The Banaras Literature Festival has released the long list of the second edition of its Book Awards, honouring a wide range of books in various genres such as fiction, poetry, non-fiction and translation in English and Hindi. The release of the long list is the first step towards the awards that are going to be held at the festival scheduled between January 30 to February 1, 2026 in Varanasi.

The long list consists of books of well-known and upcoming authors in Indian literature. The books have been selected on the basis of their literary worth and contribution to the art of writing. The Book Awards will be given in order to encourage and promote Indian literature.

According to the event's organisers, the short-listed books will be revealed in the coming weeks, and the winning books will be awarded at the Banaras Lit Fest. The award-winners will be acknowledged in a number of categories, which include fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and translation along with special awards for the outstanding contribution to literature.

The Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards have emerged as a significant stage where literary talents from all over India are being recognized. By appreciating literary works in various languages, the book awards aim to support cultural diversity.

In 2026, there will be a coming together of writers, publishers, scholars and readers for discussions, book releases, literary sessions and the highly anticipated awards night recognizing the year’s best books.