La third edition of the Aldecoa International Literary Short Story Festival Everything is ready for its opening in Álava. From March 10 to 14, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Laudio-Llodio will become a meeting point for those who live and enjoy short stories, with a program that combines established names, new voices, and proposals that cross literature with other arts.
This year, the competition takes a qualitative leap and reinforces its commitment to openness. In addition to expand its territorial presence With activities beyond the capital of Álava, the festival aims for greater international exposure thanks to the participation of leading Latin American authors and guests from the French Basque Country, thus consolidating its position on the European map of events dedicated to storytelling.
A festival that transforms Álava into a land of storytelling.
El Aldecoa International Literary Short Story Festival It will be held over five consecutive days, from March 10 to 14, centered in Vitoria-Gasteiz with a key stop in Laudio-Llodio. The Álava Provincial Council, together with the festival's management, emphasizes that the objective is clear: to consolidate the region as a benchmark for literary short stories in Spain.
The Deputy for Culture and Sport, Ana del Val, he emphasized that the competition has become a an essential event for the cultural sector of ÁlavaThis is due both to the quality of the participating authors and the growing public response. As has been highlighted, the growth experienced in these first three editions demonstrates that the short story maintains a vibrant and relevant presence in Álava.
The festival director has expressed a similar view. the writer Iban Zalduawho has emphasized the idea of making Álava “the territory of storytelling.” With this third edition, the project consolidates a line of work that combines intergenerational dialogue, diverse backgrounds, and a program that seeks to reach different audiences, from regular readers to those approaching the genre for the first time.
The festival is not only aimed at professionals or amateurs of literature, but also intends to bring storytelling closer to the general publicThrough open activities and dynamic formats, conversations with authors, readings aloud, and roundtables are designed to generate debate, enjoyment, and reflection on the current state of the short story.
From Vitoria-Gasteiz to Laudio-Llodio: territorial expansion
One of the new features of this third edition is the expansion of the program to Laudio-LlodioUntil now, the activity was concentrated in Vitoria-Gasteiz, but this year the festival decides to take a further step and extend to another town in Álava, reinforcing its commitment to serving the entire territory.
Laudio-Llodio will host in its Kultur Etxea a round table on March 12The event will address some of the challenges and possibilities of short stories today. With this move, the competition becomes the first edition to hold part of its program outside the capital, something the organizers consider a key step in bringing literature to more corners of Álava.
This territorial strategy responds to a fundamental objective: break with cultural centralization and to make it easier for people from different municipalities to access quality activities without having to travel to Vitoria-Gasteiz. At the same time, the aim is to build networks between local cultural agents and the festival itself, so that future editions can continue to grow in collaboration and venues.
According to the Provincial Council, this line of work is designed for the medium and long term, with the intention that the Aldecoa Festival will consolidate itself as a project to unify the territory of Álava focusing on short stories, and not just as a specific event on the cultural calendar.
International dimension: Uruguay, Argentina and the French Basque Country
This year's program significantly strengthens the festival's international profile. One of its most prominent features is the participation of authors from Uruguay and Argentina, who join guests from Iparralde and some of the most solid voices in the state and Basque sphere.
Among the confirmed names is the Uruguayan Fernanda Trias and the Argentinian women Clara Obligado y Valeria Correa FizThree creators with recognized careers in contemporary short fiction. Their presence in Álava allows for a direct dialogue with the traditions of the short story in Latin America, where this genre has a particularly significant historical weight.
The organization emphasizes that the inclusion of these authors is not merely symbolic, but rather a reflection of the will to to foster a genuine exchange between different narrative traditionsThe activities planned with them include conversations, readings and meetings with the public, in which both their works and the current situation of the short story in their respective contexts will be addressed.
Along with the Latin American representation, the festival will also feature the presence of guests from IparraldeThese contributions will offer a specific perspective on Basque-language writing and the unique characteristics of short stories within that geographical and linguistic context. In doing so, the competition positions itself as a crossroads between different sides of the Atlantic and between diverse cultural realities across Europe.
Great figures of the short story and new voices
The program brings together a mix of established authors and emerging writers. Among the most prominent names are Manuel Rivas and Juan Garzia, considered benchmarks of the short story and with a body of work that has contributed to placing the short story at the center of the contemporary literary scene.
Their participation aims to to strengthen dialogue between diverse traditionsFrom literature in Spanish to creative works in co-official languages, the sessions aim to share different perspectives on short fiction. The sessions are designed as conversational spaces, rather than one-way lectures, to foster close interaction with the audience.
Alongside these established figures, the festival is committed to new voices with growing potential, such as Irene Reyes-Noguerol from Seville or the author Xan Idiart. Both represent a generation that is renewing the genre with daring proposals and a very careful approach to language and the structure of the stories.
