NORLA's activities to promote the export of Norwegian literature

NORLA is collaborating with the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in New York on several literary events in connection with the arrival of the ship Restauration in New York on October 9. The vessel set sail from Stavanger on July 4 and is scheduled to arrive in New York on October 9 – retracing the exact journey of the first Norwegian emigrant ship that departed on the same dates in 1825. Upon arrival, a large public celebration is planned at the pier, with 2,000–3,000 guests expected from 10:00–14:00.

HRH Crown Prince Haakon, together with the voyage’s patron Liv Ullmann, will welcome the ship, and a variety of cultural events will take place at the harbor. NORLA will host a stand highlighting Norwegian literature. Mari Kanstad Johnsen will hold a children’s reading session on board the ship Wavertree, while moderator Anderson Tepper will lead a conversation with Lars Mytting, Edy Poppy, and Jon Fosse’s translator Damion Searls at the beautiful McNally Jackson Seaport bookstore, located at Pier 16.

Thor Gotaas will give a talk on Norwegian immigration and Ørkenen Sur during a ferry trip on the East River with HRH Crown Prince Haakon and invited guests.

We welcome endorsements that meet the criteria below, with a brief justification (maximum 1 page), by Friday October 10, 2025, 12:00 (CET):

• The prize will be awarded to a translator who has made a particularly significant contribution to translating Norwegian literature and/or drama into another language (directly from Norwegian), with emphasis on their entire body of work.
• The promotion of literature and culture beyond translation can also be considered.

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NORLA will be present at this year’s Frankfurter Buchmesse. You are invited to come by and visit us at the Nordic common stand at Hall 4.1, stand B17.
We are very much looking forward to meeting contacts both old and new!

Please contact us should you like to book an appointment.

NORLA invites proposals for professional programme events on the Norwegian stage at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, 13–16 April 2026.
Non-commercial organizations that promote Norwegian and Sámi children’s literature, illustration, and reading are invited to apply to present their own events aimed at a professional audience. Selected contributions will form part of Norway’s official Guest of Honour programme.

The participants in NORLA’s New Voices program will this autumn put into practice what they have learned during the workshops, and meet publishers and/or readers in real life. The goal is to support the sale and dissemination of their books into more languages – on the way to Bologna.

During the International Book Fair in Krakow, NORLA is hosting a book trade meeting featuring presentations by New Voices authors Arne Lindmo, Gøril Sæther, and Pernille Radeid. In addition, Norwegian agents will meet with representatives from the Polish publishing industry.

The event is organized in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Warsaw.

NORLA is taking part in the Shanghai Children’s Book Fair with a stand designed for meetings and professional networking. The two illustrators/authors Øyvind Torseter and Marianne Gretteberg Engedal (Skinkeape) will participate in the fair’s professional program and panel discussions. Both also serve on the jury for the Norwegian illustration exhibition at Bologna 2026.
In addition, several Norwegian publishers/agents will take part.

The initiative is carried out in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Consulate in Shanghai.

The book fair Più libri più liberi is dedicated to small and medium-sized publishers, and NORLA is looking forward to participating for the second time – focusing on Norway’s Guest of Honour initiative at Bologna 2026 and on Norwegian children’s literature in general.

And just like last year, we are hosting a networking event and gearing up for Bologna 2026 by launching the Guest of Honour concept and program. Also, Norwegian agents will take part in the fair’s fellowship and/or be present in the rights centre.

The program is organized in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Rome.