Southeast Asia's only international literary festival with a Myanmar focus: three days of authors, translators, and journalists at Rangoon Arts and Culture in the colonial-era city centre.
The Yangon International Literary Festival (YILF) ran from 2013 to 2020 as Southeast Asia's only international literary festival focused on Myanmar writing and translation. It drew authors, journalists, and academics from across Asia and Europe to Yangon's colonial-era buildings in the city centre, typically using the Novotel Max Yangon (on Shwe Taung Gyar Street in downtown Yangon) as its primary venue. The festival paused following the 2021 military coup and subsequent deterioration in press freedom; its status for 2026 should be checked at yilf.org and against current Foreign Office travel advisories before booking.
For travellers planning time in Yangon independently of the festival, the city's downtown colonial quarter between Maha Bandula Park and the Strand Hotel remains the most architecturally distinctive district in Southeast Asia. The Strand Hotel on Strand Road, the former General Post Office, and the Secretariat building on Theinbyu Street are the principal landmarks. Yangon's street food circuit around 19th and Anawrahta Streets is the most practical evening food option for budget travellers. Hostel accommodation in downtown Yangon runs approximately USD 8–15 (£6–12) per dorm bed, making it among the more affordable cities in the region at equivalent quality.
Party hostels within reach of 's main celebrations. Ranked by guest rating.
Day-by-day breakdown
When the festival operates, the opening day runs a morning keynote at the main venue followed by afternoon panels on Myanmar literature in translation and journalism. The colonial downtown is within walking distance of the main venue: a 90-minute walk along Strand Road, past the Strand Hotel, up Pansodan Street, and across Maha Bandula Park covers the principal buildings. The Bogyoke Aung San Market on Bogyoke Aung San Road is open until 5pm with textiles, lacquerware, and craft stalls.
Day two carries the highest-profile author events, typically international authors discussing books set in or about Myanmar alongside Myanmar writers in translation. Evening readings at the secondary venues (often the Alliance Française or the Strand Hotel ballroom) are separately ticketed. The festival's book market, running adjacent to the main venue, stocks the widest selection of English-language Myanmar literature available in the city.
Pre-booked private transfers and shared shuttles for your arrival.
Getting to Yangon International Literary Festival from Bangkok