The 16th edition of the Bucharest International Poetry Festival (FIPB), a popular event bringing together poets and artists from around the world in an extensive programme dedicated to poetry, intercultural dialogue and the power of words, will take place in Bucharest from 14 to 20 September.

According to a release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday, the festival will officially open on Monday, 14 September, at 18:00, in the Auditorium of the 'Carol I' Central University Library, in the presence of members of partner cultural and diplomatic institutions, as well as ambassadors and representatives of cultural institutes from the participating countries.

The opening evening will continue with a concert by the ARCO Chamber Ensemble, public readings by Romanian and international poets and a reading-performance by Slovenian poet Ales Steger, recognised as one of the most original and widely translated voices in contemporary European literature, accompanied on the accordion by Tori Jure.

Organised by the Bucharest City Hall through the National Museum of Romanian Literature, this year's festival has adopted the theme 'Slow Gun Poetry' inspired by poet Cezar Ivanescu's reflection on the power of a simple mark on a sheet of paper.

For seven days, Bucharest will become a space for cultural and generational exchange, with more than 50 events included in the festival programme: public readings, debates, conferences, exhibitions, concerts, performances, recitals and commemorative events.

This year's edition will feature guests from the Republic of Armenia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, China, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, the Republic of Moldova, Peru, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia and Türkiye, alongside numerous Romanian poets and artists.

Events featured in this year's edition include the interactive exhibition-installation 'POELANDA - A Park for Poetry and Co-Creation,' exhibitions dedicated to artists such as Ioan Nemtoi, Mircia Dumitrescu and Alina Rosca, an exhibition dedicated to Cella Delavrancea, as well as performance evenings and events dedicated to French, Spanish and Peruvian poetry.

An important part of this year's edition is dedicated to remembering and rediscovering major Romanian poets, with the programme including commemorative events dedicated to Cezar Ivanescu, Emil Botta, Constanta Buzea, Angela Marinescu, Marin Sorescu and Magda Isanos, organised in partnership with the Bucharest National Theatre.

This year's edition also marks 130 years since the birth of Tristan Tzara, founder of the Dada movement, through a workshop for children and adults, where poetry meets visual art and calligrams.

The FIPB 2026 aims to bring poetry closer to the public, including through programmes dedicated to children and teenagers. 'Comic book workshops, creative activities, literary games and projects such as 'Apolodor in the Land of Poets,' 'Playing with Words' or 'How Can a Poem Become a Comic-Strip Story?' extend the festival beyond traditional cultural spaces and invite the public to become active participants,' the quoted source mentioned.

The full programme, by day and venue, is available on the official platform, fipb.ro, with admission to all events free of charge, subject to available seating. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Popescu; EN - writing by: Rodica State)