FLIB Festival 2026 – Barcelona, Spain

What to expect

FLIB Festival is the Festival of Italian Literature in Barcelona, created as a cultural bridge between Italian, Spanish and Catalan literary communities. Organized by the cultural association Le Nuvole in collaboration with Biblioteques de Barcelona, the Italian Cultural Institute of Barcelona and the District of Gràcia, the festival brings writers, translators, illustrators, researchers, musicians and readers together around contemporary literature and Mediterranean cultural dialogue.

The festival’s central idea is to use literature as a way of understanding contemporary society. Its programme explores why reading remains important in a world increasingly shaped by technology, artificial intelligence, social media, polarization and uncertainty. The programme asks visitors to consider reading not simply as entertainment, but as a means of developing independent thought, imagination and freedom of choice.

FLIB is particularly distinctive because it works across languages. Italian is at the heart of the festival, but activities also involve Spanish and Catalan, creating opportunities for dialogue between the two shores of the Mediterranean. Several sessions include simultaneous interpretation, helping a wider Barcelona audience participate in discussions.

The programme extends beyond traditional author presentations. Visitors can attend literary conversations, poetry sessions, children’s storytelling, multilingual workshops, comic discussions, illustration activities, concerts, theatre and writing courses. This makes FLIB suitable for both specialist readers and people who simply want to discover Italian culture through books, language and creative expression.

Festival dates

FLIB Festival 2026 is scheduled for October 22–27, 2026, in Barcelona, Spain. The principal programme takes place at Espai Jove La Fontana, with additional events at Biblioteca Jaume Fuster, Le Nuvole Italian Bookstore, Casa dels Contes and Centre Artesà Tradicionàrius.

The programme begins with institutional and literary activities at Espai Jove La Fontana and continues with conversations, workshops, children’s activities, performances, concerts and literary events across the participating locations. The published programme also includes an Italian writing course requiring prior registration.

The Italian Cultural Institute describes FLIB as a regular Barcelona literary event that has been held since 2022 and has reached its fifth edition.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venues & festival locations

Espai Jove La Fontana is the main festival venue and hosts a substantial part of the programme. Located in the Gràcia district, the centre provides spaces suitable for literary conversations, workshops, storytelling and cultural performances.

Biblioteca Jaume Fuster is another important festival location. The library hosts literary conversations and a special programme dedicated to major voices from the past, connecting Italian literature with Spanish and Catalan literary heritage.

The Italian Bookstore Le Nuvole is closely connected to the origins and identity of FLIB. The festival was conceived among the shelves of this Italian-language bookstore, which continues to serve as a cultural meeting point and hosts selected activities.

Other participating spaces include Casa dels Contes and Centre Artesà Tradicionàrius. Their involvement allows FLIB to extend beyond conventional literary venues and incorporate music, performance and community-oriented cultural experiences.

Full programme

The 2026 programme revolves around the question “Why is it good to read?” and examines reading as a way of understanding the world, developing imagination and maintaining intellectual independence.

The opening programme includes a conversation with writer Domenico Starnone connected with the Italian Language Week in the World. Other sessions address the transformative power of stories, multilingualism, comics, the relationship between algorithms and patriarchy, literature for adolescents and the challenges of thinking in the age of artificial intelligence.

FLIB Júnior introduces younger audiences to Italian-language storytelling and creative workshops. Activities include storytelling sessions and hands-on illustration and paper-art workshops designed for different age groups.

FLIB LAB focuses on language and multilingualism. Adults and families can participate in workshops exploring how many languages people already know, how languages shape communication and how multilingual experiences can broaden cultural perspectives.

FLIB ART expands the festival into theatre and music. The programme includes theatrical work inspired by Mediterranean literary and cultural references, concerts connected with Italian musical production and a multilingual musical project bringing together languages and human stories.

The programme also includes poetry, literary tributes and an Italian writing course at Le Nuvole.

Featured films & premieres

FLIB is not a film festival, so it does not have a conventional film competition, film-premiere programme or cinema screening schedule. Instead, its artistic programme concentrates on literature and extends into theatre, illustration, storytelling and music.

The FLIB ART programme provides the closest equivalent to a performance-focused section. Theatre and musical projects allow literary ideas to be experienced through live performance rather than conventional book discussions.

One featured theatrical project is Teatre Solitud a Stromboli, a performance inspired by research concerning Roberto Rossellini’s Stromboli and Víctor Català’s Solitud. It connects Italian and Catalan cultural references through theatre and literary interpretation.

The festival also presents concerts and multilingual musical projects, reinforcing its Mediterranean and cross-disciplinary identity.

Directors, actors & guests

Although FLIB does not operate with film directors and actors as its principal guests, it brings together an extensive group of writers, illustrators, researchers, cultural figures and performers.

