Think Ink

In 2026-the 'year of analog'-how will our relationship with literary festivals evolve?

- Vineetha Mokkil

ON January 15, day one of the Jaipur Literature Festival, the sun shone bright.

The air in Jaipur, compared to Delhi’s doomed smog, felt more breathable. Crowds pooled around the gates of the festival venue. You could hear people debating which sessions to go to, which authors to get signed copies from, who was approachable, who would play the diva. The 19th edition of JLF, the festival that has placed India firmly on the global art and culture map, was off to a lively start. Many at JLF had plans to head to other lit fests afterwards—Kolkata, Chennai, Kerala and Hyderabad beckoned. January is ‘lit fest season’, but the season is by no means short-lived. The months that follow too will be hosting fests across a multitude of locations.

This year lit fests take on a special resonance. Why? Because the year of our lord 2026 has been declared the ‘year of analog’, a widely predicted cultural trend that sees us tiring of digital overstimulation and returning to tactile real-life experiences—savouring the pleasure of reading physical books; meeting each other face-to-face; less doomscrolling, less texting, more nature walks and strolls on the beach, feeling the sun on our skin and the wind in our hair instead of staring at a screen with distracted eyes.