The Barcelona Poesia festival is set to run from 14 to 21 May, bringing a week of poetry to various venues across the city, with its main hub at the Verger del Museu Marès. This year's theme, “Cada poema és una mirada” (Every poem is a gaze), highlights the critical and diverse perspectives poets offer, according to co-curators Manuel Forcano and Anna Gual.

Forcano, a poet, explained that “each poet has their own world and their own voice and touches on the themes that make them write verses. Each poet beats on different things. The poet is a critical mind, who sees the world, reflects on it, digests it.” The festival's poster, featuring an eye formed by many birds, explicitly references Blai Bonet, one of the poets honoured this year on the centenary of his birth.

Opening and Closing Events

The festival will open on Thursday 14 May at 7pm at Sala Paral·lel 62. Poet Marta Pessarrodona will deliver the opening address, “La paraula obre el món” (The word opens the world). A poetry recital of her work will follow, performed by poets Maria Dolors Coll Magrí and Andreu Gomila. The Valencian group Versonautas, with musician Roqui Albero and artist Anna Sanahuja, will close the inaugural event.

Tradition dictates that the Barcelona Poesia festival concludes with the Nit del Palau (Palace Night), the 41st International Poetry Festival of Barcelona, held at the Palau de la Música Catalana on Thursday 21 May at 8pm. This year, the event will feature seven poets, with a particular focus on voices from the East and South, regions less represented in previous editions.

Among the international participants are Turkish poet Adnan Özer, known for his lyrical and mystical style; Mamta Sagar, an Indian poet, filmmaker, and political activist who writes in Kannada; and Koleka Putuma, a young South African spoken word artist whose work addresses race, gender, and identity. Ethiopian poet Bewketu Seyoum, recognised for his humour and prose, will recite in Amharic. Spanish National Poetry Prize 2025 winner Míriam Reyes, Barcelona-based translator and poet from Ourense, will also participate. Eduard Sanahuja, honorary professor at the University of Barcelona and founder of the city's Poetry Classroom, and Susanna Rafart, a highly awarded Catalan poet, novelist, and playwright, complete the line-up.

Commemorating Catalan Poets

This year's festival will commemorate three significant Catalan poets: Blai Bonet, Joan Alcover, and Clementina Arderiu. Their works will be featured in various events and performances. Tributes will also be paid to the late poets Francesc Garriga and Màrius Sampere.

In honour of the centenary of Joan Alcover's death, a recital titled “Les rompents de l’infinit: terra i dolor en Joan Alcover” (The breakers of the infinite: land and pain in Joan Alcover) will take place on 15 May at 6pm in the Verger del Museu Marès. Biel Mesquida, recipient of the Catalan Letters Honour Award, and actress and poet Berta Giraut will recite, guided by editor Ignasi Moreta.

Clementina Arderiu, marking 50 years since her death, will be remembered in the recital-concert “Dues cares dono al riu” (I give two faces to the river) on 20 May at 7pm at El Born. This event will feature young voices including Ria Dueñas, Auró Vernet, Enric Massip, Carme Alegre, Víctor Inskipp, and Llull Riba.

Blai Bonet's poetry will be celebrated throughout the afternoon of Sunday 17 May with three distinct proposals. At 5:30pm, the Casa Toni Catany, the studio and home of the Mallorcan photographer and friend of Bonet, will host the recital “Blai Bonet: els ulls i la mirada” (Blai Bonet: the eyes and the gaze). Mallorcan poets Carles Rebassa, Miquel Bezares, and Glòria Julià will perform. Due to limited capacity, prior reservation is required for this event. Later that evening at El Born, the concert-recital “Polsim de dol” (Dust of mourning) will feature the group Ölivias and poet Joan Rotger Julià at 8pm. The tribute to Blai Bonet will conclude at El Born at 9pm with the show “El verd també era” (The green also was), a fragmented and lively stage biopic created by Clara Fiol, Miquel Aguiló, Aina Crespí, Maya Triay, Mariona Jaume, Joan Vallbona, and Juanro Campos, incorporating gesture, music, word, and dance. This performance is a collaboration with the University of the Balearic Islands.

Awards and Special Performances

The festival will also host the Barcelona Floral Games Poetry Prize ceremony, where poet Martí Sales i Sariola will receive the award for his book Descripció del món (Description of the World). This event is scheduled for 18 May at 6pm in the Saló de Cent of Barcelona City Council. The book, published by Godall Edicions, will be available in bookshops in June.

Dolors Miquel, a prominent Catalan poet, will present the recital “El teatre dels teus ulls” (The theatre of your eyes) at El Born on 17 May at 7pm, accompanied by poets Jordi Cornudella and David Castillo.

La Pedrera will host the recital-concert “La poesia dels Nabís” (The poetry of the Nabis), featuring French poetry in conjunction with the ongoing exhibition dedicated to the Nabis painting group. Actor Josep Maria Flotats will recite in French, with live musical interpretation by The Rest Project trio, comprising Maria Florea, Lara Fernández, and Daniel Claret.

Connecting poetry with visual arts, the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB) will present a Mercè Rodoreda poetry recital as part of the “Mercè Rodoreda, un bosc” (Mercè Rodoreda, a forest) exhibition. Elvira Prado-Fabregat will perform, with soundscapes created by Carles Viarnès, on 18 May at 7pm.

At CaixaFòrum, the recital Venus i Adonis. Poema de W. Shakespeare (Venus and Adonis. Poem by W. Shakespeare) will be presented on 19 May at 8pm, featuring actors Emma Vilarasau and Jordi Bosch, with musical direction by Lluís Claret. Singer Marina Rossell will also perform at El Born on 20 May at 9pm, accompanied by musician Xavi Lloses.

Further International Contributions

The programme includes three additional international events. The Fundació Muñoz Ramonet garden will host the recital “Quatre punts cardinals de la mirada” (Four cardinal points of the gaze) on 15 May at 7pm, featuring poets Julian Zhara (Italy), Hug Casals (Catalan Countries), Teresa Sperling (Germany), and Jérôme Pinel (France). This event is a collaboration with the EUNIC Cluster in Barcelona, the European network of national cultural relations organisations and institutes.

The Ateneu Barcelonès will present the recital “Mirar des de fora” (Looking from outside) with guest poets from the European poetry festival network Versopolis. These include Fatemeh Ekhtesari, an Iranian independent poet, writer, and filmmaker based in Norway, whose work questions limits on the body and freedom of expression. Hamed Abboud, a Syrian poet based in Austria, will offer an ironic and moving perspective on exile and rebuilding life away from home.

The full programme for Barcelona Poesia is available for consultation.