Pune Book Festival 2026 To Be Held From December 12 To 20 At Fergusson College; Check Details

Pune, 29th October 2026: The Pune Book Festival 2026, the fourth edition of the city’s biggest book event, is scheduled to be held from December 12 to 20, 2026. After a record-breaking 2025 edition, book lovers, students and families are already planning their visits.

Pune Book Festival 2026 at a glance

• Edition: Fourth
• Dates: December 12 to 20, 2026 (nine days)
• Venue: Fergusson College ground, Shivajinagar (the ground is booked for the festival in December, according to reports)
• Founder: Rajesh Pande
• Entry, timings and speakers: To be announced

A record year in 2025

The 2025 edition, held from December 13 to 21, was the most successful so far. According to the organisers:

• More than 12.5 lakh visits were recorded, and over 60% of visitors were young readers.
• More than 30 lakh books were sold, with an estimated turnover of ₹50 crore.
• There were more than 250 stalls, and 498 new titles were launched.
• About 400 schools and nearly 30,000 students visited.
• More than 1,000 writers took part, and the literature segment featured 32 speakers, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla.
• Over 450 students and teachers from Fergusson College and Savitribai Phule Pune University volunteered.

Why it matters for Pune

Pune has long been known as the “Oxford of the East”. The Book Festival has quickly become a winter tradition that brings together Marathi, English and Hindi publishers, independent authors and young readers. Its success is also one reason the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav moved to January 2027, as both events will use the Fergusson College ground.

Tips for visiting

• Go on a weekday if you want a quieter visit. Weekends usually see the biggest crowds.
• Use public transport. Shivajinagar is well connected by PMPML buses and the Pune Metro, and parking near FC Road and JM Road fills up quickly.
• Carry a reusable bag and keep some cash and UPI ready, as some smaller stalls may prefer one or the other.
• Check the speaker schedule once it is announced, so you don’t miss the sessions you want to attend.
• Bring children: previous editions have had a strong focus on school students and young readers.

Frequently Asked Questions