Domenico Starnone is one of the prominent literary guests, appearing in conversation about language, creativity and ideas. Other participants include Chiara Faggiolani, Marina Garcés, David Guzmán, Silvia Ziche, Raquel Riba Rossy, Silvia Semenzin, Encarni Iglesias, Alessandro Robecchi, Víctor Balcells, Anna Mallamo and Silvana Vogt.

The programme also features Dario Ferrari, Patricio Pron, Piero Salabè, Carlos Zanón, Nuria Mirabet, Fabio Pusterla, Luis Grau, Sandro Dieli and Alessio Arena.

Children’s and illustration programming introduces artists such as Agnese Baruzzi, Roger Olmos, Giovanna Ranaldi and other creative contributors, while musical events involve performers and collaborators connected with Italian and Mediterranean cultural production.

Screening schedule

There is no conventional film-screening schedule because FLIB is dedicated primarily to literature rather than cinema.

Instead, visitors can organize their visit around literary conversations, workshops, storytelling sessions, poetry, theatre and concerts. The programme is distributed across several venues, meaning that visitors should check the official schedule carefully before attending.

Some activities are designed for specific age groups, while others are aimed at adults, families, readers, writers or the general public. Certain sessions, particularly the Italian writing course and selected workshops, require advance registration.

The official programme and participating cultural institutions provide the most reliable information for session times, locations and registration requirements.

Ticket types & accreditation

FLIB is a free public literary festival. The Italian Cultural Institute of Barcelona explicitly lists the festival as not requiring paid admission, while published event information also identifies the programme as free.

There is therefore no conventional paid ticket structure comparable with a commercial film or music festival.

General admission

Most public festival activities are free to attend, subject to venue capacity and any registration requirements.

Advance registration

Certain workshops and courses require prior registration. Visitors should check the individual activity information rather than assuming that every session operates on a simple walk-in basis.

Children’s activities

FLIB Júnior sessions are designed around particular age groups, so families should check the age guidance and registration requirements for individual activities before attending.

Industry & professional access

FLIB is primarily a public cultural festival rather than an industry marketplace. Its professional value comes through encounters between writers, publishers, cultural organizations, researchers, educators, translators, illustrators and readers.

The participation of the Italian Cultural Institute, Biblioteques de Barcelona and Le Nuvole gives the festival a strong institutional and cultural dimension. These partnerships also help create connections between Italian-language culture and Barcelona’s multilingual literary environment.

For writers and literary professionals, the programme offers opportunities to hear different approaches to publishing, translation, language, children’s literature, comics and contemporary writing.

The festival’s discussions around artificial intelligence, social media and multilingualism are also relevant to educators, researchers and cultural professionals interested in how literature is changing within contemporary society.

Red carpet & special events

FLIB does not have a conventional film-style red carpet. Instead, its special events include theatre, concerts, poetry, literary tributes, children’s workshops and multilingual cultural activities.

FLIB ART provides some of the most distinctive special programming. Theatre and concerts broaden the festival beyond author conversations and demonstrate how literature and language can interact with music and performance.

A tribute programme dedicated to major voices of the past brings together Grazia Deledda, Montserrat Roig, Federico García Lorca and Joyce Lussu. Readings by Luis Grau, Sandro Dieli and Alessio Arena create a multilingual literary connection between important figures from different cultural traditions.

The programme also includes a musical journey through the world’s languages, combining music with contributions from researchers, teachers and multilingualism professionals.

Festival rules

FLIB is a public cultural event, but individual activities can have different participation conditions. Visitors should follow the instructions of each venue and respect capacity restrictions.

Some workshops and courses require advance registration. Registration should be completed according to the instructions supplied by the organizers or participating institution.

Families should also observe age recommendations for FLIB Júnior activities because workshops are designed for different developmental groups.

Visitors attending literary conversations, performances or concerts should arrive with sufficient time to find their seats. Because the festival uses several venues, attendees should confirm the location of each individual activity before travelling.

For the most accurate participation information, visitors can contact the organizers at flibfestival@gmail.com.

How to get there

Espai Jove La Fontana is located in Barcelona’s Gràcia district and is the principal venue for the festival programme. Gràcia is a well-connected neighbourhood that can be reached conveniently from central Barcelona by metro, bus and other public transport services.

Biblioteca Jaume Fuster is also located in the Gràcia area, making it possible to combine festival activities with the neighbourhood’s cafés, bookshops and cultural attractions.

Le Nuvole Italian Bookstore is located on Carrer de Sant Lluís and is particularly significant for visitors interested in Italian-language books and culture.

Because FLIB operates across multiple locations, visitors should check the exact venue for each activity before travelling rather than assuming that every programme item takes place at Espai Jove La Fontana.

Public transport & parking

Public transport is the most practical way to move around the festival locations. Barcelona’s metro and bus network provides connections between Gràcia and the central districts of the city.

