Literary Festival “Literatura a la Fresca”

The second edition of the Literary Festival “Literatura a la Fresca” is set to take place in Benitachell, Spain, from Wednesday, August 12 to Friday, August 28, 2026. Organized by the Town Council’s Departments of Culture and Equality in collaboration with the feminist cultural association Clásicas y Modernas, the festival aims to bring literature, visual art, and local history to life during the warm Mediterranean summer nights.

A central highlight of this year's festival is the “Art al Carrer” (Art in the Street) exhibition. This outdoor display showcases 101 feminist artworks, hung from balconies along Avenida de Alicante, Carrer La Pau, and Carrer Major. The pieces, provided by the Associació de Dones de Picanya, carry profound emotional significance as they survived the catastrophic DANA floods of October 2024, and will be exhibited with visible marks of water and mud, symbolizing resilience and artistic survival. The exhibition officially opens on Thursday, August 13, at 7:00 pm.

The festival's dynamic program also includes a special tribute to author Francesc Almela i Vives, designated Writer of the Year 2026 by the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua. Literary roundtables will gather leading authors from the Marina Alta region to discuss storycraft, coastal culture, and regional identity, with a notable session titled “When Our Marina Becomes High Literature” moderated by writer Jovi Lozano. The event also features evening recitals and family workshops, offering activities for all ages.