Jaipur: Comedy powerhouse Vir Das and chess legend Viswanathan Anand, among others, will make their debuts at the 5-day Jaipur Literature Festival beginning January 15, 2026.The impressive line-up of new voices includes Archana Sharma, a senior physicist at CERN, celebrated globally for her pioneering contributions to particle physics.Sports and popular culture will rub shoulders with the debuts of Shikhar Dhawan, 1 of India’s cricketing heartthrobs, and Anurag Minus Verma, the influential digital creator known for his bold socio-cultural commentary.Adding global political heft, former Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar will also make his debut, setting the stage for conversations on geopolitics, identity, leadership, and the challenges modern democracy is currently facing.The arts, too, will be invigorated by historian Debra Diamond, who last participated in the event as a Speaker in 2013; the return of broadcaster and critic Andrew Graham-Dixon after his appearance in 2014; and debutant influential curator Helen Molesworth, each offering global perspectives on creative expression.Literary voices making their maiden JLF appearance also include Canadian Anishinaabe journalist Tanya Talaga and Bhutanese writer Kunzang Choden Roder, who will join celebrated nature poet Alice Oswald and feminist icon Volga, who attended the show in 2023 and 2017, respectively.They join a diverse group of speakers from across the world, such as Daisy Rockwell, Kiran Desai, Deepa Bhasthi, Esther Freud, Jeet Thayil, Richard Flanagan, Ruchir Joshi, Sonya Rhie Mace, and economists Nobel laureate Esther Duflo and former Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian.The organisers said the event will host the curated group of thought leaders and writers featuring Nobel laureates, Booker Prize winners, Sahitya Akademi awardees, historians, scientists, social commentators, poets, philanthropists, and many others.Sanjoy K Roy, managing director of Teamwork Arts, said, “With the final speakers confirmed, the 2026 edition reaffirms its place as a global platform where creativity, discourse, and cultural exchange converge. This year’s festival offers a unique opportunity to engage, inspire, and celebrate the transformative power of storytelling.”
