Tickets for the Galle Literary Festival’s events are now available, offering guests the chance to join a vibrant four-day celebration of creativity, culture, and engaging conversation. From Thursday, 6 to Sunday, 9 February, the south coast of Sri Lanka will host over 100 events featuring famed local and international writers and speakers. This year’s festival promises a diverse programme, including complimentary performances, insightful panel discussions, and culinary delights, with something to captivate every attendee.
Event categories from Galle Literary Festival 2025 include:
• Sessions: Dive into a packed schedule of talks and panels with fabulous speakers, including Shyam Selvadurai, Michael Attenborough, Philippe Sands, Afua Hirsch, Sathnam Sanghera, Saba Douglas-Hamilton and many others.
• Workshops: Open the day with morning yoga, hone your skills in various fields from creative writing to photography, or discover the history of Galle Fort with residents, architects and historians.
• Literary Feasts: Connect with your favourite authors over curated lunch and dinner events in picturesque locations around Galle. Savour artisanal tea at the daily afternoon poetry sessions or sip cocktails at sunset with writers from across the world.
• Entertainment: Immerse yourself in the energy of a varied lineup of cultural performances, including jazz, dance, classical music and DJ-led parties. Don’t miss the legendary comedy night with superb standup by Sashi Perera.
• The Art Trail in partnership with ARTRA: Experience a walkable gallery as historic properties showcase free contemporary exhibitions by local and international artists.
• Children’s Festival: Inspire young readers with a full day of creative workshops and storytelling sessions at the Martin Wickramasinghe Museum.
All of this and much more awaits! While Festival Passes are now sold out, individual event tickets are now available online. Visitors can explore the entire event programme and purchase tickets here.
“Guests need to be quick to purchase tickets as Festival Passes sold out fast!” said Giselle Harding, Festival Director. “We’re thrilled to see how well the programme has been received and can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the Fort.”
Tickets for the individual events are available to purchase from galleliteraryfestival.com.
Since its launch in 2007, orchestrated by Geoffrey Dobbs, the Galle Literary Festival has become one of the most anticipated arts and culture events in South Asia. A favourite among authors and attendees alike, the festival hosts a wide variety of talks, workshops and exhibitions in an intimate, historic setting.
A celebration of the creative arts, the festival champions the work of writers and poets, as well as giving space to painters, photographers and cinematographers. Through associated culinary events, the GLF also highlights the excellence of local and international chefs.
Held largely within the walls of the centuries-old Galle Fort, the festival has a strong sense of community at its heart. A UNESCO World Heritage Site on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, the Fort is home to one of the island’s most diverse communities. Its cobbled streets and terracotta-roofed houses generously invite local and international visitors to gather for a long weekend intended to inspire, educate and entertain.