Quick answer: The Khushwant Singh Literary Festival 2026 runs 23–25 October in Kasauli, about a two-hour drive from Chandigarh. Registration is open through the official site, kslitfest.com. The festival has been held in the hill town since 2012 in memory of the author Khushwant Singh.
✍️ By Rahul Goyal · Chandigarh Life
Every October, a slice of the tricity’s reading crowd disappears up the hill to Kasauli for a weekend of talks, arguments and mountain air. The Khushwant Singh Literary Festival — KSLF to regulars — is the reason. It is held in the cantonment town where Khushwant Singh spent his summers writing, and it keeps his irreverent spirit: sessions on books, politics, the army, the environment, and whatever else deserves a good argument that year.
KSLF 2026: dates and registration
| Dates | Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026 |
| Where | Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh (Solan district) |
| Registration | Open now — the form is linked from kslitfest.com |
| Organiser | The Khushwant Singh Foundation, New Delhi (info@kslitfest.com) |
| Running since | 2012 (the site archives every edition) |
Why people make the trip
KSLF is small by design — no sprawling venue city, just Kasauli itself. That is the charm: you bump into the speakers at the bakery, the sessions run close together, and the town’s colonial-era quiet does half the work. The foundation also runs year-round causes — its Joy of Learning schools project, a green movement and work around the Indian soldier — and those threads usually show up in the programme. The 2026 speaker list is being published on the official site.
Getting there from Chandigarh
Kasauli is one of the easiest hill runs from the tricity — up the Shimla highway and off at Dharampur, roughly two hours door to door depending on traffic. Our Chandigarh to Kasauli guide covers the routes, stops and what else to see once you are up there. October weekends get busy, so leave early and book your stay ahead; Kasauli’s hotels are few and fill up fast during the festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival in 2026?
From Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026, in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh.
How do I register for KSLF 2026?
Through the registration form linked on the official site, kslitfest.com. Any fee or pass details are stated on the form itself.
How far is Kasauli from Chandigarh?
It is roughly a two-hour drive up the Shimla highway via Dharampur — see our Chandigarh to Kasauli guide for routes and stops.
Who runs the festival?
The Khushwant Singh Foundation, set up in memory of the author and journalist Khushwant Singh, who had a lifelong bond with Kasauli. The festival has run there since 2012.
More from the October calendar
- Chandigarh to Kasauli: routes, time and stops
- Military Literature Festival, Chandigarh
- Events in Chandigarh: what’s on across the tricity
- La Feria Chandigarh 2026: pop-up shopping festival, 10–11 October
Sources: the festival’s official site kslitfest.com (2026 dates, registration form, foundation details and edition archives), checked on 26 September 2026.
