Literature, Ideas, and Conversations Come Alive in Boulder

The 11th edition of JLF Colorado returned to Boulder on September 13–14, 2025, once again turning the city into a meeting ground for literature, dialogue, and cultural exchange. Organized by Teamwork Arts, the producers of the world-famous Jaipur Literature Festival, this year’s program reflected the global spirit of JLF while staying rooted in Boulder’s creative energy.

A Stage for Writers and Thinkers

Over two days, JLF Boulder 2025 brought together writers, thinkers, and changemakers from across the world, each adding their voice to conversations about art, identity, and community.

• Rob Franklin, in discussion with Pardis Mahdavi, unpacked his debut novel and its themes of queerness, race, and nightlife in New York.
• Marcus du Sautoy, Oxford mathematician, joined Sanjoy K. Roy to show how mathematics shapes creativity in unexpected ways—appearing in music, art, and patterns of nature.
• A thought-provoking panel on evolutionary feminism, featuring Cat Bohannon, Sonora Jha, and Patricia Limerick, explored how politics, literature, and gender intersect in today’s narratives.
• Pulitzer Prize-winner Andrew Sean Greer, in conversation with Arsen Kashkashian, closed the festival with reflections on belonging, self-discovery, and the personal journeys behind his latest work.

A Festival in the Heart of Boulder

True to its tradition, JLF Colorado 2025 was free and open to all, hosted in partnership with the Boulder Public Library and supported by the local community. Across the weekend, Boulder’s downtown buzzed with energy as writers, poets, academics, and readers mingled, exchanged ideas, and celebrated the power of stories.

Part of a Global Festival Movement

Earlier in the year, the Jaipur Literature Festival 2025 in Rajasthan’s Pink City set the stage with its signature mix of books, debate, and cultural performances. From there, the festival’s unique vibrance traveled to Colorado, reinforcing JLF’s identity as a truly global celebration of literature.

In Boulder, the festival was not just another event on the calendar—it was a reminder of how words travel across borders, connect people, and spark fresh ways of thinking. JLF Colorado 2025 was both a local celebration and a global conversation, proving once again why Boulder has become a beloved stop in the worldwide JLF journey.