[Zoom-in] Words and worlds
Literature binds together festival communities across themes and voices from near and far: to discover, to listen, get inspired, reflect and enjoy being transported by words and worlds. These festivals create a bridge between book industry professionals, writers, experts and readers via book presentations, workshops, author meetings and activities for people of all ages, ready to dive into stories.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
22 Oct 2025 - 01 Nov 2025 | Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Some of the North’s most celebrated storytellers will join leading Scottish voices to bring a feast of world-class storytelling, music, workshops, and shared experiences to Edinburgh and venues across Scotland. This year's theme, Lights of the North, explores Scotland’s northern identity, sharing tales, songs and myths from the world’s northern arc - from Finland to Iceland, connecting Germany to Norway, with Scotland in between.
For more info click here.
Photo credits: W. Shearer - Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Gender Bender Festival
30 Oct 2025 - 08 Nov 2025 | Bologna, Italy
For more than 20 years, the festival has been presenting the imagery produced by contemporary international culture related to new representations and relationships generated by the expression of bodies, gender differences and sexual orientations. Literature presentations, roundtables and conferences accompany performances and workshops, in a total of 60 events in 10 venues throughout the city.
For more info click here.
Photo credits: Davide Trabucco
Dublin Book Festival
05 Nov 2025 - 09 Nov 2025 | Dublin, Ireland
Dublin Book Festival is one of Ireland’s most successful and dynamic book festivals, running since 2006. It showcases, supports and develops Irish writers, illustrators and publishers, in 5 days of author in-conversations, panel discussions, book launches, and workshops covering literature in all its forms, from contemporary fiction, history and science, to poetry, non-fiction and well-being.
For more info click here.
Photo credits: Sabina Qeleposhi
Wintertuinfestival
24 Nov 2025 - 29 Nov 2025 | Nijmegen, Netherlands
The Winter Garden Festival celebrates distinctive stories in every form, featuring new and established voices from the Netherlands and abroad in presentations, interviews and performances. The 30th edition revolves around the theme Contemporaries, exploring how stories and language connect us, facilitate discussion of differences, and give meaning to the time we live in together.
For more info click here.
Photo credits: Wintertuinfestival
Conrad Festival - Radical Hope
20 Oct 2025 - 26 Oct 2025 | Kraków, Poland
Conrad Festival is the largest international literary event in Poland, a meeting point for writers, readers, professionals and amateurs. The 17th edition's theme is Radical Hope, from thoughts of philosopher Jonathan Lear: what happens to people who experience the end of the world they have known so far? Book industries, debates, workshops, and platforms linking the book industry with the audiovisual industry and the translation field.
For more info click here.
Photo credits: Gazeta Krakowska
Rainbook Festival
28 Mar 2025 - 30 Nov 2025 | Cagliari and Pau, Italy
The 2025 edition focuses on inclusive literature, bringing international guests to the island of Sardinia around the topic of a fairer representation of the LGBTQIA+ community. This year, the festival hosts the second edition of the "Laura Grasso" Literary Prize, an award dedicated to inclusive narratives and open to both published and unpublished books.
For more info click here.
Photo credits: Rainbook
