From mythic narratives to community poetry and children’s workshops, literature offers a grounded space to explore human experience. The London Spanish Book & Zine Fair returns to Conway Hall on 3 October 2026, bringing together acclaimed authors, independent publishers and readers for a celebration of Spanish-language writing.
Marwan Nabli
‘Reproduce life’; ‘portray reality’; ‘depict life as it actually is’… Great writers have long explored how literature can help us understand and make sense of the world around us. Their stories and insights may resonate more than ever at a time when escaping the burdens of reality can seem easier than confronting them, a premise central to this year’s official theme, “Down to Earth”.
The London Spanish Book & Zine Fair aims to provide insights, while giving a platform to powerful personal voices through the participation of renowned authors such as award-winning Ecuadorian writer Mónica Ojeda.
Drawing on myths and oral traditions, Ojeda explores profoundly contemporary issues in works such as “Las voladoras” and “Mandibula”, including violence against women, bereavement, and motherhood. During the event, she will be in conversation with Lala Toutonian, an Argentine cultural journalist and literary critic. Joining the line-up is acclaimed Spanish author Rosario Villajos, author of “La educación física” and “Cortarse el cabello”. She will discuss her darkly narrative style with translator Beth Hickling-Moore.
Beyond contemporary prose, art can also offer a way of addressing the perennial quest for identity. Who am I? Where do I belong? Who am I becoming? These are among the questions that ran through the work of Colombian poet León de Greiff, who explored different facets of his identity through a series of fictional personas in the 20th century. Writer and translator Adam Feinstein will explore these issues in “A return to what matters” with Chilean authors Gonzalo C. García and Catherine Bernales Lamig.
The richness of art may lie in its universal resonance, yet its expression is often deeply personal. For those seeking to put their experiences and emotions into words, poet Sonia Quintero, who is also politically engaged, founded the Newham Poetry Group in 2016. Members of the group, alongside contributors from Palacio de Poetas, will take part in an open mic session at the London Spanish Book & Zine Fair to celebrate poetry, community and the many ways in which we remain connected to the Earth and to one another.
Literature can also serve as a tool for advocacy. Memory, racism and diaspora will be among the themes explored in a wide-ranging panel discussion, “To publish is to decide what is remembered”, chaired by Jesús Sanjurjo-Ramos, with Quinny Martínez Hernández (from Plataforma Cero), María del Pilar Kaladeen (Wasafiri Magazine) and Aissata M‘ballo Diao (from Jaŋde Editorial). Together, they will examine the challenges surrounding the publication of works and the courage of authors who put the issues that matter to them into words.
To make the event accessible to as many people as possible, a number of workshops are also being organised for the event. Some of these will enable both children and parents to develop their creativity and strengthen their writing skills in Spanish. The youngest children will also be able to enjoy a storytelling session.
Perhaps, then, the power of literature lies not in helping us escape reality, but in bringing us back to what connects us.
Featuring over 60 participating publishers in the exhibitors’ hall, the London Spanish Book & Zine Fair will take place on Saturday, 3 October 2026, from 10 am to 4 pm at Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL. An official presentation will also take place on Thursday, 1 October at Instituto Cervantes London, featuring the London premiere of the animated short film “Vasto mundo”, directed by Ande Films and based on the comic book by Flora Márquez (Argentina). The event is organised by La Tundra magazine
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(Photos: Pixabay )
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