell stories of migration, memory, and social change, and how it integrates into festivals as another form of language.
Throughout the days of the festival, the conversations will be supplemented with poetic readings, book presentationsdialogues between authors and question sessions with the audienceso that attendees can interact directly with the guests and delve deeper into the topics that interest them most.
Music, dance and artistic collaborations between India and Spain
The artistic dimension of JLF Valladolid goes far beyond words. As in previous editions, the festival will focus on a carefully curated musical and performing arts programThe exhibition features collaborations between artists from India and Spain. The idea is to create a sound and visual dialogue that complements the literary exchange.
Among the confirmed proposals, the performances of Ambi Subramaniam, considered one of the new leading figures in Indian classical violin, and of the Spanish musician Jorge PardoA key figure in contemporary jazz and flamenco. His performances on stage, especially in Plaza Zorrilla, promise to be some of the most unique moments of the festival.
In addition to these concerts, the program will include music and dance shows These performances will connect Indian performing arts traditions with local audiences. Classical and contemporary dance demonstrations are expected, as well as performances that fuse styles, all with the aim of bringing the rich culture of the Indian subcontinent to new audiences.
The event will open, in line with what happens at other venues of the Jaipur Literature Festival around the world, with morning sessions of Indian classical music in the Plaza del Libro in Campo GrandeThis format creates an intimate and contemplative atmosphere that serves as a prologue to the literary debates and panels of the rest of the day.
At night, the Plaza Zorrilla will be transformed into a large open-air stagewhere musical evenings will take place featuring collaborations between Spanish and Indian performers. These free or easily accessible concerts aim to make the festival more accessible to those who initially come for the music and then discover the rest of the program.
Indian cuisine and experiences for all audiences
The festival's offerings are not limited to intellectual content; they are also designed to be enjoyed with all five senses. In this sense, the Indian cuisine will play a leading role, reinforcing the experiential dimension of the encounter.
The chef Anand GeorgeA chef originally from Kerala and known for revolutionizing Indian cuisine in Cardiff, he will be one of the major figures in this field. His cooking has been described as capable of stopping conversation, and in Valladolid he will offer Tapas tastings and talks about Indian culinary culture, bringing flavors, techniques and gastronomic stories closer to the public.
Beyond offering options for curious palates, JLF Valladolid Spain will maintain its commitment to activities for family audiencesParticipatory initiatives such as dance workshops, music demonstrations and craft sessions are planned, designed to help children approach Indian culture in a fun way.
The goal is for the festival to be perceived as a open and inclusive experiencewhere big names from the literary and artistic scene will coexist with accessible proposals for those who simply want to stroll through the city, discover an open-air concert or try a different bite.
In this way, Valladolid aspires to become, during those days, a shared space for readers, families, students, cultural sector professionals and occasional visitors, all of them connected through curiosity and interest in cultural exchange.
Production, institutional support and the framework of the Spain-India Dual Year
Behind the JLF Valladolid Spain is a extensive network of collaborating institutions and entities which make the logistical and programmatic deployment of the festival possible. The organization is in charge of Teamwork Arts —also responsible for the original Jaipur Literature Festival— in association with the India House, which acts as a local partner and linking platform between both cultures.
The festival features the Sponsored by the Department of Tourism, Events and City Brand of the Valladolid City Council and the Castilla and leon meeting, as well as with the support of Retuerta Abbey as Hospitality Partner and of the company Fever as Music Stage Partner, responsible for the co-production of one of the special concerts in a venue yet to be revealed.
This core is complemented by the Indian Embassy in Spain, The University of Valladolid, IE University, The Spain-India Council Foundation and the Cervantes House Museumamong other collaborators. All these institutions reinforce the shared nature of the project between both countries and underline the festival's commitment to continuity beyond a single edition.
The celebration of the JLF Valladolid is fully framed within the Spain-India Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial IntelligenceThis initiative, driven by the governments of both countries, seeks to strengthen cooperation and increase exchanges in various fields. The festival thus becomes one of the most visible showcases of this bilateral collaboration in the arts and ideas.
Alongside the JLF, the House of India has presented a advanced activity calendar which will be developed throughout the year, consolidating Valladolid as a strategic point in the cultural relationship between Spain and India and generating a continuous flow of proposals beyond the days of the festival.
Other highlights of the Spain-India Dual Year
The presentation of the JLF Valladolid program also served to unveil a set of complementary events which will be part of the Dual Year. Among the most outstanding proposals is the Aditi Mangaldas dance company tour, one of the most recognized figures in contemporary Indian dance, who will perform in Madrid, Valladolid and Barcelona during the month of April.
In the audiovisual field, the independent film festival was announced. IndiaIndieThe festival, which will take place between April and May in theaters such as Cinemes Girona in Barcelona, ​​Cine Paz MK2 in Madrid, and Cines Broadway in Valladolid, will offer a chance to discover new voices in Indian cinema that operate outside the mainstream commercial circuits.
Music will also have its place with a tribute concert to Ravi Shankar On April 8, Dilshad Khan (sarangi) and Nihar Mehta (tabla) will perform at the Casa de la India. This will be followed by their participation in the Granada International Music and Dance Festival with the co-production "The Dream of the Sitar. A Tribute to Ravi Shankar", which will be a world premiere and will include the Granada City Orchestra accompanied by musicians and dancers from India.
Before this premiere in Granada, the ensemble of musicians from that production will star in a Gala of Indian music and dance The performance will take place on June 19th at the Calderón Theatre in Valladolid. Later, in July, the renowned dancer is scheduled to tour Spain. Malavika Sarukkai, which will also make a stop in Valladolid with the support of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, patron of the Casa de la India Foundation along with the Valladolid City Council, the University of Valladolid and the Embassy of India.
This entire parallel program expands the reach of the JLF Valladolid and strengthens the image of the city as a central node of the Hispanic-Indian cultural relationshipwith a calendar that extends over several months and offers diverse proposals for very different audiences.
With this array of authors, artists, venues and activities, the JLF Valladolid Spain Literature Festival is establishing itself as one of the great literary and cultural events in Europe Linked to India, this event is a meeting point where books, music, dance, gastronomy, and critical thinking intersect. The combination of historical settings, current affairs debates, family-friendly programming, and creative exchange between Spain and India makes this fourth edition a unique opportunity for those who wish to explore, from Valladolid and Madrid, a cultural dialogue that looks both to the past and the future.