The presence of Uxue Alberdi This represents another highlight of the program. Considered one of the key authors of contemporary Basque literature, her work in the field of short stories and other narrative forms has helped to showcase the creative power of the Basque language. Her participation will take the form of both literary activities and a hybrid project that connects her with music.
Five-day program: conversations, roundtables and readings
The third edition of the Aldecoa Festival will be structured around a five-day program which seeks to combine depth and a variety of formats. According to the organizers, the program includes literary conversations, thematic roundtables, public readings, a workshop in Basque, and activities that connect storytelling with other art forms.
The opening day will have as one of its central moments a Conversation between Fernanda Trías and author Josebe MartínezThe session, scheduled for 19:00 p.m. at the Ignacio Aldecoa venue, will serve as an introduction to the Latin American perspective on contemporary short stories and will set the tone for the festival.
A [event/event/etc.] is scheduled for the 11th. round table at the University of the Basque Country (EHU) At 11:00 a.m., the session will focus on literature and storytelling in the French Basque Country (Iparralde). This activity will allow participants to explore both the linguistic and cultural characteristics of the area and its connections with other creative spaces in Basque.
Throughout the five days, the following events will also be held story readings, audience meetings, and discussion sessions on the current state of the genre. One of the closing activities will be a round table described as "somewhat provocative", in which it will be discussed whether the short story in Spanish is really experiencing a "golden age" or whether this perception should be qualified, inviting the public to participate in an open debate.
Literature, music and film: a commitment to hybridization
In addition to its strictly literary offerings, the Aldecoa Festival maintains and strengthens its bet on artistic hybridizationThe intention is to show how the short story can engage in dialogue with other disciplines and open up spaces for experimentation that expand its expressive possibilities.
In this sense, one of the most striking activities will be the collaboration between the writer Uxue Alberdi and the musician Eñaut ElorrietaThey will share the stage in a performance where words and music intertwine. This session will take place on March 12th and aims to offer a unique experience, in which text and sound complement and enhance each other.
Film will also have its place in the program, with a session led by the writer José Ovejero which will explore the relationship between film language and the short story. The idea is to analyze how stories are adapted for the screen, what is gained and lost in that process, and how film narrative techniques also influence writing.
With these proposals, the festival reinforces the idea that the short story is not an isolated genre, but a crossroads where different genres can converge. music, image and wordThe intention is also to attract audiences interested in other artistic expressions and show them the potential of the short story as a form of contemporary creation.
Aldecoa Prize, Aldecoa Scholarship and commitment to the Basque language
The third edition of the Aldecoa International Literary Short Story Festival will also serve as a showcase for to recognize and promote the work of award-winning authors in events linked to the competition itself. Among the planned events, the presentation of the work stands out. A time loop, Fernando Garriga, awarded the Aldecoa Prize 2025.
The author will share with the audience the key aspects of his book and the creative process that led to this recognition. This is an opportunity to to bring the reader closer to the work of a recent award winner and to highlight the continuity of the festival's work beyond the days of celebration.
The presence of Rubén Sánchez Bakaikoa[Name], winner of the 2025 Aldecoa Grant, an initiative designed to support the development of literary projects related to short stories. His participation will offer insight into his current work and how this grant is contributing to his career as a writer.
The program also incorporates workshops and activities in Basqueas well as panels dedicated to specific topics, including science fiction in Basque literature. In this way, the festival underscores its commitment to creative writing in the region's own languages and to the diversity of genres within the field of short stories.
Accessibility, dissemination and presence in the city
The competition pays special attention to ensuring that the activities are accessible to the greatest possible number of peopleIn this edition, three of the main sessions will have sign language interpretation, a measure that seeks to improve the inclusion of deaf or hard-of-hearing people and normalize their participation in cultural events.
In addition, the organization has prepared a series of informational newspapers about the festival These materials will be distributed at various locations throughout Vitoria-Gasteiz, including community centers, bars, and other establishments. They detail the complete program, introduce the participating authors, and provide practical information on schedules and venues.
This form of paper distribution is complemented by the usual digital communication channels, so that the festival's content is easy to find for both residents of Álava and visitors from other parts of Spain or Europe who want to attend one of the events.
With these measures, the Aldecoa Festival aims to strengthen its image as open, approachable and participatory cultural projectwhich is not limited to a specialized audience, but seeks to broaden the base of readers and curious people who approach the story as a literary form.
With a combination of established authors, emerging voices, international programming, and events that blend literature with music and film, the third edition of the Aldecoa International Short Story Festival is shaping up to be an ideal opportunity to take the pulse of the short story in Álava and beyond. The expansion to Laudio-Llodio, the promotion of activities in Basque, the presence of Latin American writers, and the increased accessibility all point to a project that, step by step, In Álava, he is building a true storytelling territory..
