The George Town Literary Festival (GTLF) is Malaysia’s leading international literary festival, held annually in the UNESCO World Heritage city of George Town, Penang. Founded in 2011, the festival is now organised by Penang Institute, a cultural and policy research organisation based in the heart of the city.

Over the years, GTLF has become one of Southeast Asia’s most respected platforms for literary exchange and the exploration of ideas. Its carefully curated programme of panel discussions, readings, lectures, workshops, and performances brings together writers, poets, and thinkers from around the world. Past speakers include International Booker Prize winner Jokha Alharthi, Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novelist Tan Twan Eng, and Malaysian National Laureate Muhammad Haji Salleh—reflecting the festival’s commitment to literary excellence and meaningful conversation.

In 2018, GTLF became the first literary festival in Southeast Asia to receive the Literary Festival Award at the London Book Fair International Excellence Awards, in recognition of its curatorial boldness and global reach.

Rooted in Penang’s multilingual and multicultural heritage, GTLF continues to offer a space where literature matters—where writers and readers meet in pursuit of imagination, dialogue, and shared understanding.