LIWRE, Lahti International Writers’ Reunion, will bring a distinguished group of international and Finnish literary voices to Lahti on 12–13 June 2026 to meet the public. Held every two years, the Reunion turns its gaze this time towards the Baltic Sea region.
Our guests include writers from across the Baltic cultural sphere, whose shared history resonates strongly in today’s turbulent geopolitical climate, also within the field of culture.
Among confirmed international guests are Latvian poet Inga Pizāne, Estonian poet and prose writer Kai Aareleid, Lithuanian poet Marius Burokas, Russian-born Berlin-based prose writer Viktor Jerofejev, German crime novelist Simone Buchholtz, and Polish poet Małgorzata Lebda, whose debut novel will be published in Finnish in spring 2026 in Tapani Kärkkäinen’s translation. Another guest is poet and spoken word performer, Danish poetry slam guru and former national slam champion Peter Dyreborg (Denmark). We are also delighted to welcome Russian-born Swedish author and researcher Olga Engfelt. She studied and lived in Finland before moving to Stockholm, and today she navigates the intersection of three cultures. Swedish writer and journalist Elaf Ali, born in Baghdad, will also take part; her book Vem har sagt något om kärlek, appearing in Finnish this summer, recounts with striking openness her experiences of honour-based violence.
Finnish speakers include Siri Kolu, a widely translated writer of books for readers of all age groups, Mia Franck, known for her works on war children and, most recently, her own family history, and Åland-based Martin Högstrand, whose fifth novel Sommarens nätter var våra was published last year. Silja Järventausta has received numerous awards and nominations, and her work Vuorosana pihapiirissä appeared a year ago. E.L. Karhu is a playwright and dramaturg working in both Germany and Finland; her debut novel Veljelleni has also been adapted for the stage. Riina Tanskanen is a writer, visual artist and social commentator, widely known for the Tympeät tytöt art account on Instagram and the book series of the same name.
Meet our invited authors: Guest Writers