A Literary Autumn
2026/10/30
From Madrid to Miami, via Guadalajara and A Coruña, Basque literature takes centre stage this autumn with a series of encounters. Festivals, book fairs and literary residencies are part of a programme supported by the Etxepare Basque Institute, bringing Basque writing to new audiences.
Euskara. Kultura. Mundura.
Stories travel, cross borders and find new voices on the other side. So do those written in Basque. This autumn, several writers will share their work and experiences across Europe and the Americas, engaging in conversations with fellow creators and readers.
Stories That Find New Languages
For a story to travel far, it often needs a new language. This November, two initiatives will shine a light on those who make that journey possible.
The Itzultzaile Berriak (New Translators) programme celebrates ten years of building bridges between Basque and other languages. Four translators who took part in its first edition —Barbara Pregelj, Laura Liubinavičiūtė, Katarzyna Sosnowska and Maria Pachkova— will return to the Basque Country to work on texts by Juan Kruz Igerabide and share their experiences of bringing Basque literature to readers in Slovenia, Lithuania, Poland and Bulgaria at the Literaktum festival in San Sebastian.
There will also be an opportunity to recognise the craft of translation. On 12 November in Bilbao, the 2026 Etxepare – LABORAL Kutxa Translation Award will be presented. Established in 2015, the award recognises the vital role of translators and publishers in bringing literature originally written in Basque to readers in other languages.
Madrid: Poetry, Music and Other Ways of Telling Stories
Basque literature will feature prominently at two festivals in Madrid that explore its connections with other artistic disciplines.
On 14 November, Festival Eñe will open a Window onto Basque Literature, curated by Miren Agur Meabe and organised in collaboration with the Etxepare Basque Institute. The programme will bring together writers and poets including Iñigo Astiz, Maialen Berasategi, Oier Guillan, Felipe Juaristi, Edu Zelaieta and Ane Zubeldia, alongside filmmaker Lur Olaizola and musician Ibon RG. Three events combining conversations, readings, film and music will showcase the diversity of voices and forms of expression in contemporary Basque creative work.
A week later, on 21 November, musician Amorante and visual artist Itziar Garaluce will bring a performance to the POETAS festival at La Casa Encendida, where sound experimentation and visual art meet poetry. Amorante will present his new album accompanied by Garaluce´s visual creations, exploring the interplay between traditional songs, folk music and avant-garde sounds.
The Americas: From Miami to Guadalajara
Across the Atlantic, Unai Elorriaga will take part in the 43rd Miami Book Fair, held from 15 to 22 November. One of the leading literary events in the United States, the fair features a major programme dedicated to Ibero-American literature.
Elorriaga will participate in two events as part of the Ibero-American Authors Programme. On 21 November, he will discuss writing, imagination and reading with Sergio Andricaín at the 13th Children´s Literature and Reading Seminar. The following day, he will present his novel Sobre las cinco almas de Francesco Pasquale (Francesco Pasqualeren bosgarren arima), a story of journeys and intertwined lives.
The literary journey will continue in Mexico, where Danele Sarriugarte will attend the Guadalajara International Book Fair, held from 28 November to 6 December. The fair is one of the leading publishing events in the Spanish-speaking world. On 30 November, she will present Otra cosa (Consonni, 2026), the Spanish translation of her novel beste zerbait, originally written in Basque.
She will also take part in Libros para cuando el mundo pesa (Books for When the World Feels Heavy), a conversation exploring literature as a source of refuge and companionship, alongside fellow writers Elma Correa, Lucía Solla Sobral, Giulia Caminito and Claudia Ulloa Donoso. On 1 December, she will join Ecos de la FIL, an initiative that brings literature into schools. Her visit will also include other literary events and encounters in Guadalajara and Mexico City.
Beyond festivals and book fairs, autumn will also offer time and space for literary creation. Throughout November, writer and journalist Miriam Luki will undertake a residency at Residencia Literaria 1863 in A Coruña, where she will work on her new literary project.
