Festival 42

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For this fifth edition the 42 Festival is doing its part to speak out against the rise of authoritarianism and the threat to social rights that it poses, featuring a lineup of non-heteronormative authors, creations and approaches. One of the festival's core values is a commitment to mainstreaming diversity, but this year's edition goes even further, underscoring the many ways in which fantastic genres have been, and continue to be, a bulwark against any attempts to take us backwards. From large panel discussions with dozens of international authors to conversations on diversity in genre fiction, specific workshops and activities, and no shortage of thought-provoking book recommendations, this edition will draw red lines as it seeks to go beyond leisure and entertainment to also protect us against the siren songs of regressive forces.

The 2025 agenda also focuses on the tradition of fantastic-genre literature in Catalunya, with two main exhibitions on the major mythological figures of history and the development of Catalan-language science fiction over the ages. In addition, the Festival celebrates Latin America’s rich tradition of fantastic literature, currently led by a growing number of female authors. This year, up to a dozen acclaimed authors from countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador and the United States will talk about works that, in many cases, fit perfectly with the other themes and core causes of the 42 Festival. 

As always, 42 Festival seeks to cover all sub-genres and related media, and the 2025 edition is no exception, with themes including comics, grimdark, weird fiction, Afrofuturism, cosplay, music, performing arts and lots more. The five-day event includes activities that go beyond books and authors, including workshops, talks, discussions, live podcasts, games, theater, book signings, competitions and literary tours.

For more events check our online events calendar.