NORLA's activities during the Norwegian Literature Festival in Lillehammer

We are happy to host visits by several international groups during the Norwegian Festival of Literature in Lillehammer:

As in previous years, NORLA is inviting foreign publishers to apply for a fellowship during the Norwegian Festival of Literature. This year the focus is on children’s and young adult literature, and the program runs between 23-26 May.
The participants will be introduced to Norwegian authors and have meetings with literary agents for children’s and young adult literature, They will also have the opportunity to attend several cultural and social events in the beautiful surroundings of Lillehammer. In addition, the participants will also take part in a kick-off event for Norway as the Guest of Honour at the Bologna Book Fair in 2026.

We also are happy to invite translators of Norwegian literature to apply to participate in our program during the festival in Lillehammer. NORLA covers the travel costs, board and lodging, for ten participants, from Tuesday 23 – Friday 26 May.
The translators are free to follow the festival’s extensive program at their own leasure. They will also be able to participate in sections of this year’s fellowship program.

This year we have the pleasure of inviting to an Opening Conference for Norway as Guest of Honour in Bologna 2026, a kickstart event open to all. The conference takes place Wednesday 24 May, 9:00-12:00 at the Kulturhuset Banken in Lillehammer.
Please register here if you would like to join us.
Read more and see detailes program here

As in previous years, we have also invited literary journalists to visit the festival. This year there are four journalists participating, from the USA, Italy, Portugal and Croatia.

We are looking forward to fruitful days at Scandinavia’s largest literature festival!

Upcoming activities

October 6

Madrid, Spain

New Voices Authors at book trade meeting in Madrid

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.

In connection with the Liber Book Fair in Madrid, NORLA is hosting a book trade meeting featuring presentations by New Voices authors Kristine Rui Slettebakken and Fabian Christensen. In addition, Norwegian agents will meet with representatives from the Spanish publishing industry.

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

October 9-October 11

New York, USA

Norwegian author program at the 200th anniversary of Norwegian emigration to the USA

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.

October 15-October 19

Frankfurt, Germany

NORLA at Frankfurter Buchmesse

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.