In 2026, the increasingly popular Ljubljana UNESCO City of Literature Writer in the Park residency program received an exceptional number of applications from all over the world. One hundred writers from 30 Cities of Literature applied to spend a month in Ljubljana. The residency program offers space in a creative environment for uninterrupted work at any stage of the writing process and provides opportunities for insight into the local literary scene. For 2026, the selection committee has invited Mariken Heitman from the Netherlands and Tim Craven from the UK as guests of the international Writer in the Park residency in Ljubljana.

Mariken Heitman (1983) studied biology in Utrecht and for several years worked in organic agriculture. She has published three award-winning novels and also writes essays, short stories, columns, and book reviews. The committee particularly praised Heitman’s clear style and command of challenging topics, as well as her exploration of the multilayered relationship between the individual, society, and nature. Specifically, Mariken Heitman is exploring themes related to humanity’s place in nature in the context of agriculture and religion.

“I am currently working on a novel in which I combine an autofictional storyline with a fictional narrative, set in the late Iron Age. I am deeply fascinated by the disturbed relationship between humans and nature. This relationship can best be explored where humans and nature most emphatically meet: agriculture. As a biologist and gardener, I am struck by how much nature is seen as a backdrop these days. Yet we, as human organisms, are completely dependent on nature. Even now that everything is under pressure due to the climate crisis, nature remains at a distance: it must be saved, conquered, or exploited.”

Tim Craven is an award-winning poet (Scottish National Book Award, Forward Prize) exploring class, masculinity, and mental health. He has a background in neuroscience. In his work, he uses scientific observation to investigate interior experience. The committee was impressed by Tim Craven’s precise poetic language, as unassuming as it is impactful, which quietly deconstructs cultural expectations and internalized behaviours.

“My current creative focus is the development of a poetry collection that examines modern masculinity and the ways inherited ideas about strength, restraint, and emotional control continue to shape contemporary life. The poems will explore the tension between older models of composure and toughness and the contemporary language of openness and vulnerability, focusing on moments where those frameworks come into conflict. Rather than arguing a position, the work attends closely to everyday situations – habits of speech, omissions, and small acts of control – where these pressures quietly surface.”

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The cities with the most applications were Kraków, followed by Barcelona and Edinburgh. The majority of applicants were aged 40–49, with the youngest in the 20–29 age group and the oldest in the 70–79 age group. Because the program’s call for applications allows applicants to describe their relationship to the chosen City of Literature, more than 40 nationalities were represented.

This year, several applicants explicitly mentioned interests in topics such as displacement, migration, and identity, critically engaging with histories of oppression and climate change. Regarding the importance of artist-in-residence programs, many applicants emphasized the need to escape daily routines that often interfere with their creative process.

What

Ljubljana boasts a vibrant art scene and offers an array of diverse literary events, ranging from alternative performances to major international festivals. The highly regarded residency, established in 2018, provides peace and quiet for uninterrupted writing, while also offering opportunities to actively participate in the city’s literary life.


When

The Writer in the Park program consists of two one-month residencies. The residency periods are April 1–30, 2026, and November 1–30, 2026. The dates are non-negotiable, but a shorter stay is possible if required due to travel arrangements. Extra nights cannot be covered by the organizer, though organizational assistance can be provided.


Who

The residency is aimed at foreign published writers with a palpable, factual relation with any of the other UNESCO Cities of Literature that has to be apparent and described as part of the application. This means the applicant is or has been living in one of the other cities of literature for a longer period of time or is related to a city of literature through work.

The applicant must have published at least one book of fiction (be it prose, poetry or drama) in their language. There are no restrictions regarding age, race, gender, nationality or other personal/aesthetic preferences. Though writers of all genres are currently welcome to apply, a specific focus might be chosen for calls in the following years.

This residency program is designed to cultivate international literary exchange by offering writers a dedicated space for the development of new work and the opportunity to engage with the local community. To maintain this international focus, we regrettably cannot accept applications from writers based in Ljubljana or Celje. We encourage our local colleagues to explore residency opportunities within the wider UNESCO Cities of Literature network; please feel free to contact us for information on upcoming dates or follow our website for updates.


What we offer

Each resident will get a sum amount of the grant and travel expenses of €1250 gross in total (details regarding potential wire-transfer charges and other expenses can be found in the contract that can be sent to the applicant upon request). Each resident will stay in their own, separate and fully equipped apartment with a kitchenette at Švicarija, possibly along other residents, artists, and exhibitions hosted at the premises.


