Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2026 x Bound
5 chosen writers will get the chance to pitch their manuscripts LIVE and get discovered by literary agents and publishers.
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Asia’s largest multicultural arts festival, is partnering up with Bound to launch a new initiative for publishing and emerging fiction writers across the country.
We are inviting debut writers to submit their most persuasive pitches for their fiction manuscripts. All pitches will be evaluated based on the originality of premise, clarity of concept and structure, strength of writing voice, creative distinctiveness and publishing potential.
The writers of the five best submissions will get the opportunity to present their stories in front of a live audience at The Story Pitch Room session during the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, 2026. They will receive feedback and guidance from a jury of editors, literary agents, and publishing experts. And may have the opportunity to be discovered and get their work published!
Festivals can be as much of a platform for showcasing and nurturing upcoming talent as they are for connecting well-known authors to audiences. As the founder of Bound and Curator of the literature section of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, I saw this as a unique opportunity to include artists at every stage of their journey.
- Tara Khandelwal
Through this platform, we are committed to supporting new literary talent and exploring new forms of connecting readers and audiences.
- Brinda Miller, Director of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival
New exciting voices and stories do very often get lost in the plethora of submissions that publishing houses receive every day, which is why I am particularly happy to be a jury member with this wonderful new initiative for uncovering and supporting aspiring debut writers.
- Himanjali Sankar, Award-winning author and Ex-Editorial Director of Simon & Schuster India
Author and Editorial Director
Simon & Schuster India
Agent
Jacaranda Literary Agency
Award-winning author and Ex-Editorial Director, Simon & Schuster India
Publisher and Founder
Bound
Editor and VP - Creative
Bound
Submissions open until
Shortlist announced
Finalists announced
The Story Pitch Room will be a live session held at the Kalaghoda Arts Festival 2026 during the first week of February.
Five selected finalists will present their stories to the jury and a select live audience who will be present at the session. The challenge is to make the pitch as compelling and creative as possible, while highlighting the aspects of the story that set it apart!
The writers will receive constructive feedback and guidance from the judges. The idea is to get writers and their stories the visibility they deserve, and help them get discovered by the leading minds in publishing.
The best pitches will receive prizes along with writing and publishing guidance under Bound’s mentorship program.
A: Yes, this initiative has been created to open up opportunities for debut, unpublished writers! Especially if your work has appeared in magazines, journals, or anthologies, but you haven’t published a full-length book yet.
A: Nope! There’s no entry fee. This opportunity is completely free and open to all eligible writers.
A: Only one submission per writer is allowed. So, pick your strongest story idea and make it shine.
A: Yes! Co-authored submissions are welcome as long as both writers meet the eligibility criteria.
A: You can send your pitch by filling out this form. The submission will include:
A: Once you’ve submitted your pitch, it’s considered final. So double-check your files and details before hitting submit.
A: Unfortunately, we won’t be able to accept late submissions. But don’t worry, Bound often hosts similar opportunities, so keep an eye out for the next one!
A: All shortlisted and finalist writers will be notified by email before the festival. Make sure to check your inbox (and spam folder, just in case!).
A: Yes, finalists must attend in person at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Mumbai. The energy of a live audience is what makes this session so special!
A: Finalists will need to arrange their own travel and stay, but we’ll do everything we can to make the experience smooth and memorable.
A: Apart from visibility and invaluable feedback, the winner will receive mentorship and publishing guidance sessions from Bound’s editorial team and our mentors. The biggest reward, though, is the possibility of your story being picked up by a publisher or agent.
A: Only unpublished, original work is eligible. Blog posts or online stories that have already been widely circulated won’t qualify.
A: No, all writing must be 100% original and human-created. We believe the best stories come from lived experience and imagination.
A: Absolutely! All rights remain with you. We’ll only use small excerpts or your author bio for event promotion.
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