Opening of LitFestBergen 2026

Betrayal – the festival’s theme for 2026 – is a recurring theme throughout literary history, from Greek tragedies to contemporary literature. It is also a feeling that most of us will experience during our lives, in interpersonal relationships, in the loss of trust in state institutions, or in our view of warmongering heads of state. LitFestBergen asks: What does betrayal do to us as individuals and as a society?

During the opening of LitFestBergen 2026, we will hear poetry by Nordic Council Literature Prize winner Vónbjørt Vang from the Faroe Islands and excerpts from a commissioned work by Bergen musician John Olav Nilsen created for the festival.
Eduardo Halfon from Guatemala will read excerpts from his newly written essay about betrayal, there will be an award ceremony for the Ossietzky Prize, Norwegian PEN's prize for freedom of expression, and a speech by festival director Teresa Grøtan. The keynote speaker will be the chairman of LitFestBergen, Magnus Thomassen.

The event will be held in English and other languages.