Malaysia’s leading celebration of stories returns for its 15th edition! This year’s George Town Literary Festival explores Urban Myths and Memories through panels, readings, performances, and workshops featuring 37 writers and artists from 13 countries.

George Town Literary Festival 2025 

Malaysia’s leading celebration of stories returns for its 15th edition! This year’s George Town Literary Festival explores Urban Myths and Memories through panels, readings, performances, and workshops featuring 37 writers and artists from 13 countries.

Join us in Penang’s heritage heart for three days of conversation, creativity, and discovery. Admission is free with a Festival Pass, except for workshops and select events.

Explore the full programme breakdown on the official George Town Literary Festival website.

Programme at a glance:

30 November

11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Award ceremony: 2025 Dutt Award for Literary Excellence

Location

UAB Salon

The Dutt Award for Literary Excellence will honour the richness of Malaysian writing in a prize giving ceremony. This year’s theme, Wish You Were Here, reflects on absence and belonging, and eleven finalists—Ivy Ngeow, Puvana Gnana, Theresa Suthen, Jenny Hor, Sumitra Selvaraj, Chloe Hor, Shumin Tan, Pacifist Farooq, Rachel Desiree, Joshua Lim, and Tina Ishak Dagoe—are in the running for this prize. Join the Dutt family and judges Dipika Mukherjee and Sharon Bakar to celebrate Malaysian storytelling.

Moderator/Host: Sharon Bakar, Dipika Mukherjee