2026 International Poetry Festival: Authors from Eight Countries in Costa Rica

The 25th edition of the International Poetry Festival of Costa Rica will take place from September 27 to October 3, 2026, bringing together poets from eight countries — Colombia, Panama, Iran, Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica — with activities in San José and various regions across the country, all with free admission.

Opening and Main Program

• Sunday, September 27, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Opening ceremony in the main hall of the National Theatre, featuring readings, gatherings, and a performance by the medieval music group Tropus. Admission is free.
• International guests include Javier Alvarado (Panama), Laura Castillo (Colombia), José Ernesto Hernández (Puerto Rico), Mohsen Emadi (Iran), Martha Favila (Mexico), Ericka Picado (Nicaragua), and Francesca Randazzo (Honduras). Representing Costa Rica are Juan Carlos Olivas and Ligia Zúñiga.
• Readings will also be held at the Roberto Murillo Auditorium of the University of Costa Rica, featuring both national and international authors, with free admission.

Regional Activities and Closing

The festival will bring poetry readings and discussions on literary creation to Guanacaste, Pérez Zeledón, Monteverde, Cariari, Belén, San Ramón, and Tortuguero (at the Tortuguero Cultural Center).

As part of this edition, the UNED Publishing House (EUNED) will publish two anthologies: one featuring works by the invited poets and another containing texts by participants in the regional workshops.

The festival will close at the Centro Cultural de España, with a joint reading featuring all participating writers.