Thiruvananthapuram: The seventh edition of Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL) 2026 was launched in grand style on Wednesday, January 28, with the ceremonial hoisting of the festival flag at the iconic Kanakakunnu Palace, marking the beginning of its seventh edition.

Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty hoisted the flag officially setting the stage for the four-day celebration of literature, culture and ideas. Addressing the gathering, he said, “MBIFL is being noticed everywhere — the festival is truly inspiring. A 10-mark grace incentive for reading newspapers and books was also announced, and students have shown growing interest in reading, which is a great thing. More planning is needed to build on this momentum.

I am so happy and proud — within 40 days of ending my ministerial term, I had the honour of hoisting the flag at Kanakakunnu for such a major literary festival.”

The opening ceremony showcased Kerala’s rich artistic traditions, beginning with a stirring Panchavadyam performance, followed by the traditional art form ‘Naagakali thira’, presented by Moorkanad Peethambaran Ashan and his team, setting a vibrant tone for the cultural programmes lined up over the coming days.

Several prominent personalities from the worlds of cinema, literature and the arts, including Travancore Devaswom Board President K Jayakumar, K Omanakutty, MBIFL Festival director Dr V  Venu, Poet Prabha Varma, Actress Vinduja Menon, Poet Rosemary, and others were present at the venue.

To book tickets for MBIFL 2026| https://store.mathrubhumi.com/mbifl/index.html

 The festival will be officially inaugurated by actor Mohanlal at 10 am on January 29, with a packed schedule of literary sessions, panel discussions and cultural performances planned throughout the event.