The Jaipur Literature Festival will stage its first all-island edition in Ireland from May 22 to 31 in 2026. The event will visit Belfast and Armagh in Northern Ireland along with Dundalk and Dublin. Organisers call it the festival's most ambitious programme to date.

Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland back the three-year partnership behind the festival. The Belfast events will cover climate, crime fiction, partition, history, identity and language. Armagh hosts activities on May 26 and 27 at the Market Place Theatre, Robinson's Library and Archbishop's Palace.

Armagh's programme includes a concert blending Indian, Irish and Ulster-Scots music traditions with local and Indian artists. Workshops will occur at Robinson's Library ahead of the concert. An evening event on the second day will feature writers and commentators.

Headliners include William Dalrymple, Shashi Tharoor, Fintan O'Toole, Jeff Goodell, Jeet Thayil and Tishani Doshi. Irish contributors comprise Jan Carson, David McCullagh and Jane Ohlmeyer. Speakers from India and other areas will join them.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council's economic development committee discussed the festival. SDLP Councillor Thomas O'Hanlon noted local writer Æ Russell's connection to Gandhi. He suggested linking the event to the council-funded Æ Russell Festival and recent publications of Russell's writings.

Brian Johnston, head of tourism, arts and culture for the council, confirmed talks with festival organisers. He said the Æ Russell Society from Lurgan and other literary groups like the John Hewitt Society want involvement. The council plans to explore these ties to boost attendance.