How

We only accept applications through the online form.

Deadline for submissions: January 19, 2026.

For more information, consult the form.
 

The 53 designated Creative Cities of Literature from 39 countries across the globe are delighted to welcome ten additional Cities of Literature to their literary family.
Today UNESCO has announced the designation of 58 new Creative Cities in total across eight artforms to join its Creative Cities Network, making for a total of 408 Creative Cities from more than 100 countries worldwide.
Among these new Creative Cities, ten have been designated in Literature: Aberystwyth (Wales); Abuja (Nigeria); Celje (Slovenia); Conakry (Guinea); Dumaguete City (Philippines); Gdańsk (Poland); Kahramanmaraş (Türkiye); Lund (Sweden); San Luis Potosi (Mexico); and Tangier (Morocco).


The UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature extend their congratulations and a warm welcome to their new sibling Cities and look forward to collaborating to promote the power of literature for sustainable and inclusive societies.

Kjartan Már Ómarsson, Program Manager of Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature and Creative Cities of Literature Network Lead says:

“We warmly welcome the new Cities of Literature to our global network. Their creativity, diversity, and commitment to the written word will strengthen our collective mission to place culture and storytelling at the heart of sustainable and inclusive urban development.”
 

In 2025, Ljubljana will host its second comics artist from France. The residency is part of a program launched in 2024 through a collaboration between Ljubljana and Angoulême – both UNESCO Cities of Literature – and the French Institute. The residency program supports Slovenian and French creativity in the field of comics and promotes knowledge exchange and mobility.

Now in its second year, the program continues to attract an impressive number of high-quality applications from artists with strong creative backgrounds and compelling visions. We’re grateful for every submission, as each one adds to the overall value of the project.

This year’s call for a one-month residency in Ljubljana once again attracted nearly twenty high-quality applications, from which the Slovenian-French jury selected Simon Ecary.

Simon Ecary (1997) is an illustrator and comics author who has published three albums and regularly contributes to various magazines. He is currently completing Eva qui vit, a new album to be published in 2026 by Cornélius. In Ljubljana, he will primarily be working on a storyboards for new project, La cabane. Simon Ecary has previously participated in artistic residencies in Prague (LUSTR Festival) and in Angoulême (at La Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l’image).

Ecary’s work draws inspiration from the line drawing of classic comics and the subversiveness of the independent or outsider scene. His stories feature roughly drawn characters who, through caricature and settings that are at times bizarre, reinterpret the comic tradition. Color gradients and contrasting planes enhance the psychedelic quality of his fluid, ambiguous imagery, set in original visual worlds. By incorporating recognizable elements from the history of comics – and from graphic design more broadly, particularly obscure paraphernalia – his work evokes a playful sense of estrangement. Ecary also works with risography, a technique whose aesthetic echoes appear throughout his comics.

We look forward to welcoming Simon Ecary to Ljubljana in October, at Center Rog.

Every year, on World Book and Copyright Day and on other occasions, we celebrate our love for literature with Open-Air Book Fairs in cooperation with the publishing community. Here in Ljubljana, a UNESCO City of Literature, these fairs are a fantastic way to experience the city's vibrant literary scene firsthand.

We set up stalls or tables in the city center, where publishers stack them high with their best wares – at discounted prices, of course. It's a great opportunity to meet the publishers themselves, network, and attend book launches. The fairs are also bustling with meetings, discussions, author signings, and music, making them a dynamic and engaging experience.

But the magic of these events goes beyond the books themselves. They provide an excellent environment for bringing Ljubljana's literary community together and fostering connections. Not only can you meet local publishing professionals, but you'll also have the chance to discover Slovenian authors, both established and up-and-coming, many of whose works are translated into English and available for you to explore and buy. So come along, delve into the world of literature, and discover a whole new side of Ljubljana!

ljubljanacityofliterature.com

BOOKS IN ENGLISH

Ljubljana, Unesco’s City of Literature will be present at the fair as the organizer but also as a stall with books by Slovenian authors in translation! Welcome to browse, get to know, read and buy Slovenian books in English.

Let’s gather under the open sky and honor the world of books together!

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LITERARY EVENTS ON THE FAIR STAGE

Throughout the day, the stage will host discussions, book presentations, readings, as well as opening and closing concerts.

