Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL) 2027

The Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters or MBIFL, started in 2018, is an annual literature event held at the Kanakakkunnu Palace in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. This festival brings together a diverse array of speakers from multiple fields, including well-known writers and authors, influencers and celebrities, politicians, and sports personalities. The last edition of MBIFL was held from February 6 to February 9, 2025.

Language

Multilingual (Malayalam+English)

Genres

general lit

Format

in-person

Duration (days)

4

Next edition

28–31 Jan 2027

Author participation

Programme invitations; Kanakakkunnu Palace; South India lit visibility

Audience

MBIFL 2025 included writers, scholars, and public figures from India and abroad.

Language notes

Listed working language: Multilingual (Malayalam+English)

Genre notes

Primary focus: general lit

Programme

Writers and speakers from more than 10 countries participated, offering high-profile conversations, choreographed reading sessions, augmented reality experiences, impromptu performances, and workshops by noted photojournalist Raghu Rai.

Awards

In 2020, the inaugural "Book of the Year" award was presented to Blue is Like Blue by Vinod Kumar Shukla, translated into English by Arvind Krishna Mehrotra and Sara Rai.

Past editions

2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Festival site