Ahmedabad is set for a grand celebration of books and flavours as the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the National Book Trust India jointly host the Ahmedabad International Book Festival 2025 from November 13 to 23 at the Sabarmati Riverfront Event Centre, Paldi.
Organised under the ‘Vanche Gujarat 2.0’ initiative, the 11-day festival aims to promote reading and creativity, especially among young readers. Spread across one lakh sq ft, the event will feature over 300 activities including workshops, live sessions, film screenings, and contests — all with free entry and parking.
The venue will be divided into special zones — Children’s Corner for storytelling and art, Gyan Ganga for writing and poetry workshops, and a Centenary Celebration Pavilion for inter-school competitions. Daily events like quizzes, fancy dress, storytelling, and impromptu speeches will offer exciting prizes.
A Free Children’s Film Festival will screen award-winning international films every evening, while the cultural segment from 5.30 pm will showcase performances by Kirtidan Gadhvi, poet Ankit Trivedi, the Sandeep Christian Orchestra, and a grand mushaira. Sessions on AI, crime journalism, and the Gandhi-Mandela legacy will also be held, offering students chances for on-the-spot internships with publishers.
Adding to the festivities, the Food for Thought Fest 2025 will run from November 13 to 16 at the same venue. Curated with the South Asian Association for Gastronomy (SAAG), it will celebrate South Asia’s culinary heritage through three themed pavilions — Luxury, Spiritual, and Coffee. Visitors can enjoy fine dining by Taj Soulinaire, taste Mahaprasad from Puri’s Jagannath Temple, and attend live coffee roasting sessions.