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Stories, Cities, and Memories: George Town Literary Festival Turns 15
Published on 27/10/2025
The streets of George Town will soon hum with words, ideas, and stories again. From 28-30 November 2025, the George Town Literary Festival (GTLF) returns for its 15th anniversary under the theme “Urban Myths and Memories.”
In partnership with CloudJoi as its official ticketing platform, GTLF continues to make the festival experience more accessible for audiences everywhere — inviting readers, writers, and dreamers back into the heart of Penang’s historic city.
What began as a small gathering has grown into Malaysia’s foremost international literary event — a place where writers, thinkers, and artists from around the world come together to reflect on how imagination, history, and memory shape the cities we live in.
Festival Director Dato’ Dr Ooi Kee Beng calls this year’s edition “a reminder that every city is a living archive — of myths retold, voices reclaimed, and memories transformed into art.”
👀 What to Look Forward To
This milestone year brings together 37 writers and artists from 13 countries, including Madeleine Thien, Lize Spit, Ahmed Masoud, Nur Masalha, Omar Musa, and many more. Expect conversations that explore belonging, displacement, inheritance, and the art of remembering.
Some highlights include:
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Intimacies and Inheritances – a reflection on family and migration with Madeleine Thien (Canada).
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Living Memories, Silenced Histories – a dialogue on dispossession and hope with Ahmed Masoud and Nur Masalha (Palestine/UK).
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Ghost Bird – a spellbinding performance by Omar Musa (Australia) and cellist Mariel Roberts, weaving spoken word, live music, and projection.
The festival unfolds across George Town’s charming heritage venues, including Cheah Kongsi, Hikayat, ChinaHouse, and the UAB and Wawasan Buildings — turning the city itself into a living storybook.
👌🏼 Keeping the Experience Accessible
This year, festivalgoers can easily register for a free Festival Pass through CloudJoi, Malaysia’s digital platform for arts and culture. Most sessions are free with registration, while workshops are ticketed.
We’re proud to support GTLF’s mission to keep the arts open, inclusive, and accessible — for everyone who loves stories and the people who tell them.
🎟️ Get your free Festival Pass here.
📖 A City of Words Awaits
Whether you’re drawn to poetry, politics, or personal histories, GTLF 2025 promises a weekend filled with conversation, connection, and rediscovery.
Follow the festival for updates at @georgetownlitfest or visit www.georgetownlitfest.com.
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