Organizer Information
Granada was officially granted membership of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the Literature category on 1 December 2014, making it the first Spanish-language City of Literature to receive this distinction. The designation followed a process launched in 2009 by Granada City Council in partnership with the UNESCO Centre in Andalusia and various public and private institutions. The city's deep literary tradition centers on Federico García Lorca, the best-known and most widely translated Spanish writer after Cervantes, and Granada has built a network of facilities and events around his legacy, including the Federico García Lorca Poetry Prize and the International Poetry Festival. With close cultural links to Latin America and North Africa, Granada views its UCCN membership as a way to strengthen its international vocation.
The programme is jointly run by Granada UNESCO City of Literature — part of the Granada City Council's Arts Department — and the University of Granada, through its Vice-Rectorates for University Extension, Heritage and Institutional Relations; Internationalisation; and Social Responsibility, Equality and Inclusion.
Title & Description
International Granada Writers in Residence Programme 2026
Granada UNESCO City of Literature, in collaboration with the University of Granada, is running a new edition of its International Writers in Residence Programme. The programme was established to strengthen international cooperation in the cultural sector generally, and in literary creation specifically, offering two selected writers a month-long residency in Granada to develop their own literary projects while engaging with the city's literary community.
Categories
- Literature
- Residency
Eligibility
- Open to writers residing in any country and writing in any language
- Applicants must have published at least two individually authored books; contributions to anthologies or collective volumes will not be considered
- Eligible genres include novels, essays, poetry, drama, and hybrid literary forms
- Self-published works are not eligible
- Chapbooks (plaquettes) will not be counted toward the two-book requirement
- Intermediate to advanced level of English and/or Spanish required
- Knowledge of Spanish at any level, and an interest in Granada's cultural and historical heritage, are considered assets but are not mandatory
Program Benefits & Awards
- A 30-night residency in Granada for two selected writers, from Monday, 2 November to Tuesday, 1 December 2026, at the Corrala de Santiago, University of Granada
- Round-trip travel expenses covered by Granada UNESCO City of Literature, from the airport nearest the writer's place of residence to Granada Airport (transfers between the writer's home and their departure airport are the resident's own responsibility)
- Accommodation in a single room on a full-board basis at the Corrala de Santiago, provided by the University of Granada
- Facilitated opportunities to engage with Granada's literary life, including meeting local authors and participating in workshops and educational activities
- Note: travel insurance and health insurance are not included — these must be arranged and paid for by the resident writers themselves
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Submission via Email — completed applications must be sent to talleres@granadaciudaddeliteratura.com
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 6 September 2026
- Selected Writers Announced: Thursday, 1 October 2026 (on the Granada UNESCO City of Literature website)
- Residency Period: Monday, 2 November 2026 – Tuesday, 1 December 2026 (30 nights)
Location
Granada, Spain
Additional Details
- The Corrala de Santiago is a 16th-century building in Granada's historic Realejo district, owned by the University of Granada since 1991; originally restored as a residence for visiting professors and students, it now also hosts exhibitions, theatre, concerts, film screenings, and lectures
- Residents are expected to devote the residency period to their literary project and may not undertake public activities with other institutions, or in other cities, without prior notification to and authorisation from the programme organisers
- Residents are expected to publicly acknowledge and promote their stay in Granada as participants of the International Writers in Residence Programme
- The Selection Committee is made up of experts appointed jointly by Granada UNESCO City of Literature and the University of Granada