From coordinating global talent to navigating travel complexities, the 2025 Galle Literary Festival triumphed, delivering a rich programme of literary and cultural experiences within the iconic Galle Fort
Event brief
Established in 2007 by Anglo-Australian hotelier Geoffrey Dobbs, the Galle Literary Festival (GLF) was conceived with the dual purpose of fostering boutique tourism in Sri Lanka and providing a platform for Sri Lankan authors to be presented alongside their internationally acclaimed counterparts.
Event highlights
A strong sense of community defines the GLF, held primarily within the walls of Sri Lanka’s centuries-old Galle Fort. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the southern port city of Galle, boasts a diverse population and a charming atmosphere. The fort’s cobbled streets and terracotta-roofed houses warmly welcome both local and international attendees, creating an engaging space for a long weekend of literary inspiration, learning, and enjoyment.
A wide variety of talks, workshops, and exhibitions were hosted by the Festival, all within an intimate, historic setting. Celebrating the creative arts, the Festival championed the work of writers, poets, and other artists, such as painters, photographers, and cinematographers. Local and international chefs’ excellence was also highlighted by GLF through associated culinary events.
The festival featured several highly popular interviews, including Sri Lankan-born and internationally acclaimed writer Shyam Selvadurai in conversation with author Ameena Hussein about his latest book, Mansions of the Moon. V.V. Ganeshananthan also drew large crowds, discussing her Women’s Prize-winning novel, Brotherless Night, and both authors were met with long queues for book signings after their sessions.
Talks addressing weighty subjects were equally well-attended. Adam Rutherford’s The Dark History and Troubling Present of Eugenics, A New Wave of Democracy in South Asia? with Daniel Alphonsus, Peter Frankopan, and Razeen Sally, and Connecting Cultures: The Art of Literary Translation with Michael Hofmann, Rashmika Mandawala, and Aube Rey Lescure all filled their venues.
This edition of the event hosted more workshops than ever before, with all sessions selling out. The new format for the Art Trail, which incorporated meet the artists sessions alongside exhibitions, proved to be a popular addition. The GLF’s renowned Literary Lunches and Dinners were also completely sold out.
The four-day event included over 150 talks, workshops, and entertainment events, drawing more than 7,000 attendees. It featured 62 authors and speakers, with 43 coming from overseas.
Challenges
The main challenges encountered were the complex coordination of international author arrivals, the arrangement of special airfares, and the organisation of events at various Galle locations, all while providing discounted hotel rates for attendees.
While GLF grappled with higher flight expenditures due to the absence of an airline partner, and the logistical challenges inherent in a boutique tourism-focused festival hosting 90 participants across a 20km radius, the overall author experience was overwhelmingly positive. The impressive accommodation offerings provided by the smaller hotels quickly overshadowed any minor inconveniences, such as the short tuk-tuk rides to and from the Fort.
Event Galle Literary Festival 2025
Organisers Saskia Walker (programme curator), Dream Team Studio (event management)
Venue Galle Fort
Date February 6-9, 2025
Attendees More than 7,000
