Festival Office Inauguration Today
As part of the preparations for the 4th Kerala Legislative Assembly International Book Festival (KLIBF 2026), the Festival Office will be inaugurated today, January 6, at 10.30 AM, by Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty.
The ceremony will also witness the release of the Book Festival Directory and the Festival Song.
In the evening at 6.30 PM, the inauguration of the decorative illumination of the Kerala Legislative Assembly Complex will be held. The function will be inaugurated by Speaker A. N. Shamseer.
Book Festival from January 7 to 13
The Book Festival will be held from January 7 to 13 at the Kerala Legislative Assembly Complex. Visitors to the festival will also be given the opportunity to visit the Legislative Assembly Museum and the Assembly Hall where legislative sessions are conducted.
The fourth edition of the festival, which transforms the capital city into a celebration of knowledge through discussions and cultural programmes, will see active participation from ministers, legislators, and eminent personalities from social, cultural, artistic, and literary fields. National and international publishers, along with renowned authors, will be part of this literary festival. A vast collection of books awaits readers.
Rhythms of Theyyam Accompany the Festival of Reading
As the fourth edition of the Kerala Legislative Assembly International Book Festival (KLIBF 2026) unfolds in the capital, one of the major attractions this year will be Theyyam, the traditional ritual art form of North Malabar.
As part of the Book Festival held from January 7 to 13, various Theyyam performances will be staged from January 8 to 12.
The cultural programmes will commence on January 8 at 6.00 PM with the ‘Kodiyettam’ ritual performed by the Theyyam Heritage Committee from Mahe. The event will be inaugurated by Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian in the presence of Speaker A. N. Shamseer.
On January 8 at 6.30 PM, ‘Guruthi Tharpanam and Pookkuttichathan Thira’ will be performed, based on the legend associated with the reconstruction of St. Theresa’s Church destroyed during the Franco-British war. This will be followed by Muthappan Vellattam at 8.00 PM.
January 9, 7.00 PM: Padaveeran Theyyam
January 10, 7.00 PM: Kuttichathan Thira
January 11, 6.00 PM: Kalaripayattu demonstration by Ayodhana Foundation, followed by Agnikantha Karna Theyyam with 16 torches
January 12, 7.00 PM: Vasoorimala Bhagavathi Thira
January 12, 8.00 PM: Pottan Theyyam, voicing resistance against social discrimination
Free Entry to Zoo and Museums for Students
Students visiting the Kerala Legislative Assembly International Book Festival will be allowed free entry to the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo and Museums from January 7 to 13.
The Director of Museums and Zoo informed that the zoo and museums will remain open on January 12 as part of the festival.
Media Awards in 11 Categories
As part of the fourth edition of the Book Festival, Media Awards have been instituted in 11 categories for print, visual, audio, and online media that report the festival effectively. Awards will also be presented to vloggers for outstanding coverage.
Awards will be given for:
Overall coverage (print, visual, audio, online)
Best reporter (print, visual, audio, online)
Best photographer (print)
Best cameraperson (visual)
News items published or broadcast between December 15 and January 15 will be considered.
Vloggers must have produced at least five pieces of content related to the festival. Details regarding submission of entries will be announced later.
Quiz Competitions: Spot Registration
As part of the Book Festival, quiz competitions will be conducted at the Legislative Assembly Complex on:
January 8 – High School & Higher Secondary level
January 9 – College level
January 10 – General public
Spot registration will be available. Participants must report by 9.30 AM on the respective days.
For more details, contact: 0471 2512456 / 2549 / 2368
