Produced by Teamwork Arts and TRASAL (Traveling South Asian Literary Festival), JLF Seattle is the international chapter of the Jaipur Literature Festival, the world’s largest annual literary event. Set to take place from September 20-22, 2024, at the Seattle Asian Art Museum and Town Hall, this debut edition promises to bring the same exhilarating energy that has made the Jaipur Festival an iconic gathering of literary minds. Supported by local universities, cultural organizations, and the wider community, JLF Seattle is poised to become a permanent fixture in the city, drawing book lovers from across the West Coast and beyond.

Seattle, recognized as a UNESCO City of Literature since 2017, boasts deep literary roots and a contemporary cultural vibrancy. With a 10,000-year-old legacy, including the oral traditions of the Coast Salish peoples, the city is dedicated to fostering a thriving literary scene. From award-winning, diverse authors to its strong community engagement through independent bookstores, libraries, and literary events, Seattle is a hub for readers and writers to connect in meaningful ways. The city’s technological innovation, with advancements in e-readers, mobile devices, and digital storytelling through VR and AR, further enhances this rich environment, redefining the way literature is experienced.

The 17th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival, held in February 2024 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, was a resounding success, affirming the power of words and ideas through a remarkable line-up of speakers. JLF editions in the US, UK, Spain, the Maldives, and beyond have seamlessly blended South Asia’s multilingual literary traditions with the local essence of each region. As JLF makes its Seattle debut, it will celebrate not just the city’s literary and cultural diversity but also its vibrant social consciousness, environmental awareness, and inclusivity.

Nestled between water, mountains, and parklands, Seattle’s distinct topography and dynamic cultural landscape make it the ideal backdrop for a festival that celebrates both tradition and innovation. JLF Seattle will embody the signature camaraderie and flow of ideas that make the festival a truly unparalleled literary experience, creating a unique space for readers, writers, and thinkers to converge.