In 2026, the LITERATURE NIGHT will take place for the fifteenth consecutive year. At 13 locations across Bulgaria, a variety of spaces – some of which might be unusual for literary events – will be transformed simultaneously into “reading nooks” on October 1st for a few hours. Various artists, journalists, and translators will read excerpts from contemporary European literary works published in Bulgarian. The readings will begin at 6:00 p.m. in all reading nooks in Ruse, as this is the case throughout all locations in Bulgaria as well. What and whom can the audience expect at each location in Ruse?
Reading Nook 1
Austria Library, “Svoboda” Square 4
Read by: Milena Petkova
Book: “The Café Without a Name” – Robert Seethaler, Austria
Reading Nook 2
Canetti House, “Slavyanski” Boulevard 12
Read by: Detelina Kamenova and Viktor Kirilov
Book: “Eva” – Verena Keßler, Germany
Reading Nook 3
“Ljuben Karavelov” Regional Library, “Knyaz Al. Dondukov Korsakov” Street 1
Read by: Ivaylo Draganov
Book: “Intermezzo” – Sally Rooney, Ireland
Reading Nook 4
Small Stage of the “Sava Ognyanov” Theater, “Svoboda” Square 4
Read by: Momchil Mihaylov (MOMO)
Book: “Jakob von Gunten” – Robert Walser, Switzerland
Every reading begins every half hour for the audience to be able to move from one reading nook to the next. The reading nooks close at 9:30 p.m. This year the International Elias Canetti Society is once again the main organizer of the Night of Literature in Ruse. The selection of titles clearly reveals a common thematic focus as well as key areas of emphasis. A significant amount of the books focuses on wars, the vulnerability of people, nature and the planet, as well as the longing for what is missing and the sense of belonging.
Detelina Kamenova