The Emerging Writers’ Festival work, learn and play largely on the land of the Kulin nation, and pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

EWF celebrates the history and creativity of the world’s oldest living culture.

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Take a literary tour around the world, with the help of the UNESCO Cities of Literature network! Join emerging writers from Heidelberg, Jakarta, Kozhikode, Krakow, Ljubljana, Nottingham, Quebec City, Reykjavik, Tukums, Vilnius and Wroclaw as they walk you through their city, introducing you to local writers and pointing out what makes their City of Literature great.

First presented ten years ago at the Digital Writers Festival this edition of twenty minute cities is a return to the Melbourne UNESCO City of Literature Office’s first project!

Jakarta City of Literature

Called Indonesia’s publishing capital Jakarta, designated as a UNESCO City of Literature in 2021, is where we’ll begin our literary world adventure.

Tour hosted by Imelda Naomi

Tukums City of Literature

Tukums known as a town of roses, writers, artisans and painters, is nowadays celebrated by rich and versatile cultural events! Small but powerful, this small Latvian town is of major importance in the development of national culture

Tour hosted by Guntis Talers.

Nottingham City of Literature

As we leave Tukums we set our sights on a city of global literary renown- where writers such as Byron, Whipple and Lawrence make their home, the city of Nottingham! 

Tour hosted by Rebecca Summerscales

Heidelberg City of Literature

With publishing houses, bookshops and libraries around every corner, our next stop on our whirl-wind literary tour is the UNESCO Creative City of Heidelberg!

Tour hosted by Phillip Herrold

Kozhikode City of  Literature

With over 500 libraries, our next stop on the tour is our Sister City Kozhikode, India’s first UNESCO City of Literature!

Tour hosted by Ananya G

Ljubljana City of Literature

The UNESCO City of Literature; Ljubljana, rich in culture and contemporary literature is our next stop in EWF’s global literary tour. Join us!

Tour hosted by Pia Prezelj

Quebec City of Literature

As the the first francophone city to be named a UNESCO City of Literature, Quebec stands as a thriving literary community home to more than 200 authors, 20 bookstores and 20 publishers!

Tour hosted by Lux

Reyjkavik City of Literature

Our next stop in our 2024 Festival tour happens to be the Reyjkavik City of Literature! Reyjkavik was the first non-native English speaking city to be designated a UNESCO City of Literature, dubbed so back in 2011.

Tour hosted by Pedro Gunnlaugur Garcia

Vilnius City of Literature

Our next stop on this year’s 20 Minute Cities international literary tour is none other than the UNESCO City of Literature, Vilnius. Multicultural, colourful and unique books in Vilnius have been a staple of the city as far back as the 16th century!

Tour hosted by Rimas Uzgiris

Wroclaw City of Literature

Our final stop on this year’s 20 Minute Cities international literary tour is none other than the UNESCO City of Literature, Wroclaw. This tour is hosted by literary critic and poet, Emilia Konwerska.

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