9:00 GOOD MORNING, BOOK FAIR

10:00 MUSICAL WAKE-UP CALL 
Zajtrk (Laura Krajnc – vocals, violin & Sven Horvat – guitar, vocals)
An ethno-chanson duo committed to Slovenian lyrics, bringing a witty, socially critical, and playful approach to their music.

11:00 DISCUSSION AND AWARD CEREMONY 
Kritiško sito Award Kritiško sito is the only literary award presented by critics. Eva Ule will lead a conversation with this year’s nominees (Kazimir Kolar, Nataša Kramberger, Ana Schnabl, Peter Semolič, Ana Svetel, and Manca G. Renko), followed by the award presentation. Organized in collaboration with the Slovenian Literary Critics' Association.

12:00 / FOR CHILDREN 
Storytelling performance by Boštjan Gorenc – Pižama (ages 5–10)
Pižama’s magical bag is packed with quirky tales! Together, children will explore a father’s beard, chase dragons, and encounter the Forgetful Cap and a terrifying wolf. A surprise story might even be created on the spot!

13:00 DISCUSSION WITH NOMINEES 
Vasja Cerar Award 
Presented by the Slovenian Literary Translators’ Association and MKC Maribor, this award recognizes outstanding translations into Slovenian. This year, it focuses on youth literature (12+). Moderated by Diana Pungeršič.

14:00 BOOK PRESENTATION  Neige Sinno: Sad Tiger An award-winning autobiographical novel that confronts sexual abuse within a family with radical honesty. The conversation will feature editor Darja Marinšek, translator Saša Jerele, psychoanalyst Dr. Ana Jereb, and journalist Nina Gostiša.

15:00 PANEL DISCUSSION 
"BURNING!" 
Climate change, environmental disasters, biodiversity loss, green transition—key challenges for society, science, and politics. Luka Culiberg, Dušan Plut, and moderator Ajda Pistotnik discuss recent books on the subject.

16:00 BOOK PRESENTATION & CONCERT
Boštjan Narat: BAND 
A novel about forming a band and navigating dreams and reality, accompanied by a short concert.

17:00 BOOK PRESENTATION 
Goran Vojnović & Esad Babačić: Letters from the Field 
A book capturing the authors’ shared passion for sports through an exchange of letters. Presented with journalist Slavko Jerič.

18:00 BOOK PRESENTATION 
Ana Schnabl & Ana Svetel 
Afternoon discussion with nominees for the Kritiško sito Award, presenting their latest novels September and Glass Walls.

19:00 READING & BOOK COLLECTION PRESENTATION 
Prepišni Prišleki 
Featuring the latest in Slovenian fiction and poetry, the Prišleki collection has been publishing groundbreaking works since 1996. A reading by contemporary authors will follow.

19:30 POETRY READING 
Črna skrinjica
Showcasing poets who have recently published with Črna skrinjica. Featuring Matjaž Zorec, Stanka Hrastelj, Pino Pograjc, and Jan Krmelj.

20:00 CONCERT 
Brothers of d'Light (Nils Rošker & Kristjan Hacin) 
A folktronic duo blending rich ethnic vocal echoes with Persian lute melodies, infused with live electronic soundscapes.

21:00 ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL 
A toast to wrap up the day!

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PUBLISHERS

Anksio • Avrora • Bajalka • Beletrina • Bitcoin knjižnica • Buča • Cankarjeva založba • Center za slovensko književnost • Črna skrinjica • Didakta • Društvo humanistov Goriške • Družina • Emily June Novels • Goga • Grafenauer založba • Hart • Hiša knjig • Hiša poezije • Inštitut Časopis za kritiko znanosti • Iskanja • kooperativa THD (Društvo za teoretsko psihoanalizo, Krtina, Sophia, Studia humanitatis, Založba /*cf.) • KUD Konstruktivist • KUD Logos • KUD Police Dubove • Kulturni center Danilo Kiš • LUD Literatura • LUD Šerpa • Malinc • Miš založba • Mladika • Mladinska knjiga • Morfem • No!Press • Pivec • samozaložbe Vlado Began, Stan Dirdeny, Alicia Peljhan, Nataša Rupena • Sanje • Sidarta • Slovenska kinoteka • Slovenska matica • slovenski gledališki založniki (SLOGI, Knjižnica MGL, Maska, Emanat, AGRFT) • Sodobnost • Strip.art.nica Buch • Stripburger / Forum Ljubljana • Stripolis • Škrateljc • ŠKUC • VBZ • Vida • VigeVageKnjige • Zala • Založba Grlica in Založba Graffit • Založba UL Pedagoške fakultete • Založba ZRC • Založništvo tržaškega tiska • Zgodovinski arhiv Ljubljana • Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete
 

International PEN, a leading international association of writers, promotes and defends a culture of peace based on freedom of expression, dialogue, and the exchange of opinions. PEN advocates for linguistic and cultural diversity, for the life of all cultures and languages, whether spoken by many or few people.

