Norwegian-American Literature Festival and book trade gathering in New York

Also this year NORLA is providing travel grants for authors taking part in the Norwegian-American literature festival in New York, 19-21 May.
The festival is a result of a cooperation between founder Frode Saugestad, The Paris Review and The Norwegian Consulate General in New York.

This year no less than nine Norwegian authors will be attending:
Geir Gulliksen (for his latest novel, please click here), Cathrine Knudsen, Kristine Næss, Arne Lygre, Ari Behn, Johan Harstad, Maja Lunde, Helga Flatland, Karl Ove Knausgård at Black Bear in Brooklyn.
Morgenbladet’s Culture Editor Ane Farsethås, together with James Wood from The New Yorker and Lorin Stein from The Paris Review, will host the book forum.

NORLA is also arranging an book trade meeting Thursday 19 May for American publishers and Norwegian publishers and agents in collaboration with Norway’s Consulate General in New York. Participating is also Karl Ove Knausgård, Åsne Seierstad og Morgenbladet’s Culture Editor Ane Farsethås.

See all details for:
May 19
May 20
May 21.

And read more about the events here.

Read more about the two previous festivals here.

Upcoming activities

November 12-November 22

Caen, France

Norway is Guest of Honour at Les Boréales

Norway is Guest of Honour at this year’s Les Boréales festival in Normandy, taking place from 12–22 November.
A strong line-up of Norwegian authors will take part in the festival: Ingeborg Arvola, Martin Baldysz, Brit Bildøen, Thomas Enger, Jørn Lier Horst, Aslak Nore, Lars Ramslie and Maria Navarro Skaranger.

During the festival, NORLA will also organise a translation seminar for students at the University of Caen on 17 November. The seminar will have a special focus on Brit Bildøen’s Gult farevarsel (Yellow Warning, Vigilance orange). Bildøen and her French translator Marina Heide will take part in the seminar, which is organized in close cooperation with the University.

The Norwegian Embassy in Paris is a partner in Norway’s Guest of Honour programme.

See the full festival programme.

November 13-November 15

Shanghai, China

NORLA at the Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair

NORLA will take part in this year’s China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair with its own stand.
The fair will also feature the illustration exhibition first presented at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in spring 2026, when Norway was Guest of Honour. This brings the initiative showcasing Norwegian children’s and young adult literature and illustration to a new international audience.

December 3

Rome, Italy

Translation Seminar for Students and Industry Reception

On 3 December, NORLA is organising a full-day seminar on translation for Italian students of Norwegian language and literature. The seminar will take place at the Norwegian Institute in Rome, in collaboration with the Norwegian Embassy in Italy. Around thirty students will take part in a varied programme featuring presentations by award-winning and experienced translators Margerita Podestà Heir, Andrea Romanzi, Giovanna Paterniti and Lucia Barni. They will discuss cultural connections between Norway and Italy, Norwegian and Italian literature, how to present books to publishers, and, not least, the art of translating Norwegian literature.

Following the seminar, a networking reception for the Italian publishing industry will be held in the residence of the Norwegian Ambassador.