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:

29 November

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Panel: Verses of Our Time: Poetry and Its Crossings

Location

Wawasan Hall

Poetry refuses to stand still. It moves between stage and page, between languages and traditions, carrying with it the urgency of our moment. In this session, three poets read and reflect on how their work confronts love and loss, politics and memory, the intimate and the universal. Together, they ask what poetry can do now—and why its voice remains essential.

Speakers: Anthony Tao, Helen Mort, Kiriti Sengupta
Moderator/Host: Malachi Edwin Vethamani