Visitors attending activities at Espai Jove La Fontana can use the local metro and bus network and complete the final part of the journey on foot.

For Biblioteca Jaume Fuster and Le Nuvole, public transport is similarly convenient because both are situated within established urban neighbourhoods.

Parking is generally less convenient than public transport in the dense streets of Gràcia. Visitors arriving by car should check current municipal parking facilities and allow additional time to find a space.

Those moving between several FLIB venues may find walking and public transport more efficient than using a private vehicle.

Accommodation areas

Gràcia is the most convenient neighbourhood for visitors who want to stay close to the central FLIB programme. It offers a wide range of accommodation, cafés, restaurants, independent shops and cultural venues.

Eixample is another practical choice because it provides extensive hotel and apartment options together with excellent public transport connections to Gràcia.

Visitors who prefer to stay closer to central Barcelona can consider areas around Passeig de Gràcia, Universitat or Plaça de Catalunya. These locations provide easy access to the festival while also placing visitors near major cultural attractions.

For visitors particularly interested in Italian culture, choosing accommodation with convenient transport access to Gràcia and the city centre is more important than staying directly beside one individual festival venue.

Food & dining

FLIB takes place in neighbourhoods with many cafés, bakeries, restaurants and casual dining options. Gràcia is particularly well known for its independent food scene and neighbourhood atmosphere.

Visitors can easily combine literary sessions with meals or coffee breaks around the festival venues. This can be especially useful for those attending several conversations and workshops during the same day.

Le Nuvole also provides a culturally distinctive setting because it is an Italian bookstore and community space. Its connection with the festival makes the surrounding area particularly relevant for visitors interested in Italian literature and culture.

Barcelona’s wider Gràcia and Eixample districts offer everything from traditional Catalan restaurants to Italian, Mediterranean, vegetarian and international dining options.

Accessibility

FLIB’s multilingual and community-oriented programme is designed for a broad public, including families and younger participants. The programme includes dedicated children’s activities and workshops for different age groups.

Visitors with specific accessibility requirements should contact the individual venue before attending because the festival operates across several different buildings rather than one single site.

The use of public cultural venues such as libraries and community centres gives FLIB a strong public-access character, but accessibility facilities can differ between locations.

Visitors requiring assistance, seating arrangements or other specific accommodations should contact the organizers through flibfestival@gmail.com before their visit so that the relevant venue can confirm available facilities.

Best screenings to attend

As FLIB is a literature festival, there are no conventional film screenings to rank. Visitors should instead prioritize the literary conversations, FLIB ART performances, FLIB Júnior workshops and FLIB LAB activities that best match their interests.

For literature enthusiasts

The conversations involving established writers and literary thinkers provide the strongest introduction to the festival’s central themes, particularly the discussions concerning reading, storytelling and independent thought.

For visitors interested in artificial intelligence

Sessions examining AI, algorithms and contemporary society are particularly relevant because the festival uses literature as a starting point for questioning how people think and make decisions in a technology-driven environment.

For families

FLIB Júnior offers storytelling and creative workshops designed specifically for children, providing an accessible introduction to Italian language, literature and illustration.

For multilingual visitors

FLIB LAB is especially suitable for people interested in language learning and multilingualism, with activities designed for both adults and families.

For music and performance lovers

FLIB ART provides the strongest alternative to traditional literary programming, combining theatre, concerts, poetry and multilingual cultural expression.

Previous year’s highlights

The previous edition continued FLIB’s development as a meeting point between Italian and Mediterranean literary cultures. The festival website describes FLIB as a regular Barcelona event that began in 2022, with earlier programmes bringing together writers and cultural figures including Viola Ardone, Zerocalcare, Juan Pablo Villalobos, Wu Ming, Marta Sanz, Veronica Raimo, Cristina Morales, Antonella Lattanzi and many others.

Its earlier programmes demonstrate the breadth of the festival. Alongside novelists and poets, FLIB has presented comic artists, illustrators, translators, musicians and cultural researchers.

The festival has also consistently maintained its connection with Barcelona’s Italian cultural community through Le Nuvole, while collaborating with institutions such as the Italian Cultural Institute and Biblioteques de Barcelona.

This combination of literary discussion, multilingual exchange and cultural performance has become one of FLIB’s defining characteristics and distinguishes it from a conventional book fair or author-only festival.

Official tickets & accreditation

FLIB is free to attend, so visitors do not normally need to purchase a festival ticket. The Italian Cultural Institute of Barcelona explicitly identifies the event as free, while individual activities may require prior registration depending on capacity and format.

Visitors should therefore check the official programme for individual registration requirements, particularly for workshops, children’s activities and the Italian writing course.

The official FLIB website is the primary source for festival information, while the Italian Cultural Institute and Biblioteques de Barcelona provide additional programme information for activities hosted through their institutions.

For direct enquiries, the festival lists flibfestival@gmail.com as its contact email.