Lea Ypi receives BookStar 2026 award in Skopje

Philosopher and author Lea Ypi was awarded the 2026 BookStar award in Skopje for her book ‘Free’. The event served as the official prelude to the 12th edition of the BookStar European Literature Festival, which is themed ‘FREE AT LEAST?’.

Her book, ‘Free’, is described as a blend of memoir and philosophical inquiry. It explores the concept of freedom through Ypi’s personal history, including her childhood in communist Albania, the subsequent transition period, and her later life in Western Europe. The work examines the relationship between personal and political liberty and how the understanding of freedom shifts across different historical and geographic contexts.

The award ceremony took place at ‘Laboratorij’, accompanied by a public discussion moderated by professor and translator Kalina Maleska. The visit also included appearances on the ‘Gol Ruchenak’ podcast.