"Night of Literature" 2026 returns to Burgas - under the stars and among seven European stories

On October 1, Burgas will once again be part of the international initiative "Night of Literature". The city will welcome the fifteenth edition of the event under the open sky - all readings will take place outside, close to the sea air, city lights and the night sky.

Seven contemporary European books will come to life in seven different urban spaces, which will become reading nests for a few hours . Actors, writers and representatives of the Burgas cultural community will read excerpts from works from Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Switzerland and Sweden.

Among the participants you will be able to meet are Prof. Georgi Bardarov , author of one of the selected books; Todora Daskalova , creator of the book blog Reading Trolls ; writer Boyan Boev ; Petar Todorov , director of the Burgas State Puppet Theater; actress Simona Bogdanova and a number of other interesting and inspiring voices from the Burgas cultural scene , who will give the evening their energy, style and presence.

The readings begin at 6:00 PM , with each slot presenting the same excerpt from the corresponding book every 30 minutes : 6:00 PM | 6:30 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:30 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM

Each reading is held for half an hour, during which the audience can move from one “reading nest” to another. Visitors can create their own literary itinerary, moving from place to place and discovering different voices, styles and stories.

Special award

Each participant who visits all 7 locations will receive a special prize – a symbolic gesture to those who choose to experience the entire literary night in Burgas.

"Night of Literature" is the voice of contemporary European literature - a live encounter with its themes, languages, styles and, most importantly, with its translations into Bulgarian. Burgas' participation in the initiative supports the city's candidacy for European Capital of Culture in 2032 and is part of our aspiration to develop strong European cultural formats, build sustainable partnership networks and place contemporary literature and the art of translation at the center of the city's cultural life.

PROGRAM

18:00 | 18:30 | 19:00 | 19:30 | 20:00 | 20:30 | 21:00

1. Kaive Cafe | Aleko Konstantinov Street

"The Café with No Name" (2024) – Robert Seethaler (Austria)

Translation: Lyubomir Iliev

Publisher List Cover

: Sofia Popyordanova

Readings: Prof. Dr. Maria Neykova (BSU) and Diana Radoslavova (National Theatre "Asen Zlatarov 1940")

2. Regional Library " Peio K. Yavorov " | Terrace opposite Hall 3

"Adagio for Maria" (2025) – Georgi Bardarov (Directorate-General for Translations of the European Commission – Bulgaria)

Published by MusaGena

Cover: Nia Mancheva

Readers: Alberta Alkalay (Alef Center) and Prof. Georgi Bardarov

3. Gallery – Museum “ Georgi Baev ” | 6 “Democracy” Blvd.

"The Employees" (2026) – Olga Raun (Denmark)

Translation: Rositsa Tsvetanova

ICU Publishing House

Cover: Stoyan Atanasov

Readers: Dr. Margarita Doncheva and Todora Daskalova (Reading Trolls)

4. Writer 's House | 1 Vola Street

Start: 7:30 p.m.

"Intermezzo" (2025) - Sally Rooney (Ireland)

Translation: Boryana Dzhanabetska

Publisher: Enorog

Design: Faber & Faber

Readers: Petar Todorov (Burgas State Puppet Theater) and Diana Savateva (Deputy Mayor "Culture and Religions")

5. CASA Triangulo Creativo | 4 Antim I Street

“Rose is Missing” (2021) – Katja Ketu (Finland)

Translation: Rositsa Tsvetanova

ICU Publishing House

Cover: Zhivko Petrov

Readers: Boyan Boev and Maria Arnaudova

6. Ethno Museum and Cafe | 69 Slavyanska Street

"Jacob von Gunten" (2025) – Robert Walser (Switzerland)

Translation: Boyan Valchev

Nike Publishing Cover

: Lyuba Haleva

Read by: Simona Bogdanova and Emil Ovanesov (BIFF)

7. Burgas Art Gallery "Petko Zadgorski" | 24 "Metropolit Simeon" Street

"Everything I Don't Remember" (2021) - Jonas Hassen Kemiri (Sweden)

Translation: Maria Zmiycharova

Matkom Publishing House

Cover: Ina Dimitrova

Read by: Dr. Loris Manuelyan and Petya Yanakieva (BNR Burgas)

Organizers and partners

The organizers of the "Night of Literature" Burgas 2026 are the Municipality of Burgas and the "Burgas 2032" Foundation, in partnership with the Regional Library "Peio K. Yavorov", Kaive Cafe, "Georgi Baev" Gallery-Museum, Burgas Writers' Community, Writer's House, CASA Triangulo Creativo, Ethnographic Museum and Cafe and Burgas Art Gallery "Petko Zadgorski". The media partner is Bulgarian National Radio Radio Burgas.

"Night of Literature" is implemented by Sofia Municipality, EUNIC, "Read Sofia" Foundation, Austrian Cultural Forum Sofia, Embassy of Belgium, Directorate General "Written Translations" of the European Commission - Bulgaria, Goethe-Institut Bulgaria, Embassy of Greece in Sofia, Embassy of Denmark in Bulgaria, Embassy of Ireland, Cervantes Institute-Sofia, Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Bulgaria, Italian Cultural Institute, Embassy of the Netherlands in Bulgaria, British Council Bulgaria, Polish Institute in Sofia, Cultural and Information Center of the Republic of North Macedonia in Sofia and Embassy of the Republic of North Macedonia, Embassy of Slovenia in Sofia, Embassy of Ukraine, Liszt Institute - Hungarian Cultural Institute, Embassy of Finland in Sofia, Czech Center Sofia, Embassy of Switzerland in Bulgaria, Embassy of Sweden in Bulgaria, Children's Books Foundation.

The Read Sofia Foundation is the national coordinator of the initiative. "Night of Literature" is part of the Sofia Municipality's Calendar of Cultural Events for 2026.

Follow the event online

All additions to the program will be published on the official Facebook page of the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1293553152769149/

Come and celebrate the Night of Literature in Burgas together – under the stars, among words and in the company of seven exciting stories.

Admission is free.