jazzahead! in Bremen

Norway is the focus country at the world’s largest jazz fair, jazzahead! in Bremen (April 25-28). Both before and during the fair itself, there will be a wealth of exciting musical and literary events on offer, with a total of 117 (!) musicians and several authors from Norway participating:

Tore Renberg, Gudrun Skretting, Ketil Bjørnstad and Lars Saabye Christensen are all invited to various reading events.
In addition to this, Jan Erik Vold, Eirik Raude, Ellen Bødtker and Trygve Seim will perform the concert “Summer out there” in Sendesaal on April 18th.
On April 24th, Ketil Bjørnstad, Anneli Drecker and Lars Saabye Christensen will perform the latter’s poem in "A Suite of Poems.”

The touring exhibition of Norwegian illustrations is on show, and also on offer is a theatre marathon with stagings of Karl Ove Knausgård’s novels My Struggle 4, 5 and 6.

Read more about the musicians taking part here.

See an overview of the Norwegian program here (in German).

And details of the literary program items (in German) here and in English here.

Upcoming activities

November 14-November 16

Shanghai, China

Norwegian Participation at the Shanghai Children’s Book Fair

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.

December 2-December 5

Rome, Italy

Networking Event and Launch of the Guest of Honour Program during the Rome Book Fair Più libri più liberi

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.