Bengaluru, Sep 28, 2026: The 10th edition of the Neev Literature Festival (NLF 2026)—India’s premier platform for children’s literature—concluded its two-day celebration of stories and ideas at the Neev Academy campus in Yemalur, Bengaluru.
Centred around the theme “Stories from the Heart,” the free and open-to-all festival brought together thousands of young readers, parents, educators, and literary professionals.
While authors have traditionally led the narrative in publishing, this landmark edition highlighted a significant cultural transformation: illustrators taking centre stage as powerful storytellers in their own right. Driven by the growing popularity of picture books, graphic novels, and visual narratives in India, the role of the illustrator is undergoing a major redefinition.
Illustrators in the Spotlight
Speaking on the shifting dynamics of children’s publishing, Kavita Sabharwal (also referenced as Kavitha Gupta Sabarwal), co-founder of the Neev Literature Festival, noted:
“It is the best time to be an illustrator. Graphic novels have made a serious arrival in India. The quantity is not yet there, but the quality is extremely good.”
Acknowledging the journey and current state of the industry, Kavita added:
“Ten years ago, the illustrator was always treated as someone who creates some drawings. Today, people see the value in illustrations. But it is still not enough.”
She also pointed to ongoing operational challenges in the sector, including the high production costs involved in creating picture books and graphic novels—particularly when creators choose human craftsmanship over artificial intelligence.
Human Artistry, AI Debates, and Industry Economics
The growing demand for visual storytelling sparked vibrant discussions across the festival’s sessions. In an era dominated by rapid technology adoption, author-illustrators and artists reaffirmed the essential role of human touch. Caldecott Honoree Angie Kang stressed that AI-generated imagery strips away the fundamental process of artistic expression, stating that the beauty of making art lies in processing experiences through one’s own understanding. Participating artists collectively voiced a commitment to authentic creation, highlighting that avoiding AI protects the deeply rewarding creative journey.
Publishers at the festival addressed the commercial realities behind visual books. Anushka Ravishankar, co-founder of Duckbill Books, noted that rising input costs and GST structures have placed financial pressure on publishers and kept illustrators underpaid. She also emphasized the need to overcome cultural biases that value words over visual art:
“For a child getting into reading, you have to start with the picture book because that is when they learn to love the printed page and the whole process of reading.”
A Decadal Landmark in Children’s Literature
NLF 2026 featured a diverse lineup of 80 global and national delegates, delivering 105 curated sessions for children aged 3 to 18, as well as specialized programming for parents and educators.
The event hosted international literary figures including New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Corinna Luyken, award-winning British author Frances Hardinge, Newbery Honor recipient M. T. Anderson, Caldecott Honoree Christopher Myers, bestselling author Samira Ahmed, and Kokila Books publisher Namrata Tripathi. They joined 66 Indian creators, including Devika Rangachari, Shabnam Minwalla, Nina Sabnani, Priya Kuriyan, Suprita Das, Kunaal Majgaonkar, Sayoni Basu, and Shobha Viswanath.
Beyond masterclasses and book signings, attendees explored a marketplace with over 2,000 curated children’s book titles. Key festival highlights included:
Neev Book Award:
Unveiling the winner for the best Indian children’s book of the past year from a 5-author shortlist, awarding a top cash prize of INR 3 lakh alongside INR 1 lakh for each shortlisted author.
NLF Reading Challenge Quiz: Hosting the thrilling national finals for children aged 9–12, where the top 4 qualifying teams (out of 707 participating teams nationwide) competed for the grand title.
By putting visual creators on par with text authors, the 10th Neev Literature Festival set a new benchmark for children’s publishing in India, inspiring readers to look beyond words and embrace the full art of storytelling.