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

6:30 pm - 7:15 pm

Special event: GTLF Closing Performance: CHRISTIAN FALSNAES — FRONT

Location

Cheah Kongsi

Audiences become collaborators in this participatory performance at Cheah Kongsi, collectively building, dismantling, parading, and reconstructing a large-scale wooden structure. Under Falsnaes’ direction, these acts of creation and destruction unfold as a shared ritual, exploring social roles and power dynamics. The performance is part of the closing programme of the George Town Literary Festival, and the resulting sculptural installation will be exhibited at the Penang Institute.

Presented in partnership with In Situ, Performance as Exhibition, The Malaysian Edition