A Recap of George Town Literary Festival 2023

AT THE END of every November, there occurs a sudden influx of visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of George Town, Penang. These are people wishing to take part in the George Town Literary Festival (GTLF), which now stands as Malaysia’s foremost international literary event (and also its longest-running!). Hosted annually across various venues in the heart of the city, this festival is a testament to the city’s rich heritage and historical significance.

A weekend extravaganza that brings in writers, performers, translators, publishers and readers, GTLF now boasts visitors numbering in the thousands from dozens of countries. The festival won the London Book Fair International Excellence Award in 2018 (thus far the only festival in Penang to receive such international recognition), and continues to celebrate the literary expressions that shape our world.