George Town Literary Festival

The George Town Literary Festival (GTLF) is Southeast Asia's premier literary gathering, bringing together authors, poets, translators, journalists, and thinkers from across the region and beyond for three days of conversations, readings, workshops, and performances in the heart of George Town's UNESCO World Heritage zone.

Founded in 2011, the festival has grown into a significant fixture on the international literary calendar, with previous editions drawing speakers including Man Booker Prize winners, leading Southeast Asian novelists, and prominent voices from the worlds of journalism, food writing, and cultural commentary. The festival embraces the full spectrum of writing — fiction, non-fiction, poetry, graphic novels, and food literature — with a strong emphasis on Southeast Asian voices and stories.

The sixteenth edition (2026) will be held across heritage venues in George Town: the Penang State Museum, the E&O Hotel, Armenian Street, and smaller shophouses that become intimate reading venues for the weekend. Signature events include the Rainforest Stage readings set in a shophouse courtyard, the Midnight Conversations series (late-night discussions), and the Writers' Market where authors sell and sign directly to readers.

The festival's location in a living heritage city is itself part of the programme — walks, talks, and pop-up events spill into the surrounding streets, connecting literary culture to the specific histories and stories embedded in George Town's architecture and communities. Many sessions are free; paid events are ticketed and sell out quickly.