From April 7th to 10th, the 57th International Meeting of the Writers for Peace Committee will take place in Bled, as well as in Nova Gorica and Ljubljana. This year's meeting, titled "Climate Crisis and Wars," will address various contemporary challenges through round tables and literary readings. According to the President of Slovenian PEN and Vice-President of the International PEN Board, Tanja Tuma, they expect approximately one hundred delegates this year.

Before the opening of this year's International PEN meeting, you are invited to a literary evening, "Bled before Bled," on Monday, April 7th at 7 PM, where Italian author Paolo Giordano will be presented in a conversation with Breda Biščak.

The central theme of the conversation will be Paolo Giordano's latest novel, "Tasmania," in which the author explores interpersonal relationships in a time filled with uncertainty due to climate change and global conflicts. The novel depicts a world shaken daily by new disasters – floods, tsunamis, hurricanes, terrorist attacks, wars – and in which the future is becoming increasingly uncertain. At the center of these events is Paolo, who, in addition to global crises, also faces disappointments in his personal life. His distress reflects the broader crisis of an entire generation and the planet, where everyone is searching for their "Tasmania" – a corner of the world where they would feel safe.

On the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we present a war diary, a graphic novel about two cats living in a museum in Odessa and telling the story of Odessa, Ukraine, and the war. Above all, it's about the foundation of every society, namely museums and cultural heritage.

The diary has been in the making for three years, and now episode 1 about the beginning of the war is here.

The entire comic is available for free reading.

Olena Iliasova – concept
Maria Apriatova – illustrations

Carlos Pascual is a Slovenian-Mexican author who has been living in Ljubljana for over a decade. He has brought with him a deep knowledge of Latin American literature, which he has used to encourage new translations at various publishing houses. He has also written several accompanying and other texts that provide a better insight into Latin American literature.

On Thursday, February 20th at 7:00 PM at Vodnikova domačija Šiška, he is beginning a series of lectures designed to raise awareness and knowledge of Latin American literature and to stimulate interest in reading and delving into the history, culture, and literature of the countries in this geographical area. The series consists of 5 lectures and offers a general overview of the field and a more detailed examination of 4 key works.

You are invited!

THU, Feb 20th at 7:00 PM Introduction to Latin American Literature
The introductory lecture of the series focuses on the phenomenon called the Latin American Boom. Immediately after the Cuban Revolution, which ended in January 1959, the fiction of this region attracted worldwide attention. The lecture presents the reasons for this phenomenon, highlighting the peculiarities of Latin American literature and the region, which for a time nurtured the hopes and dreams of people around the world.

The series continues with:
THU, Apr 24th at 7:00 PM: Realism and Naturalism and the works of Machado de Assis Machado de Assis: Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas (LUD Šerpa, 2018)

THU, Jun 12th at 7:00 PM: Modernism and the works of Juan Carlos Onetti Juan Carlos Onetti: El Astillero

THU, Sep 25th at 7:00 PM: The Latin American Boom and the works of Julio Cortázar Julio Cortazar: Hopscotch (Beletrina, 2020)

THU, Nov 20th at 7:00 PM: Post-Boom and the works of Clarice Lispector Clarice Lispector: Complete Stories

The lectures will be held in English, recorded and later subtitled in Slovenian.

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COMING SOON: Bookstore • bar • stage At the Stone Table The Ljubljana Office, UNESCO City of Literature, which operates at Vodnikova domačija, is opening a new space in the spring, the bookstore/bar/stage At the Stone Table. With its selection of books and stage program, the bookstore will also focus on selected geographical areas. The selection of books and the lecture series on Latin America were prepared by Carlos Pascual. And we are starting the lectures in February!

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The lecture series and program are co-financed by the Municipality of Ljubljana and the Slovenian Book Agency, and were prepared in the Ljubljana Office, UNESCO City of Literature.