Catalan literature will be guest of honor at the 2027 edition of the Salone Internazionale del Libro di Torinoone of Europe’s most important literary events. The announcement was made this afternoon at the fair during a press conference attended by President of the fair, Silvio Viale, and Director of the Ramon Llull Institute, Anna Guitart.
The designation places Catalan literature center stage at an event that, since its founding in 1988, has established itself as Italy’s foremost publishing showcase and one of Europe’s most influential literary events.
Responding to the announcement, the President of the Government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, said, “I am delighted by this news”adding that it represents “the internationalization of Catalan culture, recognition of generations of writers and publishers and their hard work, and an opportunity to showcase ourselves to the world. Catalan culture is enjoying a remarkable moment”I concluded.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Culture, Sònia Hernández Almodóvar, addressed the media at the Department of Culture following the announcement: “Today we share immense joy at this recognition, and we embrace this challenge with enthusiasm and responsibility. Having Catalan literature as guest of honor means taking center stage in a space of exceptional international visibility. This marks another milestone in the international projection of Catalan literature and culture”she said, adding that “it is a source of collective pride for Catalonia”.
The Minister also highlighted the increasing presence of Catalan literature in the Italian market, noting that, after Spanish and French, Italian is the third-largest market for translations of Catalan literature. Over the last five years, more than 180 translations have been published there.
In this regard, Hernández Almodóvar said, “Today is a wonderful opportunity to once again highlight the publishing sector as a pillar of Catalonia, from both a cultural and an economic perspective”. She congratulated and thanked all individuals and institutions involved in this achievement.
In its latest edition, the Salone attracted over 230,000 visitors and nearly 1,000 exhibitors, with a program of more than 2,500 activities, cementing its status as a global platform for cultural outreach.
At the press conference, Silvio Viale, President of the body that organizes the fair (Associazione Torino, La Città del Libro), stated, “We enthusiastically welcome the selection of Catalan literature as guest of honor for the 2027 Turin International Book Fair. In recent years, the presence of Catalan literature in Italy has grown significantly, thanks to the work of publishers, translators and cultural institutions. Together with the Institut Ramon Llull, we will develop a program that highlights not only literature, but also the richness of Catalan culture as a whole. We believe that 2027 will provide a greater opportunity for European cultural dialogue, and for generating new collaborations, translations and readers”.
Anna Guitart, Director of the Ramon Llull Institute, said, “The 2027 Salone Internazionale del Libro di Torino should serve as a key moment to give even greater visibility to our authors, reach new readers, and consolidate this interest over time. It should also provide an opportunity to foster new translations and further strengthen the international presence of Catalan literature”.
Being guest of honor entails a prominent and comprehensive presence. For Catalan literature, this will include a dedicated stand of approximately 150 square meters with a continuous program of activities, the participation of 20 authors across genres (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, theatre, comics, and children’s and young adult literature), and the invitation of six publishing professionals to the fair’s renowned fellowship program.
The project will be developed with the involvement of leading Catalan and Balearic institutions and associations in the publishing sector.
Furthermore, Catalan and Balearic participation will extend beyond the fair, with cultural activities across Turin to promote Catalan culture in its broadest sense, including artistic creation and language.
The invitation to Turin represents a strategic opportunity to boost new translations, strengthen international alliances, and increase author visibility. It will also provide a highly prestigious platform to showcase the richness and diversity of Catalan literature, following recent guests of honor such as Greece (2026), the Netherlands (2025) and the German language (2024).
Catalonia previously held the guest of honor role in 2002, when some 20 authors participated.
The 2027 edition of the Salone Internazionale del Libro di Torino will take place from 13 to 17 May.
The Salone Internazionale del Libro di Torino is a project of the Associazione Torino, La Città del Librothe Fondazione Circolo dei Lettori and the Fondazione per la Cultura Torino.
