# Military Literature Festival Chandigarh 2026: Dates & Guide

- Link: https://chdlife.com/military-literature-festival-chandigarh/
- Published: 2025-10-31T15:40:28+05:30
- Author: Rahul Goyal

✍️ _By [Rahul Goyal](https://chdlife.com/author/rahul/) · Chandigarh Life_

**Quick answer:** The Military Literature Festival is a 3-day event at Sukhna Lake,
Chandigarh, jointly organised by the Punjab Government, Chandigarh Administration
and the Indian Army’s Western Command — panel discussions, veteran war stories, 
book launches and heritage displays. The 9th edition ran 7–9 November 2025. The **
10th edition runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026 at the Lake Sports Complex,
near Sukhna Lake, Sector 1**, according to the [organisers’ tender notice](https://www.militaryliteraturefestival.com/pdf/advertisement-for-main-tender-10th-mlf-26.pdf).
It is typically preceded by a “Bravehearts Ride” motorcycle rally a couple of weeks
earlier. Entry is free for most sessions.

This is one of the more distinctive events on Chandigarh’s calendar — a genuine 
defence-literature festival, not a generic cultural mela, run jointly by civilian
and military organisers at the Sukhna Lake promenade. It draws veterans, historians,
authors and defence enthusiasts rather than a typical festival crowd.

Another armed-forces event this autumn: the Indian Air Force’s [Sekhon IAF Marathon](https://chdlife.com/sekhon-iaf-marathon-chandigarh/)
ran in Chandigarh on 4 October 2026.

## 2026 Edition: Date & Venue

**Dates:** Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026 (10th edition), per the [organisers’ tender notice](https://www.militaryliteraturefestival.com/pdf/advertisement-for-main-tender-10th-mlf-26.pdf).
**
Venue:** Lake Sports Complex, near Sukhna Lake, Sector 1, Chandigarh.**Organisers:**
Punjab Government, Chandigarh Administration, and the Indian Army’s Western Command.**
Typical timings:** 10 AM – 8 PM daily.**Entry:** free for general public sessions;
pre-registration required for select panels.

The 9th edition (7–9 November 2025) ran under the theme “Heartland, Rimland & India—
Multi-Domain Warfare and Defence in the Modern Era,” and was preceded by the “Bravehearts
Ride” motorcycle rally on 26 October, with over 650 riders — including veterans 
and all-women biking groups — riding across Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula to 
honour fallen soldiers. Neither the 10th edition’s theme nor its curtain-raiser 
date had been announced as of this update, though a similar structure is likely.

## What to Expect

 * **Thematic panels & debates** — senior Army officers, historians and strategic
   thinkers discussing defence, geopolitics and national security.
 * **War stories & veteran panels** — first-hand accounts from veterans of the 1965
   Indo-Pak War, Kargil, and counter-insurgency operations.
 * **Book launches** — new military publications and memoirs, with author meet-and-
   greets.
 * **Heritage displays** — arms, uniforms and equipment from historic battles.
 * **Dog & horse shows** — exhibitions by the Army’s elite animal units.
 * **Cultural evenings** — folk performances and war-documentary screenings.

## Visitor Information

 * Parking is typically available at the Sukhna Lake multi-level facility and adjacent
   grounds.
 * Carry a valid ID — some panels require registration and ID verification at entry.
 * The venue is largely outdoors along the lake promenade — carry a hat or umbrella
   depending on the weather.
 * Local cafés and vendors around Sukhna Lake see a genuine spike in footfall during
   the festival — worth combining your visit with a lakeside meal.

### When is the Military Literature Festival Chandigarh 2026?

Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026 (10th edition), according to the organisers’
tender notice. The 9th edition ran 7–9 November 2025.

### Where is the Military Literature Festival held?

In 2026, at the Lake Sports Complex near Sukhna Lake, Sector 1, Chandigarh.

### Who organises the Military Literature Festival?

It’s jointly organised by the Punjab Government, Chandigarh Administration, and 
the Indian Army’s Western Command.

### Is entry free?

Yes, for most general-public sessions. Some panels require pre-registration.

The Military Literature Festival is one of the few Chandigarh events where you can
hear genuine first-hand war accounts from veterans — worth planning around once 
the 2026 dates are confirmed, since the best panels can fill up.

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