The Hay Festival Cartagena de Indiacelebrates its twenty-first anniversary, consolidated as one of the most important cultural gatherings in the Spanish-speaking world. Through an inclusive and playful program, the festival fosters dialogue on the arts, sciences, and critical thinking, turning the Colombian city into a privileged space for the exchange of ideas. This 21st edition counts with the collaboration of Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), which supports the presence of a prominent delegation of Spanish authors and experts.

A Space for Ideas and Culture

From January 29 to February 1, 2026, the festival will unfold a program that includes talks, workshops, concerts, and readings. Following the success of its last edition, which attracted over 70,000 visitors, the event maintains its commitment to the dissemination of literature and knowledge globally, with planned extensions in other locations such as Jericó and Medellín.

Spanish Participation in the 21st Edition

Thanks to the support of AC/E, the program will feature the participation of Spanish professionals representing the diversity and current talent in fields such as literature, digital ethics, geopolitics, and photography:

Laura C. Vela: Photographer and editor. Finalist for the Best Photography Book of the Year by PhotoEspaña, she presents her first text-only book, Seismil (2025).

Sani Ladan: Geopolitical analyst and human rights activist. Author of La luna está en Duala, his work focuses on making African knowledge visible within the Spanish-speaking sphere.

Javier Peña: Writer and renowned literary critic. Author of the novels Infelices and Agnes, he is also the creator of the prestigious Spanish-language literary podcast Grandes Infelices.

Carissa Véliz: Associate Professor at the University of Oxford and expert in AI ethics. Her work Privacy is Power was chosen as Book of the Year by The Economist in 2020.

Fernando Arancón: Director of El Orden Mundial and international relations expert. He presents the award-winning podcast No es el fin del mundo (2025 Ondas Podcast Award).

Karima Ziali: Philosopher and writer. Her work, such as the novel Una oración sin Dios, explores identities and migratory processes from an anthropological perspective.

The Hay Festival Cartagena reaffirms itself as a cultural engine that promotes education, social development, and epistemic justice, facilitating the encounter between Spanish talent and the Latin American public.