The Sindh Literature Festival will open its ninth edition at Mohatta Palace in Karachi on November 21 and 22, 2026. The dates and venue were announced on the festival's official Instagram account, which invited audiences to the two-day gathering devoted to the province's literary and cultural heritage.
A Platform for Sindhi Writing and Culture
Established in 2016, the Sindh Literature Festival has become a regular gathering for Sindhi literature, indigenous languages, music, history and the arts. According to its official website, the festival seeks to connect established and emerging writers with readers and to encourage discussion of the region's social, cultural and intellectual development.
Past editions have included panel discussions, book launches, poetry recitals, theatre performances and musical programmes. Sessions have addressed subjects ranging from language and education to politics, heritage and environmental challenges. The festival is organised by the Sindh Literary Foundation, which lists journalist Naseer Gopang as its founder and producer.
Recent Editions Turned Toward History and Environment
The fifth edition, held at the Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi in March 2022, marked the centenary of the discovery of Mohenjo-daro and highlighted the archaeological heritage of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The sixth edition, in March 2023, focused on climate change and global warming under the theme "Aalam Sabh Abaad Kareen."
The seventh edition took place in December 2024 at Liaquat Memorial Library under the theme "Save Indus, Save Life." The eighth followed on November 15 and 16, 2025, at the Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi, under the theme "Celebrate the Power of the World." Together these gatherings show the festival linking literary expression to history, tradition and wider social concerns.
Mohatta Palace as a Historic Setting
Located in Karachi's Clifton area, Mohatta Palace was built in the late 1920s for businessman Rai Bahadur Seth Shivratan Mohatta. The building is now a recognised monument under the Government of Sindh and operates as a museum. Holding the ninth edition there places the festival's discussions of literature and history within a structure that is itself part of the city's architectural record.