AI, Anime, Poetry: What’s Pulling Gen Z To JLF This Year And Sessions To Bookmark

Just two days before the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) opens its gates, the signs are already there. Hostel groups are finalising travel plans, Instagram stories are filling up with screenshots of schedules, and WhatsApp groups are arguing over which sessions are “unmissable.” For Gen Z, JLF is not just a fest for literature exploration; it is beyond books.

For a generation that has grown up online, literature is no longer limited to the printed page. It travels through podcasts and screens, visuals and live conversations, constantly blurring the boundary between technology and storytelling.

What makes the festival appealing to Gen Z is not instruction, but openness. Many of the conversations promise less certainty and more inquiry—spaces where

doubt, disagreement, and curiosity are allowed to coexist. In an age of instant opinions, the idea of listening for an hour, without rushing to conclusions, holds its own quiet appeal.

What Gen Z Hopes To Find At JLF

While the inspiration to attend the festival remains a personal choice, for Gen Z it largely centres on a growing curiosity around artificial intelligence—its evolution, its capabilities, and the ways it could shape both their future and the future of literary expression in the age of AI.

Ramkrishna, a college student from Jodhpur, says he is an AI enthusiast who is currently learning and using generative AI and automation in his daily life. “I’m excited to attend Sir Tim Berners-Lee’s sessions to deepen my understanding of digital trust, misinformation, and ethical innovation,” he says.

Speaking about his interest in climate change, Ramkrishna, who is pursuing a degree in Zoology and Geology, adds that he wants to understand how scientific facts are translated into philosophy and how they shape policy-making. “I’m excited to listen to Stephen Alter and understand how he documents ecological changes in sensitive Himalayan ecosystems.”

He also hopes to learn from Megha Majumdar, author of The Guardian and the Thief, about how storytelling can influence environmental policy and help people cope with challenges such as floods and famine using basic scientific understanding.

Sonali, who has just started working at a PR firm in Noida, says, “Honestly, when I heard about JLF, the only thing that popped into my mind was, this is the only place where my obsession with AI, books and anime can co-exist.”

“There are a lot of segments that I am looking forward to, but if I have to pick the top 2, it would be AI and the Future of Books, Reading and Narratives because, as a Gen Z reader raised on algorithms, I want to understand where human narration and storytelling stand in an AI-driven world. I’m also excited for Imagine a world without the web to understand what we have built and lost over the years,” she adds.

However, the interest of the new generation is not limited to the technology around them. A generation that is increasingly open about discussing emotions is also looking to the festival to explore questions of personal identity, modern relationships, and ambition. Through poetry sessions and panel discussions, these conversations are expected to unfold at the intersection of art, philosophy, and human emotion.

Nimisha, who just started her college in Jodhpur, says, “I’m expecting to meet and interact with people from different backgrounds, carrying different stories. She also wants to explore the work of writers around the world. She says she will be attending sessions on poetry because “sometimes only poetry can do”.

Saumik, who lives in Jaipur, is looking forward to attending ‘Colour of the Desert’ to immerse herself in the hues that shape Rajasthan’s vivid heritage. “I’ve grown up around the vibrant colours, be it the Lehriya safa, Bandhani saree or the traditional mojari, but experiencing all of it at JLF is a completely different vibe.”

“‘Colour of the Desert’ is a chance to see Rajasthan beyond postcards, through art, stories, and people. I want to experience my culture in a more realistic, creative way and not just admire it from a distance,” she says.

Tanya, who is a marketing executive in Delhi, says, “Jaipur Lit Fest is a book lover’s paradise. Not only do I get to look forward to new book launches, but I can also find old books that are no longer onthe shelf. I am expecting a lot of walking, a lot of water breaks, but also a lot of interesting conversations and a good time surrounded by bookworms like myself.

Aarushi, a Delhi baed Journalist, says, “I have the whole Shiva trilogy and the Ram Chandra series by Amish, so I am looking forward to that. Javed Ali’s panel is a surprise, and I cannot wait to hear from one of the best lyricists of India.”

Taken together, these strands reveal that the younger generation is not approaching the festival as a novelty to tick off a checklist, but as a space where they can explore the past, make sense of the present, and glimpse the future of content—not just as readers of books, but as podcast listeners, content creators, and participants in a wider cultural conversation.

Sessions Worth Bookmarking

The Jaipur Literature Festival is scheduled to be held from January 15 to January 19 at Hotel Clarks Amer in the Pink City. If you’re planning to attend this year’s edition, these are some sessions you may want to keep on your radar.

AI and the Future of Books, Reading and Narratives
Jan 15 | 4:00–4:50 PM

What happens to books, reading, and storytelling when AI enters the room? A session that looks ahead at how narratives may evolve in a tech-driven world.

Javed Akhtar in Conversation with Warisha Farasat
Jan 15 | 1:00–1:50 PM

From cinema and social media to love, patriotism, and public opinion, Javed Akhtar reflects on the contradictions shaping contemporary life.

The Seven Rules of Trust
Jan 15 | 2:00–2:50 PM

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales unpacks misinformation, credibility, and how trust can still be built in an age of digital chaos.

The Future Library
Jan 15 | 6:30–7:20 PM

A thought-provoking conversation around a hundred-year literary project that asks writers to imagine readers they will never meet.

Roerich: Himalayan Vistas
Jan 16 | 11:00–11:50 AM

A visually rich session revisiting Nicholas Roerich’s Himalayan art and its deep links with nature, philosophy, and transcendence.

The Chola Tigers: Avengers of Somnath
Jan 17 | 11:00–11:50 AM

Amish discusses history, myth, and storytelling, and how India’s past continues to inspire modern narratives.

What Women Don’t Want
Jan 17 | 2:00–2:50 PM

Three novelists explore modern relationships, ambition, identity, and the emotional undercurrents of contemporary womanhood.

The Murder Dialogue
Jan 18 | 12:00–12:50 PM

True crime and fiction intersect as writers examine desire, violence, and the illusion of safety in an interconnected world.

Brewing Poetry by Taj Mahal Tea
Jan 18 | 2:00–2:50 PM

A lighter, immersive session where poetry meets everyday emotion and performance.

Imagine a World Without the Web
Jan 18 | 3:00–3:50 PM

Sir Tim Berners-Lee reflects on inventing the web, its unintended consequences, and the choices shaping our digital future.

Ye Dil Manga More: Art and Anime from Japan
Jan 18 | 3:00–3:50 PM

A rare chance to hear celebrated Japanese manga artists discuss graphic storytelling, creativity, and anime culture’s growing influence in India.