Participation at Lisbon Literature Days 2026

From 28–30 October 2026, the first Lisbon Literature Days (lld), organized by Ulrich Schreiber and Bebelplatz e.V., brought together international writers, directors of literary festivals and book fairs, publishers, translators, journalists and cultural organisers at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon. The programme combined an international congress on the future of the literary sector with readings, book presentations and conversations with authors from around the world.

The congress with the title “And Now? International Congress of the Literary Sector in a Time of Political Upheaval” revolved around the central question of how political, cultural and technological upheavals are changing the conditions under which literature is written, published and brought to audiences. The congress examined the key challenges facing writers, publishers, literary festivals and other literary institutions.

The first day started with a welcoming address from Alberto Manguel, after which Lídia Jorge delivered a talk entitled “The Door to Poetry”. In it, Jorge stressed the importance of personal encounters and the living word of poetry, which remind us time and again of what is essential: that we are all part of the same human family, and that it is therefore worth listening to one another. The door to poetry never closes; it is a space open to all during the storms and hopes of life.

On Friday, Nicole Witt participated in Session 6 of the congress, together with Isabel Lukas, Rosemarie Milsom, Kai Pfeiffer, Sabir Sultan and Aljaz Koprivnikar, moderated by Peter Florence. Her presentation focused on central issues in the internationalisation of literature from Portugal and the entire lusophone world, on current successes and future challenges and the key factors in selling rights: What works, where is there demand, what supports us, and what are the obstacles?

The three-day conference ended with a literary programme highlight: a reading by Gonçalo M. Tavares from his latest novel The End of the United States of America. An Epic. The subsequent discussion was moderated by Nicole Witt.

Photo credits: © Ali Ghandtschi/Bebelplatz