Beyond books: exploring global voices at Bergen International Literary Festival

Since its inception, the Bergen International Literary Festival (LitFestBergen) has become a rare space where writers, thinkers and readers converge to explore stories that transcend geographical, linguistic, and cultural boundaries. Working around a theme of truth, this year’s festival is no different.

Situated in the heart of the fjords along Norway’s beautiful west coast, Bergen’s charm brings hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Both a UNESCO World Heritage City and a European City of Culture,

Bergen is also home to the Bergen International Literary Festival, where visitors and writers from all over the world are invited to connect and explore local and international literature. “Bergen International Literary Festival provides a distinctive space for the international exchange of ideas, featuring writers from every continent each year,” says festival director Teresa Grøtan.

Teresa Grøtan.

Platform for global conversations

From the outset, the Bergen International Literary Festival has been a global event intentionally. While Norway has plenty of wonderful literature festivals, these tend to mostly cover Norwegian literature. Grøtan wanted to offer a more diverse option, not just for visitors, but for the international community in Norway. This way, the exchange of knowledge and dialogue can prosper.

“The festival’s lineup is a balanced mix of fiction and non-fiction – novels, poetry, biographies, historical books, narrative journalism – with discussions taking place in multiple languages and simultaneous translations available in Norwegian and English,” she says.

“The more languages, countries, cultures, and religions that are represented, the better,” Grøtan continues. “We want people to connect across borders and find common ground. We like to push boundaries as much as possible, perhaps getting rid of them completely. It’s interesting to see how different fields, languages, writers, and backgrounds can come together to offer a new perspective.”

Poetry, politics and perspectives

This year, attendees can expect a varied lineup intended to challenge and inspire. From spotlighting American writers from the US, Cuba, Peru, and Argentina to European writers from Poland, Sweden, Germany, and African writers from Nigeria, South Africa and Guinea Bissau, the festival encourages audiences to view pressing global issues through new lenses.

“We want to open up and encourage healthy conversations and increase understanding. One of the ways in which we’re doing this is by exploring the religious perspective of the Middle East through the story of Moses in the Bible, the Tanakh and the Quran,” says Grøtan. The war in Gaza is a particularly pressing matter. Another special feature is a celebration of Palestinian literature and culture, complete with traditional music, cuisine, and a showcase of Palestinian voices in literature.

Four writers from India, Nigeria, Sweden and Peru have written commissioned personal essays on the topic of truth, there will be a discussion on Norwegian colonial history, a Sámi perspective on the Norwegian acclaimed author Knut Hamsun, and several events with well-known Norwegian authors such as Johan Harstad, Kathrine Nedrejord, Mimir Kristjannson, Brynjulf Jung Tjønn and Gunnhild Øyehaug,

Poetic punk and slam poetry

Fun events include Ask the author! where the audience is invited to ask questions about the authors’ work and life, even personal. There is also the popular Literary Rendezvous, where two cultural figures exchange literary gifts, providing insights into each other’s worlds through their favourite texts. Plus city walks focusing on the authors Jon Fosse and Karl Ove Knausgård, who have both lived in Bergen.

Karl Ove Knausgård.

The festival also promises a spectrum of literary performances, from the high-energy Norwegian Slam Poetry Championships to the Poetic Punk Gala, where poetry can be anything from slam to religious chants, and nature-inspired lyricism.

While some events take place throughout the city’s streets and museums, most are held at Bergen’s Literature House, which means that the festival has an intimate and cosy setting that contrasts beautifully with the cold winter weather. With several simultaneous events, talks and panels, there will be plenty to pick from, all in one dry, warm space.

“When you’re here, you become part of a big literary family,” Grøtan says. “Between sessions, authors and attendees can mingle in the café. By sharing not only their time, but also a space, this intimacy can open up so many potential conversations between strangers, which adds a warmth that you might not find at larger festivals.”

Grøtan hopes that by coming together in Bergen, visitors will walk away with a deeper understanding, not only of each other but also of the larger world around them.

Web: www.litfestbergen.no
Facebook: Bergen International Literary Festival
Instagram: @litfestbergen

Bergen International Literary Festival takes place 5-9 February 2025.