Bursa will host the sharpest, most thought-provoking, and boldest voices in literature from 27–30 November at Tayyare Cultural Centre. Organized for the second time with the support of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Culture Inc. and Kalem Agency, BUEF 2025 places at its very centre the one word our era needs most: “Courage.”
The soul of the festival questions the meaning of forming sentences and freedom of expression in spite of fear. BUEF 2025 does not merely talk about literature; it also draws attention to the possibility of being part of societal transformation and invites every participant to reflect on this responsibility.
International Pens and Contemporary Debates
The festival brings together 15 writers from 7 different countries, along with translators, editors, and readers. Inspired by Bursa’s multi-layered history, it offers a comprehensive programme that unites different literary genres, major figures of contemporary literature, and the productions of the new generation.
International Guests: Among the foreign guests are Dimitri Verhulst, Enne Koens, Georgi Gospodinov, Hannah Peck, Jente Posthuma, Maylis de Kerangal, and Niels Overgaard.
Turkey’s Powerful Pens: Beloved Turkish authors Ayfer Tunç, Ayşen Işık, Ezgi Tanergeç, Melisa Kesmez, Miray Aydın, and Ova Ceren will also attend the festival.
Creative Risk and Transformation
The theme of “Courage” will be explored in depth through the following topics: taking literary risks, innovation in storytelling, and the power of individual testimony. Workshops will address all age groups, from children to adults, offering the chance to experience creative practices. There will also be sessions that treat translation practice as a field of creative production.
The Bursa International Literature Festival awaits everyone who believes in the power of words to push boundaries and change the world. This is an invitation to join a festival written “in spite of fear.”
Festival Summary
Event Name: Bursa International Literature Festival (BUEF 2025)
Theme: Courage
Venue: Tayyare Cultural Centre, Bursa
Dates: 27–30 November 2025
Participants: 15 writers from 7 countries
