Mumbai Book Festival 2026 Dates, Venue and School Visit Guide
The Mumbai Book Festival 2026 runs from November 24 to 29 at the University of Mumbai’s Kalina campus. The National Book Trust lists an 11 a.m. start on opening day and an 8 p.m. close on the final day. CBSE has asked affiliated schools in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad to encourage students to take part in activities at the Children’s Corner.
The November 15 deadline shown on the National Book Trust’s book fair portal is for stall booking and payment. Families planning a visit should look for the visitor programme, and students going with their class should check arrangements with their school. The opening and closing times listed for the whole festival give the bounds of the event. Check the daily timetable before planning around a particular hour.
What schools can plan for at Mumbai Book Festival 2026
CBSE’s November 11 circular mentions storytelling, creative writing workshops, quizzes and interactive sessions. It says participating students will receive participation certificates and that books will be given to student winners. It also lists appreciation certificates for participating schools and refreshments for participants. The circular ties the visit to the idea behind Bagless Days, in which students learn through activities outside the usual classroom setting.
A teacher planning a visit can start with one activity that suits the group. For younger readers, that might be storytelling followed by a browse through picture books. Older students could choose a creative writing activity and spend some time with publishers or authors. Leaving space between sessions makes it easier to move around campus and gives students time to look at books at their own pace.
Before arranging transport, check how the Children’s Corner activities handle school groups. Confirm whether a session requires advance booking, which ages it serves and where the group should arrive. The circular describes the programme but gives no complete session-by-session schedule. Ask students to bring a small notebook if the school wants them to record a recommendation or a question for an author.
What families can look for at the Kalina campus
The organiser’s festival preview lists author discussions, book launches, workshops, exhibitions and cultural activities. If two people in the family have different interests, choose a meeting point before splitting up to browse. Decide in advance whether you are visiting for a particular session, looking for books in a particular language or simply spending an afternoon exploring.
Kalina is the campus named in both the organiser’s listing and the CBSE circular. If you are travelling across the city, check the campus entrance and the event’s arrival instructions before leaving. Allow extra time for travel and use the published programme to avoid arriving just as the activity you wanted is ending. Check accessibility or seating arrangements ahead of time if someone in the group needs them.
One way to turn the visit into a reading activity
Ask each student to pick one book they would usually walk past. Read the first page and write down a question it raises. At school, compare those questions before anyone gives a verdict on the book. For a student who already knows what they like, this is a manageable way to try another genre without being assigned a whole novel.
For another school-led activity this month, see Bootpoot’s CBSE Expression Series guide. Its entry process and deadlines are separate from the festival.
For a class visit, consider sharing the venue, meeting point and return time on one sheet. Afterward, students could trade their book choices in pairs and explain which detail drew them to a title. That gives classmates who missed a session a way to discover something from the visit.
Illustrative photo by Eman Ali / Unsplash
