Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral
The first edition of the Goa Book Festival 2026 concluded on Sunday, 8 February, at the DB Bandodkar Grounds, Panaji, marking a significant milestone in Goa’s cultural and literary landscape. Held from 4 to 8 February under the theme “An Ocean of Books”, the festival attracted an impressive footfall of over 1.25 lakh visitors over five days, reflecting a growing enthusiasm for books, reading, and meaningful dialogue across age groups.
Readers, writers, publishers, educators, students, and families came together for a packed programme that blended literature with cinema, history, spirituality, language, music, and art. One of the highlights of the final day was the session “The Many Lives of Sachin Pilgaonkar”, where the veteran actor-director reflected on language, cinema, and the role reading played in shaping his creative journey. Sharing anecdotes from his early years, he spoke about learning spoken Urdu under the guidance of Meena Kumari, refining Marathi with support from his wife and Ashok Saraf, and memorable moments from films like Sholay and Brahmachari. He concluded the session with a soulful rendition of “Kaun Disha Mein Leke Chala”, leaving the audience visibly moved.
Spiritual leader and author Acharya Prashant, in his session “Understanding the Self in Everyday Life”, addressed the deep dissatisfaction many experience in modern life. He spoke candidly about how people often chase validation and material markers rather than true inner satisfaction, encouraging introspection and honesty as pathways to lasting fulfilment.
The Author’s Corner remained a vibrant space for ideas and dialogue throughout the day. Events included the prize distribution ceremony for the photography competition themed “Goa: Festival & Culture”, a book release by noted Konkani writer Vithal Gavde (Parvadkar), and a panel discussion on the development of the Konkani language featuring eminent speakers from literary and academic circles. Conversations on education, ancient wisdom, and multilingual poetry further enriched the programme.
The Children’s Corner emerged as a major attraction, with nearly 500 students participating in interactive storytelling, folk dance and music performances, creative design sessions, and introductions to digital reading platforms like the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya. Sessions celebrating Goa’s revived Kaavi Art drew enthusiastic participation from both children and parents, blending learning with hands-on creativity.
Evenings at the festival resonated with music and performance, culminating on the final day with an enthralling set by Kerala-based indie band Shanka Tribe, whose fusion of tribal rhythms and contemporary sounds created an immersive experience for audiences.
Across five days, the festival hosted conversations with prominent journalists, historians, filmmakers, legal experts, philosophers, authors, actors, and even an astronaut, ensuring wide-ranging engagement across disciplines. The book fair, featuring over 250 stalls from more than 100 publishers, remained abuzz throughout, with visitors exploring books in English, Konkani, Marathi, and several other Indian languages.
With strong participation, vibrant discussions, and a warm response from readers of all ages, the Goa Book Festival 2026 has laid the foundation for a lasting literary tradition in the state—one where books, ideas, and communities continue to meet and grow together.
