Brahmaputra Literature Festival 2026 to honour Bhupen Hazarika, Zubeen Garg

The upcoming edition of the Brahmaputra Literature Festival will be held in Assam’s historic Sivasagar from February 6 to 8, 2026, with a special focus on celebrating the lives and legacies of cultural icons Bhupen Hazarika and Zubeen Garg.

Organised by Adharxila Trust, the festival promises a vibrant confluence of music, literature, and art, centred around the theme: “Confluence of rhythm, word and art – Celebrating the voice of humanity.”

Art and humanity

Through the eyes of acclaimed author and festival director Rita Chowdhury, the Brahmaputra Literature Festival is envisioned as a space where art and human emotions converge. She describes the Brahmaputra River as a metaphor for humanity, vast, inclusive, timeless, and musical. “Through the rhythms of our hills and rivers, the festival becomes a meeting ground of voices and a forum for positive thinking,” Chowdhury said.

ALSO READ | GPS-tagged seagull from Chinese institute spotted on Karnataka coast

Inauguration and curtain raiser

The festival will formally begin on February 5, preceded by a curtain raiser at Gauripur, which will celebrate the legacy of Raja Prabhat Chandra Baruah, actor-filmmaker Pramathesh Barua, and the renowned women of Rajbari for their contribution to art and culture.

Speakers, performers and cultural highlights

The main festival at Sivasagar Girls’ College will feature speakers and performers from India and abroad, including poet-lyricist Prabha Varma, writer Mitra Phukan, educator Vijaya Thakur, Bangladeshi poet Shimul Salahuddin, poet-folk artist Khajoor Singh Thakur, and Myanmarese historian Thin Thin Aye.

The event will also highlight the traditions and artistry of the Bodo and Mishing communities, while offering visitors a taste of Assam’s rich culinary culture through an ethnic food street.

ALSO READ | Meghalaya rolls out refundable ‘Green Deposit’ to curb plastic waste

In a special recognition of excellence, five awards will be presented to icons from diverse artistic genres. Earlier this year, a special edition of the festival was held at the New Delhi World Book Fair, extending its reach to a global audience.

The Brahmaputra Literature Festival in Sivasagar opens a platform to celebrate a safe, inspiring space where art, literature, music, humanity, tradition, and creativity can flourish, shaped through the visions and words of participants and guests. This three-day festival promises a vibrant blend of voices and perspectives from across India and beyond, creating a rich cultural dialogue and creative exchange.