GLF POSTPONEMENT SIMILAR TO NEYO CONCERT SCANDAL?

The Galle Literary Festival has, for many years, been a fixture on Sri Lanka's social and cultural calendar.

- By Samantha de Silva

It has attracted enthusiastic participation from Sri Lankans and expatriates alike and has built a reputation as a marquee event that places the country on the global literary map.

For many, it is not merely a festival but a reason to travel, to reconnect, and to celebrate literature, ideas, and conversation in one of Sri Lanka's most historic cities. It is therefore not surprising that when the Galle Literary Festival 2026 was announced, many of us rushed to purchase tickets.

Festival Insider tickets were advertised at a price of Rs 75,000, and a strong marketing campaign followed. The campaign prominently listed authors who were expected to participate, creating excitement and a sense of anticipation. Advertising continued consistently, even as late as October 2025, reinforcing the impression that the event was firmly on track. Based on this messaging, many patrons committed not only to purchasing tickets but also to booking travel and accommodation in Galle, often at premium and nonrefundable rates.

Then, without warning, on November 7, just a few weeks before the scheduled event, a general announcement was issued stating that the festival had been postponed to 2027. The announcement came as a shock. There had been no prior indication of uncertainty, no communication suggesting difficulties, and no attempt to prepare patrons for such a drastic decision. Most troubling was the fact that the announcement provided no information whatsoever about refunds and no meaningful contact details. It simply stated that tickets purchased for 2026 would be honoured in 2027.