Contemporary poetry is experiencing a period of effervescence and visibility, driven by international festivals, renowned awards, and a generation of authors exploring new creative paths. Throughout 2025, cities such as Granada, Seville, Rome, and MedellÃn have hosted events and recognitions that highlight the dialogue between tradition and experimentation, as well as poetry's ability to generate reflection and bring different cultures together.
These events, in addition to paying tribute to established careers, encourage the emergence of new voices and aesthetic proposals, turning poetry into a space open to exchange and diversity. From intimate encounters with award-winning authors to packed festivals, this year's poetry agenda confirms that the contemporary poetry It is not only present, but it is reinventing itself and expanding its borders.
Tributes and awards: Coral Bracho and Juan Bonilla
The city of Granada has been the scene of a tribute to the Mexican poet Coral Bracho., who has received the 21st Federico GarcÃa Lorca International City of Granada Poetry Prize. The sessions, held at the Federico GarcÃa Lorca Center, included an in-depth discussion with the author, panel discussions, poetry readings, and the presentation of the anthology. That evoked resonanceReaders and workshop facilitators from the La Chana Municipal Public Library participated in the event, creating a space for dialogue around Bracho's work and creative process.
The jury highlighted Bracho's ability to merge the intimate and the political in writing of great beauty and depth.Her work has been translated into several languages ​​and has been recognized with international awards, making her one of the most influential voices in the .
Seville also hosted the presentation of the 15th Machado Brothers Ibero-American Poetry Prize to the writer Juan Bonilla for his work The heteronomous daysThe ceremony, held in the Salón Colón, was attended by a broad representation of the cultural and literary world. The award, organized by the Seville City Council and the José Manuel Lara Foundation, received nearly 500 collections of poems, with authors from countries such as Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico participating, highlighting the international reach of the .
Bonilla, recognized for his versatility and lucid vision, has published numerous books of stories, novels, essays and poetry, and currently directs the literary magazine Air StreetThe award underscores Seville's commitment to promoting and recognizing .
International festivals and global projection
The vitality of contemporary poetry is also reflected in international festivals.The MedellÃn International Poetry Festival, now celebrating its 35th edition, will bring together 2025 poets from 64 countries and five continents in 35. The contest, focused on dialogue, poetic justice and brotherhood between peoples, offers more than 60 activities open to the public: readings, lectures, workshops, and concerts. Its themes include poetry as resistance, freedom of expression, and poetic pedagogy.
The festival includes international figures such as Mohammed Bentalha, Hugo Mujica, Natasha Kanapé Fontaine, Murad Sudani and Huu Viet, as well as Colombian poets and poets from indigenous communities. According to Fernando Rendón, the festival's director, it is a space of refuge and awareness, where poetry serves to affirm life and foster cultural diversity.
In Europe, the Piccolo Teatro di Poesia in Rome proposes a fusion of poetry, music and dance. at the historic Palazzo Venezia. This festival, directed by Edith Gabrielli and curated by Davide Rondoni, offers three free events exploring poetic art as a form of resistance and rebirth. Activities include tributes to women's poetry, performances showcasing artistic integration, and collective reflections on the place of poetry in contemporary culture.
New trends, works and perspectives
Contemporary poetry is characterized by a constant search for new forms, formal experimentation, and an approach to social and existential themes. An example of this is the work of poets like Carmen Plaza, who in her book Haiku calendar It proposes a poetic structure based on the annual cycle and fuses Japanese tradition with elements of everyday life and Spanish nature. The work stands out for its attention to the seasons, its thematic diversity, and its dialogue with other voices in contemporary and classical poetry.
The presence of authors such as Miriam Reyes at festivals and events, who inaugurated the UIMP Poetry Evenings in Santander, highlights the growing role of women in the renewal of the poetic landscape. Reyes, who in addition to being a poet is a translator and editor of anthologies of contemporary Galician poetry, is a clear example of the intersection of languages ​​and traditions in contemporary poetry.
For its part, the emergence of writers from other fields, such as the musician Fito Páez, who announces his first book of poetry, illustrates the porosity of genres and the interest of the contemporary poetry for welcoming voices from different artistic fields.
Contemporary poetry continues to forge new paths, building bridges between continents and generations, and demonstrating its adaptability and relevance. Awards, festivals, and new publications help poetic creation maintain its presence as a driving force of reflection, emotion, and dialogue in today's society.
