An international partnership brings together two major literary festivals: the Hay Festival, based in Hay-on-Wye in Wales, and the Festa Literária Internacional de Paraty (Flip). The collaboration presents a curated selection of Brazilian authors at the 2026 edition of the European festival, which takes place from 21 to 31 May.
Now in its 37th year, the Hay Festival has been a key inspiration for Flip, which was founded in 2003. The British event offers a rich programme open to the public, establishing itself as one of the leading pioneers among non-profit cultural festivals.
Over the years, a number of Brazilians have taken part in the Hay Festival, including Chico Buarque, Patricia Melo, Rubem Fonseca and Paulo Coelho, among others.
Brazilians at the Hay Festival
At the 2026 edition of the festival, held in the renowned “Town of Books”, leading Brazilian figures will take part through the partnership with Flip, as part of the UK/Brazil Season of Culture 2025–26.
The programme begins on 23 May with the anthropologist Hanna Limulja. Winner of the Jabuti Award in the Social Sciences category, she will take part in a conversation with Bolivian writer Liliana Colanzi. Her book “O desejo dos outros – Uma etnografia dos sonhos yanomami” will be one of the focal points in a panel on Indigenous cultures.
On the evening of 23 May, acclaimed Brazilian author Itamar Vieira Junior — winner of the Leya, Oceanos and Jabuti prizes — will join the panel South to North Conversations: The Novel in the Age of Globalisation. The discussion, moderated by essayist Paṅkaj Miśra, explores global perspectives in fiction with contributions from Brazil, Pakistan and India.
On 24 May, three-time Jabuti Award winner Milton Hatoum joins a panel on memory and democracy in Brazilian literature. The discussion will be led by journalist, translator and Chief of Staff at the University of Cambridge, Ángel Gurría-Quintana.
Also on 24 May, the Hay Festival will host a screening of The Secret Agent, winner of dozens of awards worldwide and nominated for the Oscars. Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, the screening will feature an introduction by the Brazilian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Antonio Patriota.
Concluding the Brazilian participation at the Hay Festival, chef Bel Coelho will take part on 25 May in a conversation with British chef Ixta Belfrage, moderated by Polly Russell, food researcher and curator at the British Library. During the event, Bel will present her new book “Tasting the Forest”, the result of an immersive project exploring Amazonian culture and cuisine.
The full Hay Festival programme is available on the event’s website.