The 18th Annual Hay Festival in Cartagena de Indias

The Hay Festival returns to Cartagena, Colombia, for three exciting days in January (January 26-29) 2023. This annual event is in its 18th edition and will feature over 180 authors from 21 countries.

There is no other event like the annual Hay Festival. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with some of the finest minds and discuss a wide range of topics, including human rights and the role of literature in the modern world. This year brings together a diverse group of authors and presenters worldwide to discuss various topics. Some events include a conversation with Nobel laureate Serge Haroche about the science of light, a discussion with Ivan Krastev, Oleksandra Matviichuk, and Carole Cadwalladr about the future of democracy, and a talk with Maria Ressa about standing up to dictators. There will also be events focused on the environment, science, thought, journalism, podcasting, and music. This is just a taste of the many events that will be taking place at the festival and is not an exhaustive list.

But don’t let the intellectual nature of this event intimidate you – the 2023 Annual Hay Festival is specifically curated to be accessible and enjoyable for anyone interested in the international art scene and its relationship to politics and culture. With various guest speakers and presenters, including acclaimed authors and philosophers.

Take this annual opportunity to be a part of the global exchange in the historic Caribbean heart of the old Spanish Empire.

This Year’s Esteemed Guests

So, who is coming to the 2023 Hay Festival in Cartagena?

NOBEL PRIZES
(Literatura, 2021), Serge Haroche (Física, 2012), Oleksandra Matviichuk (Paz, 2022), Maria Ressa (Paz, 2021), Joseph Stiglitz (Economía, 2001)

On Friday, January 27, 2023, at 10 am CDT, the Hay Festival in Cartagena, Colombia, will host two events:

Serge Haroche in conversation with Diana Calderón Fernández discussing “The Science of Light” at the Centro de Convenciones (Salón Barahona Escenario Gales / Llwyfan Cymru). In this talk, Nobel laureate Serge Haroche will delve into the role of light in understanding the universe and how our knowledge about light has led to technological advancements like ultrafast quantum computers.

Ivan Krastev, Oleksandra Matviichuk, and Carole Cadwalladr in conversation with Moisés Naím as part of the 2023 Annual Hay Festival and LVIV Book forum Series discussing “The Future of Democracy” at the Centro de Convenciones (Auditorio Getsemaní). These three experts will explore ways to improve democracy and the importance of defending it.

Later on Friday, January 27 at 6 pm , Maria Ressa will be in conversation with Lydia Cacho at the Centro de Convenciones (Auditorio Getsemaní) discussing her latest book, “How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future,” which addresses social media misinformation and the importance of a free press in maintaining a healthy democracy.

On Sunday, January 29 at 4 pm, the Hay Festival will host a conversation between economist and Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz and academic and writer Farid Kahhat at the Teatro Adolfo Mejía. They will discuss the financial impacts of the Ukrainian War, inflation, inequality, and political changes in the Americas.

INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE
Yásnaya Elena Aguilar, Miguel Brieva, Lydia Cacho, Rachel Cusk, Jean-Baptiste del Amo, Bernardine Evaristo, Giovanna Giordano, Hanan Issa, Deborah Levy, Olga Montero Rose, Brenda Navarro, Leonardo Padura, Dolores Redondo, Parinoush Saniee, Alia Trabucco, Mariana Travacio

On Friday, January 27, 2023, at noon , the Hay Festival in Cartagena, Colombia, will host an event at the Hotel Sofitel, Salón Santa Clara, featuring Yásnaya Elena Aguilar, Juan Cárdenas, and Alia Trabucco in conversation with journalist Camilo Jiménez Santofimio discussing “Progressive Trends in Latin America.” These three participants, who have firsthand experience with the progressive movement in the region and have been involved in social struggles, will discuss the current state of progressive governments in several major countries and their plans and policies for improving state services for citizens.

On Saturday, January 28 at noon , the Hay Festival will host an event at the Centro de Formación de la Cooperación Española (Salón del Rey) featuring Darrel McLeod, Elisa Guerra, and Yásnaya Elena Aguilar in conversation with Martín Murillo discussing “The Education That Books Provide.” These three guests will explore the importance of books in educational processes and how they stimulate the imagination, provide knowledge, and help develop key skills early on in life.

On Thursday, January 26 at 4 pm , the Hay Festival will host an event at the Universidad de Cartagena, Sala de Lectura Biblioteca Fernández de Madrid (Claustro de San Agustín) featuring Miguel Brieva and Yayo Herrero in conversation with María del Rosario Osorio. The two guests will share ideas for cultivating a more aware and healthy relationship with nature and the environment.

On Sunday, January 29 at noon , the Hay Festival will host an event at the Hotel Sofitel, Salón Santa Clara featuring Miguel Brieva in conversation with Juan David Naranjo discussing “The Value of Small Things.” Miguel Brieva, a Spanish comic writer known for his thought-provoking stories and high-quality illustrations, will present his book “Manuela y los Cakirukos: Una aventura descomunal sobre el valor de las cosas pequeñas” (Manuela and the Cakirukos: A Huge Adventure About the Value of Small Things).

These are just a few exciting events at the 2023 Annual Hay Festival, a celebration of international literature. The event will also feature presenters from the fields of environment and science, thought, journalism, podcasting, and music below.

COLOMBIAN LITERATURE
Juan Esteban Constaín, Margarita García Robayo, Teresita Goyeneche, Paula Marcela Moreno, Laura Restrepo, Daniella Sánchez Russo, Carolina Sanín, Ricardo Silva, Andrés Felipe Solano

ENVIRONMENT & SCIENCE
Santiago Beruete, Juan José Borrell, Yayo Herrero, Cristina Romera, Dan Saladino, Moisés Wasserman

THOUGHT
Victoria Amelina, Catalina Cortés Severino, Richard Firth-Godbehere, Oded Galor, Elisa Guerra, Farid Kahhat, Ivan Krastev, Andréi Kurkov, Luis Alberto Moreno, Jacqueline Novogratz, Laura Quintana

JOURNALISM
Jon Lee Anderson, Carole Cadwalladr, Emma Graham Harrison, Óscar Martínez, Moisés Naím, Patricia Nieto, Bruno Paes Manso, Esther Paniagua, Ronna Rísquez

PODCAST
Deforme Semanal Ideal Total, El Hilo, Radio Ambulante

MUSIC
Andrea Echeverri, iLe, Juanes, La Pacifican Power, Trío Bahía

Tickets for the 2023 Annual Hay Festival in Cartagena

This diverse group of speakers will cover a wide range of topics and offer unique perspectives on important issues facing the world today.

To attend the 2023 Hay Festival in Cartagena, tickets are available on the official Hay Festival website. They went on sale at the beginning of December, so make sure to get yours soon!

Get Tickets

Where to Stay During the 2023 Hay Festival in Cartagena

We urge you to contact us if you haven’t booked accommodations for the 2023 Hay Festival in Cartagena due to limited availability. Our catalog of exclusive luxury rental homes in Cartagena offers you a wide variety of gorgeous and historic homes to call yours for the duration of the festival and beyond. Plus, there’s no better way to experience a global cultural event like this than by getting hands-on and living like a local.

Our homes are all located within walking distance of most of the iconic, historical, and religious attractions within Cartagena, and most are within the heart of the Old Walled City.

But these vacation homes in Cartagena book quickly, so contact us today.

Martha Hampton
Home Curator
Founder of Cartagena Colombia Rentals & Hampton Property Rentals LLC