📅 Festival Dates: December 13 – 21, 2025
The much-loved Pune Book Festival is coming back this year from December 13 to 21, and it promises to be bigger and better. The event will be held at the Fergusson College campus and is being organised by the National Book Trust (NBT) in collaboration with the Pune Municipal Corporation, Savitribai Phule Pune University, and several local groups.
📚 What’s Special This Year?
This will be the third edition of the Pune Book Festival. NBT Director Yuvraj Malik shared that the event will not just be about books—it will celebrate the “Joy of Reading” through various activities, including:
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A photography exhibition based on reading
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A prize worth ₹1 lakh for the best entries
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Thousands of e-books are available for free download via QR scanners
📖 A Festival for Everyone
The book fest is meant for readers of all ages and backgrounds. In previous years, it included:
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600 book stalls
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Over 100 book launches
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Storytelling, painting, dance, and music workshops
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Participation of over 10 lakh visitors
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Sale of around 25 lakh books
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Total revenue crossing ₹40 crore
NBT Trustee Rajesh Pande said the event has quickly become one of India’s top book festivals, second only to Delhi.
New Cities in 2026
Starting next year, NBT plans to take this book festival model to Nashik and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad) as well, making the celebration of books even more accessible across Maharashtra.
“A book festival isn’t just for NBT, the government, or the corporation — it’s a festival of the people,” said Yuvraj Malik.
“Maharashtra has a strong tradition of preserving Marathi literature, and this festival is a continuation of that rich legacy.”
Aditi Kale, a Fergusson College student and resident of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, expressed her excitement:
“I’ve been volunteering at the Pune Book Festival for the last two years. It’s such an inspiring space for young readers and artists. If this comes to my hometown next year, I’ll be the happiest person—it’s something our city truly deserves.”
Pune’s book festival is not just a fair—it’s a cultural celebration that brings together readers, writers, and artists. As the city gets ready for the 2025 edition, it also prepares to inspire other cities to build their own literary spaces.
