A Five-Day Celebration of Literature and Culture
Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, is set to host Udeesha 2026 – The Moradabad Literature Festival, a five-day celebration of literature, art, music, and cultural dialogue from January 22 to 26, 2026. Conceived as a platform to foreground both national and regional voices, the festival seeks to firmly place Moradabad on the cultural map of western Uttar Pradesh through an inclusive and wide-ranging programme.
Event at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Name | Udeesha 2026 – The Moradabad Literature Festival |
| Location | Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh |
| Dates | January 22 – 26, 2026 |
| Key Venues | Dushyant Manch, Ramganga Lawns, Jaun Elia Zone |
| Festival Duration | Five days |
| Core Focus | Literature, poetry, theatre, music, cultural dialogue |
| Access | Free and open access to most sessions |
Multiple Venues, One Shared Cultural Vision
Spread across prominent city venues such as Dushyant Manch, Ramganga Lawns, and Jaun Elia Zone, Udeesha 2026 will unfold as a city-wide cultural experience. The festival programme includes literary discussions, poetry readings, theatre performances, Dastangoi sessions, folk and classical music, Bhojpuri cultural presentations, creative workshops, and panel discussions that span cinema, media, technology, spirituality, and Indian knowledge traditions.
Opening Night Highlights
The festival will open on January 22, 2026, with special performances by actor Ashutosh Rana and acclaimed singer Sukhwinder Singh, setting the tone for the days to follow. The inaugural evening is expected to draw audiences from across the region, marking the beginning of an immersive cultural exchange.
An Illustrious Line-up of Voices
Over the next four days, Udeesha 2026 will host an extensive roster of speakers and performers, including poet Wasim Barelvi, singer and actor Manoj Tiwari, poet and lyricist Alok Srivastava, journalist Saurabh Dwivedi, author Chetan Bhagat, food historian Pushpesh Pant, poet Gauhar Raza, writer and screenwriter Akshat Gupta, television personality Ila Arun, and poet-academic Kumar Vishwas, among many others. Together, these voices will represent a broad spectrum of India’s contemporary literary and cultural discourse.
Poetry at the Heart of the Festival
One of the key highlights of Udeesha 2026 will be a Grand Mushaira and Poetry Conference, celebrating India’s rich poetic traditions alongside contemporary literary expressions. This segment underscores the festival’s commitment to poetry as a living, evolving form of cultural dialogue.
Free Access and Community Engagement
With free and open access to most sessions, the festival invites students, readers, writers, artists, and citizens to actively participate in conversations shaping India’s cultural and intellectual life. At the same time, it offers a platform to celebrate Moradabad’s own literary heritage and regional cultural practices.
Conclusion: Positioning Moradabad on the Cultural Map
Udeesha 2026 represents a significant cultural intervention for Moradabad, bringing together literature, performance, and public dialogue in a shared civic space. By combining nationally recognised voices with regional talent and ensuring accessibility for all, the festival aspires to foster sustained cultural engagement while reinforcing Moradabad’s identity as an emerging centre for literary and cultural exchange in western Uttar Pradesh.
