Literature at KBF
Since 2013, Krakow has been a UNESCO City of Literature. That is why literature is one of the most important elements of the activities of the KBF.
Miłosz Festival in the Potocki Palace (2022) by Adrian PallaschKBF - Krakow Festival Office
Krakow UNESCO City of Literature
As operator of the programme since 2013, KBF supports local literary life, promotes readership and shapes creative environments based on Poland’s first municipal strategy to promote reading, launched by the Municipal Council.
Potocki Palace
The Potocki Palace is a space open to all Cracovians where they can participate in cultural activities outside the mainstream; it welcomes NGOs, collectives, activists, cultural animators and institutions of all sizes.
It brings life to central Krakow and serves as an important space for meetings, especially literary. It is the headquarters of the Krakow UNESCO City of Literature team and it hosts the project’s flagship events.
Conrad Festival
The Conrad Festival is the largest international literary event in Poland and one of the most important in Europe. Every year it chooses a different leading theme to present literature from all over the globe, rooted in myriad cultures and experiences.
Conrad Prize
The distinction is awarded for best prose debut of the year, and aims to support authors at the threshold of their literary career. The award also encourages publishers to seek out new talent.
Miłosz Festival
The greatest celebration of poetry in Poland and Central Europe. Each edition is attended by literary stars from all over the world, and Krakow’s festival halls turn into spaces for dialogue about poetry.
The event features the presentation of the Wisława Szymborska Prize awarded for best poetry volume of the year.
CZYTAJ PL
The largest annual campaign promoting readership, Czytaj PL has the format of a free library of ebooks and audiobooks. Just download the app and use it to scan the QR code found in many locations in the city and online. The code unlocks the free virtual library for 30 days.
KMLU writing school (2022) by Inga SzeligaKBF - Krakow Festival Office
Writing school
The event has been attracting budding authors for many years. As well as being an opportunity to try their hand in the literary world, it also includes meetings with acclaimed writers and editors to find out more about how they work.
The event also hosts longer courses and weekend workshops.
Reading School at the Potocki Palace (2021) by Edyta DufajKBF - Krakow Festival Office
Reading schools
Unconventional reading sessions for high-school students held at the Potocki Palace. The extensive programme developed by a selected team of experts includes myriad themes and an exceptionally high didactic level.
The KMLU stand during 25th International Book Fair in Krakow (2022) by Adrian PallaschKBF - Krakow Festival Office
Book fairs
Good books have no sell-by dates, so second-hand literature is worth promoting. Krakow hosts a Second-Hand Book Fair for antiquarians from the city and region.
A walk organized as part of the Milosz Festival in 2022 (2022) by Adrian PallaschKBF - Krakow Festival Office
Literary walks
Every month between March and October, we explore Krakow in the footsteps of authors and literary eras and trends, some better known than others. We visit locations filled with inspiration and meet authors living and working in our city.
CELA (Connecting Emerging Literary Artists) meeting (2020) by Gaby JongenelenKBF - Krakow Festival Office
Connecting Emerging Literary Artists (CELA)
Coordinated by the Dutch organisation Wintertuin, the programme brings together young authors and translators and promotes translation of minority languages. Financed by the Creative Europe programme.
Second Life of Books programme in 2013 (2013) by Michał RamusKBF - Krakow Festival Office
Second Life of Books
The great, free book exchange programme aims to give your books a second lease of life. A perfect opportunity to find new owners of books which no longer fit in your own home library.
The Potocki Palace in Krakow (2021) by Klaudyna_SchubertKBF - Krakow Festival Office
Literary residences
Brynjar Jóhannesson, Grigory Semenchuk, Louis Klee, Nuria Añó, Biserka Rajčić, Mira Marcinów, Filip Zawada and Isabelle Berrigan are just some of the authors from UNESCO Cities of Literature all over the globe we have hosted in Krakow so far as part of the residential programme.
Bookstore of the Year competition (2019) by Patryk OlczykKBF - Krakow Festival Office
Support for bookshops
Supporting bookshops is a priority of the Kraków UNESCO City of Literature programme.
Bookstore Night (2021) by Magdalena RymarzKBF - Krakow Festival Office
KBF is in close contact with Krakow’s bookshop circles, responding to the industry’s challenges and needs, initiating and coordinating activities supporting traditional bookshops and promoting bookshops as cultural centres.
25th Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow (2015) by Michał Ramus for JCFKBF - Krakow Festival Office
Literary stream at the Jewish Culture Festival
Each year, KBF joins the Jewish Culture Festival and hosts an extensive literary stream as part of the event. Krakow’s Kazimierz district hosts discussions with authors, art and printmaking workshops and guided tours of the district, teeming with artistic and cultural life.
Children’s Literature Festival in Krakow (2022) by Filip Radwański for Children's Literature Festival in KrakowKBF - Krakow Festival Office
Other festivals
As well as organising its own festivals, KBF also supports other organisers! Events supported and partnered by KBF include: the Children’s Literature Festival, Krakow Comics Festival, Copernicus Festival and Non-Fiction Reportage Festival.
