HIMALAYAN LITERATURE FESTIVAL & WRITERS’ WORKSHOP 2027
Nature Writing, Travel Writing & the Spirit
Writing the Earth, Mapping the Soul
Kathmandu, Nepal | May 29 – June 5, 2027
Following the remarkable success of HLF-WWK 2026, we are delighted to announce the Himalayan Literature Festival & Writers’ Workshop 2027.
In 2026, HLF-WWK welcomed an extraordinary international faculty and featured writers, poets, translators, editors, and scholars including Pulitzer Prize-winning poets Tracy K. Smith and Paul Muldoon, Martin Doyle, Tony Barnstone, Jean Hanff Korelitz, Tina Chang and Himalayan poet Yuyutsu Sharma, alongside more than 75 writers and cultural practitioners from Asia, Europe, North America, Africa, and Australia. Together, they led workshops, readings, panel discussions, manuscript consultations, and community outreach programs that brought participants from diverse cultures into meaningful literary dialogue.
Building on that success, HLF-WWK 2027 will explore the rich intersections of nature writing, travel writing, ecology, culture, spirituality, and creative transformation. Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Himalayas, the festival invites writers, poets, scholars, translators, filmmakers, artists, students, publishers, and readers to gather in Kathmandu for an immersive week of literary and cultural exchange.
2027 HLFWWK Highlights
- International author readings and literary conversations
- Intensive workshops in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir, travel writing, nature writing, and translation
- Panels on environmental literature, Eco poetry, pilgrimage narratives, indigenous storytelling, and publishing
- Student outreach and community engagement programs
- Cultural performances and literary excursions
- Networking opportunities with publishers, editors, literary agents, and fellow writers
2027 Poetry Film Festival
One of the highlights of HLF-WWK 2026 was the highly acclaimed Poetry Film Festival, which showcased poetry films from around the world and brought together poets, filmmakers, visual artists, and audiences in a unique celebration of literature and cinema.
The Poetry Film Festival returns in 2027 with:
- International poetry film screenings
- Conversations with poets and filmmakers
- Workshops on adapting poetry to film
- Experimental and interdisciplinary film presentations
- Opportunities for emerging filmmakers and poets to showcase new work
New for 2027: HLF-WWK Manuscript Prizes
As part of our commitment to nurturing literary talent, we are pleased to introduce:
The HLF-WWK Chapbook Prize
and
The HLF-WWK Full-Length Book Prize
Selected manuscripts will receive publication consideration, editorial mentorship, festival presentations, and international promotion. Twenty longlisted authors will also receive registration discounts and invitations to special manuscript-development sessions.
Creative Craft & Cultural Immersion
Participants will have opportunities to engage deeply with Himalayan artistic and spiritual traditions through workshops in:
- Traditional Pottery
- Himalayan Thangka Painting
- Nature Journaling and Field Writing
- Traditional Music and Oral Storytelling
- Meditation and Mindfulness for Writers
- Pilgrimage, Walking, and Writing
- Indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Heritage
- Himalayan Shamanic Healing and Storytelling
Why the Himalayas?
Few places in the world offer the convergence of natural beauty, cultural diversity, literary heritage, and spiritual depth found in Nepal. HLF-WWK was founded on the belief that literature flourishes when writers come together not only to discuss craft but also to experience place, culture, and community.
More details regarding faculty, registration, manuscript submissions, scholarships, and special events will be announced soon.
Join us in Kathmandu from May 29 – June 5, 2027, for an unforgettable celebration of literature, creativity, and the transformative spirit of the Himalayas.
Shreejana Bhandari
Festival Director
Himalayan Literature Festival & Writers’ Workshop
