The European Union will debut a joint cultural space called Casa Europa at the Festa Literária Internacional de Paraty (FLIP) from 23 to 25 July 2026, bringing together over 30 writers, translators, publishers and cultural institutions from ten EU member states in an unprecedented collaborative programme. The initiative, organised by the EU Delegation to Brazil in partnership with member states and European cultural institutions, aims to foster literary exchange between Brazil and Europe, featuring debates on memory, translation, democracy, war, climate crisis and contemporary challenges.
Among the confirmed authors are Andrey Kurkov (Ukraine), Kamel Daoud (France), Eduardo Halfon (Spain), Piia Leino (Finland), Theis Ørntoft (Denmark), Nicoletta Verna (Italy), Michelle Gallen (Ireland), Ayoko Mensah (Belgium), Djaimilia Pereira de Almeida (Portugal), Nathacha Appanah (France) and Boštjan Videmšek (Slovenia), who becomes the first Slovenian author to participate in FLIP. Piia Leino and Theis Ørntoft are winners of the European Union Prize for Literature, established in 2009 to recognise emerging literary talent and promote cross-border circulation and translation of works.
The programme includes a conversation with Andrey Kurkov on the experience of war in Ukraine; a dialogue between Kamel Daoud and Eduardo Halfon on exile, memory and belonging; panels on women, territory and identity; discussions on literature, cities and climate crisis; and sessions on imagination, democracy and present-day challenges. Translation features prominently, with a dedicated panel on the role of translators and a market-oriented session on publishing opportunities for translated European literature in Brazil, bringing together publishers, literary agents and cultural institutions.
Children's activities include a storytelling workshop by Sueli Menezes (Austria/Brazil), a reading dedicated to Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (Sweden), and a workshop inspired by Hans Christian Andersen (Denmark). The Casa Europa will also host author-translator-publisher meetings, an exhibition, tastings of products with Geographical Indication, musical performances and a European Night of Voices celebrating linguistic and cultural diversity.
Installed in a historic house in central Paraty, Casa Europa will be open to the public from 10:00 to 21:00 on all three days of the festival, offering a space where readers, writers, translators and book professionals can meet. The initiative also contributes to Ukraine's debut in the official FLIP agenda, as Kurkov will participate in both the Casa Europa and the main festival programme.
The EU Delegation to Brazil's press team can be contacted for further information: Teresa Coutinho (+55 61 98375 0055, teresa.coutinho@eeas.europa.eu), Noeli Menezes (+55 61 99615 8713, noeli.menezes@eupopbr.eu) and Gabriela Bernardes (+55 61 99287 7272, gabriela.bernardes@eupopbr.eu).