Irish and Spanish Voices Meet

The Instituto Cervantes Dublin announces the 14th edition of the ISLA Festival (Irish, Spanish, Latin American), taking place 15–17 October. This three-day celebration of literature and culture brings together leading voices from Ireland, Spain and across the Spanish-speaking world. This free, multicultural event, continues to foster dialogue, creativity and exchange between diverse literary traditions, reaffirming ISLA as a key fixture in Ireland’s cultural calendar.

Tickets: All events are free, but booking is required. Places are limited. https://dublin.cervantes.es/en/culture_spanish/isla_festival/isla_festival_2025/programme_isla_2025.htm

Festival Schedule:

15 October

• 6pm Opening words by Francisco Oda, Director, Instituto Cervantes Dublin
• 6.15 – 7.15pm A master of prose: A Dialogue with Eduardo Mendoza

The opening session features acclaimed novelist Eduardo Mendoza (Spain) in conversation with lecturer Carmen Sanjulián. With a career celebrated by critics and readers alike, Mendoza will reflect on the creation of his work, known for combining psychological depth with satire and humour.

• 7.30 – 8.45pm Scars: Past & present

Reyna Grande (Mexico/USA), María José Caro (Peru) and Audrey Magee (Ireland), moderated by Deirdre Kelly, present new novels that explore themes of memory, childhood and human relationships. The Latin American authors write from a place of cultural depth and emotional resonance, while Magee offers a precise, detached perspective on human conflict.

• 8.45 – 9.30pm Refreshments offered by the Embassy of Mexico and Instituto Cervantes

16 October

• 6 – 7.15pm Voices that explore reality

Emma Sepúlveda (Chile), Marta Sanz (Spain) and Caoilinn Hughes (Ireland), chaired by Carmen Sanjulián, delve into themes of body, identity, pain and survival through bold and uncompromising narratives.

• 7.30 – 8.15pm Tango, flavour & culture

Gastronomy steps onto the ISLA stage with an event that celebrates flavour as cultural expression. Facundo Rodulfo and Pam Neumann, owners of the acclaimed restaurant Tango Street Food and authors of Tango (Blasta Books), lead this culinary journey, joined by gastronomic expert Blanca Valencia.

• 8.15 – 9pm Food and wine tasting offered by the Embassy of Argentina

17 October

• 5 – 6pm A Dialogue with Andrea Cote: Poetry, memory, and Immigration

An intimate conversation with the acclaimed Colombian poet Andrea Cote, led by The Irish Times journalist Sorcha Pollak. In this event, we will explore Andrea’s powerful work, with a special focus on her most recent poetry collection, Querida Beth, awarded with the XXIV Casa de América Poetry Prize.

• 6.15pm A tribute to Mario Vargas Llosa: Pantaleón y las visitadoras

The final event that brings this year’s programme to a close is a special screening of Pantaleón y las visitadoras, in tribute to Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa. Directed by renowned Peruvian filmmaker Francisco J. Lombardi, the film adapts Vargas Llosa’s celebrated novel with cinematic flair.

• 20:40 h – 21:30 h Refreshments offered by the Embassy of Peru and the Embassy of Colombia

ISLA 2025 is supported by the Embassies of Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Mexico and Spain in Ireland, together with Literature Ireland, Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, RTÉ STA and International Books