Hay Festival Arequipa 2026 to feature international literary figures

The XII edition of the Hay Festival Arequipa has been announced, scheduled to take place from November 5 to 8, 2026. The event will feature 156 guests from 20 different countries, positioning Peru as a significant cultural hub during the festival.

Notable participants include 2003 Nobel Laureate in Literature J. M. Coetzee and Romanian author Mircea Cărtărescu. Other featured guests include Irenosen Okojie, André Aciman, and Patricio Pron. The program includes an inaugural concert by the KNM Ensemble Berlin and discussions covering sociopolitics, the environment, and sports.

In addition to the main events in Arequipa, the festival will expand its reach through the ‘Hay Festival Presenta’ programs in Tacna and Lima. The Tacna component will begin on November 4, featuring climate journalist Xabier Díaz de Cerio.