.The Festival will take place from February 12 to 16
Armida Zepeda, as director of the International Festival of Writers and Literature in San Miguel de Allende, has played a key role in promoting culture and literary exchange between Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
For 20 years, the International Festival of Writers and Literature in San Miguel de Allende has established itself as the most prestigious bilingual and multicultural literary event in Mexico, attracting renowned writers, editors, and professionals in the literary field.
The Festival focuses on creating a space where diverse voices converge, fostering dialogue and inspiration among participants from Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Thanks to her vision, the festival not only celebrates the richness of literature but also encourages understanding and connection across borders.
What unique characteristics does the International Festival of Writers in San Miguel de Allende have?
The International Festival of Writers and Literature in San Miguel de Allende is unique because it is bilingual and multicultural. It has a program in English and Spanish, which allows different options for attendees. Panels and other activities, such as consultations with American and Canadian literary agents, are key points. Thus, we bring together literary professionals during those days so that people can make the most of it.
In the English program, there are different packages: there’s one that includes everything or one that is a la carte. There is also one that we call “for the reader,” which allows access only to the conferences. All have simultaneous translation, which is important. Being a bilingual festival, if English is spoken, it is translated into Spanish, and if the speaker is Mexican, it is translated into English.
The main panels and workshops, on the other hand, are held in their original language, either English or Spanish. In the English program, you can buy various packages or design your own adventure when you arrive at the festival. This takes place in beautiful and important hotels and spaces.
The festival is designed for people who come from all over the world, but who want to enjoy themselves, generate content on social networks, or exchange ideas with other professionals in the fields of literature and writing.
This year, from February 12 to 16, we celebrate its twentieth anniversary. People in San Miguel are very excited, and that is why the organizers decided to make the Spanish program free. The workshops are free, but places are limited. The conferences are also free, but you must register on the website, look for the Spanish options, select the conference you are interested in, and enter a code to get your free ticket.
This year we will have the presence of the writer John Irving, an American literary legend. Jorge Fernández will also be present, along with other multicultural and bilingual talents from Mexico, the United States, and Canada. We will also have representatives from the Giller Prize of Canada, which is one of the most important in that country.
In the area of literary creation workshops, we have renowned teachers, writers, journalists, and booktubers.
There will be two fundamental programs: the first is aimed at teenagers, with writing and reading workshops for three days, aimed at high school students from San Miguel. The second is a scholarship program that invites young students from San Miguel and occasionally from Dolores Hidalgo and Celaya, so they enjoy a complete package that includes free access to workshops, conferences, events, the open mic, the festival bookstore, and nighttime activities such as open nights, which are very popular.
The 2025 edition
San Miguel de Allende is a small, privileged, colonial city located in the Bajío region of Mexico. It is relatively close to Mexico City, Querétaro, and San Luis Potosí. It is a fascinating place with a unique energy. Since the 1940s and 1950s, it began to attract people from the United States and Canada who were looking for an alternative way of life. These communities found a paradise in San Miguel: pleasant weather, affordable costs, and tranquility. This brought with it great development, but also certain challenges such as gentrification. But the daily coexistence with people of more than 80 nationalities is extraordinary.
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