15th Nicolás Guillén International Colloquium and Festival Announced

The 15th edition of the Nicolás Guillén International Colloquium and Festival will pay tribute to four significant historical and cultural milestones from Cuba and beyond. The event will take place in Havana from May 13 to 15, 2026.

This year’s edition will commemorate the centennial of Fidel Castro Ruz’s birth, the 95th anniversary of the publication of Nicolás Guillén’s landmark poetry collection Sóngoro Cosongo, the 90th anniversary of Federico García Lorca’s assassination, and the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.

The announcement was made during a press conference by Nicolás Hernández Guillén, president of the Nicolás Guillén Foundation, which organizes the event in collaboration with the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba.

The colloquium will feature a wide-ranging academic program alongside cultural activities. A highlight will be the exploration of Federico García Lorca’s legacy in poetry and the performing arts, as well as his deep connection to Cuba.

The call for participation also includes themes such as reflections on the Spanish Civil War through literature and exile; the cultural impact of Sóngoro Cosongo on Cuban national identity; and a centennial look at Fidel Castro’s influence on Cuban and Latin American culture.

One of the colloquium’s key goals is to bring lectures, panel discussions, book presentations, exhibitions, concerts, and poetry readings closer to younger audiences, fostering greater engagement and dialogue among participants.

Renowned intellectuals, artists, and scholars from both Cuban and international institutions have been invited to take part in the gathering.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez