About the festival
Where Caribbean stories meet the world
The BVI Literary Arts Festival — affectionately known as the BVI Lit Fest — is where the Virgin Islands meets the world through the power of words. Each year in November, our shores become a stage for writers, poets, publishers and book lovers to gather in celebration of literature, culture and community.
Founded in 2021 by the Department of Culture in partnership with H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, Lit Fest is a living conversation. The 2026 edition brings more than 30 speakers to Tortola under the theme “Mouth Open, Story Jump Out”.
4Festival days
30+Speakers
2021Festival founded
November 5–8, 2026
Festival Schedule
MOUTH OPEN, STORY JUMP OUT: Voice, Page, and Screen
How does a story travel?
Sometimes it begins around a domino table. Sometimes it is passed from elder to child, shared on a porch, or retold under the shade of a tamarind tree, carried through memory. Stories move.
They travel from voice to voice, island to island, generation to generation. Some become poems. Some become novels. Some find their way onto a stage or a screen.
As the opening conversation of BVI Lit Fest 2026, this panel explores the many ways Caribbean stories evolve while remaining rooted in the communities that created them. From oral traditions and spoken word to literature, film, and visual storytelling, the discussion examines how stories survive, adapt, and continue to shape our sense of identity.
The conversation will also explore the Cow Foot Woman film project, tracing the journey of one of the Virgin Islands' most enduring folklore figures from oral tradition to contemporary visual storytelling. Deeply woven into Virgin Islands culture, the Cow Foot Woman has long occupied a place in the Territory's storytelling imagination.
Because before stories become films, books, or performances, they begin with someone willing to tell them.
Sometimes it begins around a domino table. Sometimes it is passed from elder to child, shared on a porch, or retold under the shade of a tamarind tree, carried through memory. Stories move.
They travel from voice to voice, island to island, generation to generation. Some become poems. Some become novels. Some find their way onto a stage or a screen.
As the opening conversation of BVI Lit Fest 2026, this panel explores the many ways Caribbean stories evolve while remaining rooted in the communities that created them. From oral traditions and spoken word to literature, film, and visual storytelling, the discussion examines how stories survive, adapt, and continue to shape our sense of identity.
The conversation will also explore the Cow Foot Woman film project, tracing the journey of one of the Virgin Islands' most enduring folklore figures from oral tradition to contemporary visual storytelling. Deeply woven into Virgin Islands culture, the Cow Foot Woman has long occupied a place in the Territory's storytelling imagination.
Because before stories become films, books, or performances, they begin with someone willing to tell them.
with
Moderated by
Eileene L. Parsons AuditoriumMinds Wide Open: Mental Health, Memory & Caribbean Storytelling
What happens when stories hold the things we struggle to say out loud?
Across the Caribbean, writers have long explored grief, loss, memory, identity, healing, and mental wellbeing through literature. In these stories, difficult truths find language, and silence gives way to understanding.
Minds Wide Open examines how storytelling can help us navigate personal and collective experiences while challenging the stigma that often surrounds mental health conversations in our communities.
Featuring readings and discussion, this timely panel considers the ways literature helps us process memory, nurture healing, and imagine different futures.
Across the Caribbean, writers have long explored grief, loss, memory, identity, healing, and mental wellbeing through literature. In these stories, difficult truths find language, and silence gives way to understanding.
Minds Wide Open examines how storytelling can help us navigate personal and collective experiences while challenging the stigma that often surrounds mental health conversations in our communities.
Featuring readings and discussion, this timely panel considers the ways literature helps us process memory, nurture healing, and imagine different futures.
with
Moderated by
Eileene L. Parsons AuditoriumThe Story Inside the Song: Orality, Music & Literature
Before stories were written, they were sung.
From fungi music and folk traditions to contemporary Caribbean music, song has always been one of our most powerful storytelling tools. Lyrics preserve history. Melodies carry memory. Rhythm keeps culture alive.
This engaging conversation explores the enduring relationship between oral tradition, music, and literature, examining how stories continue to move between the spoken word, the written page, and the soundtrack of Caribbean life.
Join us for a discussion that celebrates the storytellers, musicians, and cultural guardians who keep our stories alive through sound.
From fungi music and folk traditions to contemporary Caribbean music, song has always been one of our most powerful storytelling tools. Lyrics preserve history. Melodies carry memory. Rhythm keeps culture alive.
This engaging conversation explores the enduring relationship between oral tradition, music, and literature, examining how stories continue to move between the spoken word, the written page, and the soundtrack of Caribbean life.
Join us for a discussion that celebrates the storytellers, musicians, and cultural guardians who keep our stories alive through sound.
with
Moderated by
Eileene L. Parsons AuditoriumIN BIG PEOPLE BUSINESS: Voices for Young Adults
Growing up is serious business.
The books we read as teenagers often stay with us long after we've become adults. They help us make sense of identity, friendship, belonging, family, first love, and the complicated journey of discovering who we are.
In Big People Business brings together authors whose work speaks directly to young readers while exploring questions that resonate across generations. Together, they'll discuss the stories that shape adolescence, the challenges facing today's youth, and why young adult literature remains one of the most powerful spaces for truth-telling and self-discovery.
For anyone who has ever felt caught between who they are and who they're becoming, this conversation is for you.
The books we read as teenagers often stay with us long after we've become adults. They help us make sense of identity, friendship, belonging, family, first love, and the complicated journey of discovering who we are.
In Big People Business brings together authors whose work speaks directly to young readers while exploring questions that resonate across generations. Together, they'll discuss the stories that shape adolescence, the challenges facing today's youth, and why young adult literature remains one of the most powerful spaces for truth-telling and self-discovery.
For anyone who has ever felt caught between who they are and who they're becoming, this conversation is for you.
with
Moderated by
Eileene L. Parsons AuditoriumWriters’ Welcome Reception
Allamanda EstateVoices Over the Water
Every great story needs a beginning.
The Writers' Welcome Reception opens BVI Lit Fest 2026 with an evening of conversation, culture, music, and connection in one of the most spectacular settings in the Virgin Islands.
Hosted at Allamanda Estate Villas, this stunning private estate sits atop Little Mountain on Beef Island, offering sweeping views of Sir Francis Drake Channel, neighbouring islands, and the turquoise waters that have inspired generations of storytellers.
The evening's feature conversation, Voices Over the Water, welcomes acclaimed Palestinian-American novelist Etaf Rum, whose celebrated work explores family, identity, womanhood, migration, and belonging. Through an intimate conversation, audiences will gain insight into the stories behind her internationally acclaimed novels and the role literature plays in amplifying voices across borders and communities.
As the conversation concludes, the evening transitions into a lively reception where guests can meet fellow readers, writers, artists, publishers, and featured festival guests.
The celebration continues with music from The Razor Blades, one of the Virgin Islands' most beloved fungi bands. Known for their vibrant performances and deep connection to Virgin Islands culture, the group brings the sounds, stories, and spirit of the Territory to life through music rooted in local tradition.
This is where the festival begins.
New connections. New conversations. New stories waiting to jump out.
Included In:
The Writers' Welcome Reception opens BVI Lit Fest 2026 with an evening of conversation, culture, music, and connection in one of the most spectacular settings in the Virgin Islands.
Hosted at Allamanda Estate Villas, this stunning private estate sits atop Little Mountain on Beef Island, offering sweeping views of Sir Francis Drake Channel, neighbouring islands, and the turquoise waters that have inspired generations of storytellers.
The evening's feature conversation, Voices Over the Water, welcomes acclaimed Palestinian-American novelist Etaf Rum, whose celebrated work explores family, identity, womanhood, migration, and belonging. Through an intimate conversation, audiences will gain insight into the stories behind her internationally acclaimed novels and the role literature plays in amplifying voices across borders and communities.
As the conversation concludes, the evening transitions into a lively reception where guests can meet fellow readers, writers, artists, publishers, and featured festival guests.
The celebration continues with music from The Razor Blades, one of the Virgin Islands' most beloved fungi bands. Known for their vibrant performances and deep connection to Virgin Islands culture, the group brings the sounds, stories, and spirit of the Territory to life through music rooted in local tradition.
This is where the festival begins.
New connections. New conversations. New stories waiting to jump out.
Included In:
- Premium VIP Package
- All-Access Pass
with
Moderated by
Razor Blades
Allamanda EstateSTORY MARKET: Book Fair (Day 1)
For two days, the BVI Lit Fest Book Fair becomes a gathering place for readers, writers, dreamers, collectors, and curious minds. Wander through a vibrant marketplace of books from celebrated Caribbean authors, emerging literary voices, festival headliners, local writers, and beloved guests from past editions of BVI Lit Fest.
Browse shelves filled with fiction, poetry, memoir, history, crime writing, children's literature, speculative fiction, and stories that transport you across islands, generations, and worlds. Meet the people behind the pages, have books signed, ask questions, take photographs, and discover the next book you won't be able to put down.
The Book Fair is where conversations begin, connections are made, and stories find their next home.
You'll also find official BVI Lit Fest merchandise, including exclusive festival keepsakes, apparel, and gifts that let you carry a piece of the festival with you long after the final chapter.
Come for the author you know. Stay for the one you're about to discover.
Auditorium landingBrowse shelves filled with fiction, poetry, memoir, history, crime writing, children's literature, speculative fiction, and stories that transport you across islands, generations, and worlds. Meet the people behind the pages, have books signed, ask questions, take photographs, and discover the next book you won't be able to put down.
The Book Fair is where conversations begin, connections are made, and stories find their next home.
You'll also find official BVI Lit Fest merchandise, including exclusive festival keepsakes, apparel, and gifts that let you carry a piece of the festival with you long after the final chapter.
Come for the author you know. Stay for the one you're about to discover.
WHAT TOMORROW SAY: Island Imaginations
What does the future look like from an island?
For generations, Caribbean storytellers have imagined worlds beyond the horizon, futures shaped by climate change, technology, migration, folklore, resilience, and possibility. Long before "speculative fiction" became a genre, Caribbean people were imagining what comes next.
In What Tomorrow Say, three celebrated writers explore how storytelling helps us dream, question, and reimagine the future. From ancestral wisdom and science fiction to climate realities and imagined worlds, this conversation asks what happens when island minds dare to imagine beyond the present.
The future is coming. Caribbean writers are already writing it.
For generations, Caribbean storytellers have imagined worlds beyond the horizon, futures shaped by climate change, technology, migration, folklore, resilience, and possibility. Long before "speculative fiction" became a genre, Caribbean people were imagining what comes next.
In What Tomorrow Say, three celebrated writers explore how storytelling helps us dream, question, and reimagine the future. From ancestral wisdom and science fiction to climate realities and imagined worlds, this conversation asks what happens when island minds dare to imagine beyond the present.
The future is coming. Caribbean writers are already writing it.
with
Moderated by
HLSCC Learning Resource CentreSAY IT: Poetry & Voice
Some stories aren't written to be read quietly. They're meant to be spoken. They're meant to be heard.
From the spoken word movement that emerged from Puerto Rican communities in New York City to contemporary poetry stages across the globe, performance poetry has become a vehicle for truth, identity, resistance, celebration, and connection.
In Say It, poets and performers explore the power of voice, examining how spoken word continues to challenge audiences, create community, and transform personal stories into collective experiences.
Because sometimes the story isn't complete until it's spoken aloud.
From the spoken word movement that emerged from Puerto Rican communities in New York City to contemporary poetry stages across the globe, performance poetry has become a vehicle for truth, identity, resistance, celebration, and connection.
In Say It, poets and performers explore the power of voice, examining how spoken word continues to challenge audiences, create community, and transform personal stories into collective experiences.
Because sometimes the story isn't complete until it's spoken aloud.
with
Moderated by
HLSCC Learning Resource CentreTHE ISLAND SPEAKS: Place as Character
Some islands refuse to sit quietly in the background.
They shape destinies. They hold memories. They carry secrets.
In the work of many Caribbean writers, place is more than a setting. It becomes a character all its own, influencing the people who inhabit it and the stories that emerge from it.
In The Island Speaks, acclaimed authors Diana McCaulay and Claire Adam explore how landscape, community, memory, migration, and belonging shape the stories they tell and the characters who live within them.
What happens when the island itself has something to say?
They shape destinies. They hold memories. They carry secrets.
In the work of many Caribbean writers, place is more than a setting. It becomes a character all its own, influencing the people who inhabit it and the stories that emerge from it.
In The Island Speaks, acclaimed authors Diana McCaulay and Claire Adam explore how landscape, community, memory, migration, and belonging shape the stories they tell and the characters who live within them.
What happens when the island itself has something to say?
with
Moderated by
HLSCC Learning Resource CentreMACHINE MOUTH: AI and the Future of Storytelling
The stories are still ours.
But who helps tell them?
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how stories are written, published, shared, discovered, and consumed. From drafting tools and translation software to publishing platforms and content creation, technology is reshaping the literary landscape in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago.
Machine Mouth brings together writers and publishing professionals to examine the opportunities, risks, and ethical questions emerging at the intersection of creativity and technology.
Can a machine tell a story? What makes a voice authentically human? And what happens to literature when anyone can generate a page with the click of a button?
But who helps tell them?
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how stories are written, published, shared, discovered, and consumed. From drafting tools and translation software to publishing platforms and content creation, technology is reshaping the literary landscape in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago.
Machine Mouth brings together writers and publishing professionals to examine the opportunities, risks, and ethical questions emerging at the intersection of creativity and technology.
Can a machine tell a story? What makes a voice authentically human? And what happens to literature when anyone can generate a page with the click of a button?
with
Moderated by
HLSCC Learning Resource CentreFRESH MOUTH: Fellows in Conversation
Every writer starts somewhere.
For last year's Writing Fellowship recipients, that journey included mentorship, discovery, creative risks, and finding the courage to trust their voice.
In Fresh Mouth, fellowship recipients reflect on their growth as writers, the lessons they've learned, and the experiences that have shaped their creative practice during the past year.
Join us for an honest conversation about craft, confidence, and the process of becoming the writer you aspire to be.
Because every literary voice begins with someone willing to speak up.
For last year's Writing Fellowship recipients, that journey included mentorship, discovery, creative risks, and finding the courage to trust their voice.
In Fresh Mouth, fellowship recipients reflect on their growth as writers, the lessons they've learned, and the experiences that have shaped their creative practice during the past year.
Join us for an honest conversation about craft, confidence, and the process of becoming the writer you aspire to be.
Because every literary voice begins with someone willing to speak up.
with
Moderated by
HLSCC Learning Resource CentreNO NANCY STORY: Investigating the Islands
Small islands talk.
But who asks the difficult questions?
Investigative journalism plays a critical role in holding institutions accountable, uncovering hidden truths, and documenting the issues that shape our communities. Yet in close-knit societies, that work often comes with unique challenges, difficult decisions, and personal consequences.
In No Nancy Story, leading journalists and media professionals discuss the realities of investigative reporting in the Caribbean, exploring the responsibilities, risks, and impact of pursuing stories that matter.
This conversation pulls back the curtain on the work that goes into finding the truth and bringing it into the public square.
But who asks the difficult questions?
Investigative journalism plays a critical role in holding institutions accountable, uncovering hidden truths, and documenting the issues that shape our communities. Yet in close-knit societies, that work often comes with unique challenges, difficult decisions, and personal consequences.
In No Nancy Story, leading journalists and media professionals discuss the realities of investigative reporting in the Caribbean, exploring the responsibilities, risks, and impact of pursuing stories that matter.
This conversation pulls back the curtain on the work that goes into finding the truth and bringing it into the public square.
with
Moderated by
HLSCC Learning Resource CentreSunset Stories
Brandywine Estate RestaurantLove Forms and Love Songs
As the sun dips below the horizon and Brandywine Bay glows in gold and amber, stories take on a different rhythm.
This year's Sunset Stories invites audiences into a captivating conversation about love in all its forms. Acclaimed authors Claire Adam and Ingrid Persaud, in conversation on Love Forms & Love Songs, explore the ways love shapes our lives through friendship, family, longing, desire, sacrifice, memory, and survival.
Adding to the evening is the introduction of emerging Virgin Islands writer Dominique De Castro, whose work represents the next generation of storytelling voices from the Territory.
Set against one of the most breathtaking backdrops in the Virgin Islands, Sunset Stories offers an immersive literary experience where storytelling, conversation, island beauty, and human connection converge.
Come for the sunset. Stay for the stories that linger long after the last light fades.
Includes a complimentary glass of champagne and tapas.
Included In:
This year's Sunset Stories invites audiences into a captivating conversation about love in all its forms. Acclaimed authors Claire Adam and Ingrid Persaud, in conversation on Love Forms & Love Songs, explore the ways love shapes our lives through friendship, family, longing, desire, sacrifice, memory, and survival.
Adding to the evening is the introduction of emerging Virgin Islands writer Dominique De Castro, whose work represents the next generation of storytelling voices from the Territory.
Set against one of the most breathtaking backdrops in the Virgin Islands, Sunset Stories offers an immersive literary experience where storytelling, conversation, island beauty, and human connection converge.
Come for the sunset. Stay for the stories that linger long after the last light fades.
Includes a complimentary glass of champagne and tapas.
Included In:
- Premium VIP Package
- All-Access Pass
with
Brandywine Estate RestaurantDJ/Afters at the Bay
Brandywine RestaurantSTORY MARKET: Book Fair (Day 2)
Still looking for your next favourite read? Day 2 is where the hunt continues.
The stories are still waiting.
Whether you arrived with a wish list or discovered a new favourite on Day 1, the BVI Lit Fest Book Fair returns for a second day of literary exploration, author encounters, and Caribbean storytelling.
Meet featured festival guests, browse books across every genre, and spend time with the writers behind the words. From award-winning novels and poetry collections to children's books, memoirs, history, crime fiction, and contemporary Caribbean literature, the Book Fair offers something for every kind of reader.
Take advantage of additional opportunities to meet authors, have books signed, ask questions, and continue conversations sparked throughout the festival.
Looking to take a piece of BVI Lit Fest home with you? Visit the merchandise area for official festival apparel, keepsakes, and collectibles available exclusively during the festival weekend.
By Day 2, the conversations are flowing, the recommendations are getting personal, and readers are helping readers discover hidden gems from across the Virgin Islands and the wider Caribbean.
What You'll Find
Free Admission
The stories aren't going anywhere. The question is: which one are you taking home?
Main Building (Atrium)The stories are still waiting.
Whether you arrived with a wish list or discovered a new favourite on Day 1, the BVI Lit Fest Book Fair returns for a second day of literary exploration, author encounters, and Caribbean storytelling.
Meet featured festival guests, browse books across every genre, and spend time with the writers behind the words. From award-winning novels and poetry collections to children's books, memoirs, history, crime fiction, and contemporary Caribbean literature, the Book Fair offers something for every kind of reader.
Take advantage of additional opportunities to meet authors, have books signed, ask questions, and continue conversations sparked throughout the festival.
Looking to take a piece of BVI Lit Fest home with you? Visit the merchandise area for official festival apparel, keepsakes, and collectibles available exclusively during the festival weekend.
By Day 2, the conversations are flowing, the recommendations are getting personal, and readers are helping readers discover hidden gems from across the Virgin Islands and the wider Caribbean.
What You'll Find
- Featured authors and headliners
- Book signings and meet-and-greets
- Local, regional, and international titles
- Children's books, poetry, fiction, memoir, history, and more
- Official BVI Lit Fest merchandise
- Publishers, literary organisations, and booksellers
Free Admission
The stories aren't going anywhere. The question is: which one are you taking home?
Literary Wonderland: Children’s Programme
Where Stories Jump Out to Meet You
Ages 4-12 | Free Admission
This is where imagination takes centre stage.
Literary Wonderland is BVI Lit Fest's signature children's experience, transforming storytelling into a world of creativity, discovery, play, and adventure. Built around this year's theme, Mouth Open. Story Jump Out., the programme invites young readers to experience stories not just on the page, but through movement, music, art, performance, and hands-on exploration.
Featuring local authors, artists, educators, and cultural practitioners, this year's programme celebrates the power of Caribbean storytelling while encouraging children to discover the stories waiting inside their own imaginations.
Children will enjoy interactive readings, creative activities, crafts, storytelling sessions, cultural experiences, and opportunities to meet the authors and storytellers behind the books.
Featured participants include:
The programme will also feature special guests from the Department of Information and Public Relations (GIS).
And because no Literary Wonderland is complete without a little extra fun...
Big imaginations start with great stories.
Why Attend?
Some stories are read. Others are experienced.
Literary Wonderland gives children the opportunity to create, play, learn, and discover the joy of storytelling in an environment designed especially for them.
Free books. Big smiles. Endless imagination.
Ages 4-12 | Free Admission
This is where imagination takes centre stage.
Literary Wonderland is BVI Lit Fest's signature children's experience, transforming storytelling into a world of creativity, discovery, play, and adventure. Built around this year's theme, Mouth Open. Story Jump Out., the programme invites young readers to experience stories not just on the page, but through movement, music, art, performance, and hands-on exploration.
Featuring local authors, artists, educators, and cultural practitioners, this year's programme celebrates the power of Caribbean storytelling while encouraging children to discover the stories waiting inside their own imaginations.
Children will enjoy interactive readings, creative activities, crafts, storytelling sessions, cultural experiences, and opportunities to meet the authors and storytellers behind the books.
Featured participants include:
- Janice Stoutt
- Thea Cooke
- Kailah Thomas
The programme will also feature special guests from the Department of Information and Public Relations (GIS).
And because no Literary Wonderland is complete without a little extra fun...
- Free treats
- Bouncy house fun
- Free books
- Hands-on creative activities
- Interactive learning experiences
Big imaginations start with great stories.
Why Attend?
Some stories are read. Others are experienced.
Literary Wonderland gives children the opportunity to create, play, learn, and discover the joy of storytelling in an environment designed especially for them.
Free books. Big smiles. Endless imagination.
with
HLSCC Learning Resource CentreWriting Fiction for Young Adults
The books we remember most often found us when we were young.
In this workshop, acclaimed author Lilliam Rivera explores the craft of writing young adult fiction, focusing on the characters, voices, relationships, and conflicts that keep readers turning pages late into the night.
Participants will explore what makes YA fiction resonate so deeply while learning techniques for creating authentic characters and unforgettable stories that connect with contemporary readers.
Why Attend?
Young adult fiction has launched some of literature's most memorable characters and powerful stories. Learn how to create the kind of book readers carry with them long after they've turned the final page.
In this workshop, acclaimed author Lilliam Rivera explores the craft of writing young adult fiction, focusing on the characters, voices, relationships, and conflicts that keep readers turning pages late into the night.
Participants will explore what makes YA fiction resonate so deeply while learning techniques for creating authentic characters and unforgettable stories that connect with contemporary readers.
Why Attend?
Young adult fiction has launched some of literature's most memorable characters and powerful stories. Learn how to create the kind of book readers carry with them long after they've turned the final page.
Facilitated by
S1, Main BuildingSpeaking Truth: A Workshop in Journalism
Every story begins with a question.
In Speaking Truth, acclaimed journalist Omaya Sosa Pascual takes participants inside the world of reporting, investigative journalism, interviewing, fact-checking, and narrative storytelling.
Through practical exercises and discussion, participants will learn how journalists uncover stories, verify information, and transform complex issues into compelling narratives that inform and inspire.
Why Attend?
Strong journalism does more than report the news. It asks difficult questions, amplifies important voices, and helps communities understand the world around them. Learn the skills that turn curiosity into impactful storytelling.
In Speaking Truth, acclaimed journalist Omaya Sosa Pascual takes participants inside the world of reporting, investigative journalism, interviewing, fact-checking, and narrative storytelling.
Through practical exercises and discussion, participants will learn how journalists uncover stories, verify information, and transform complex issues into compelling narratives that inform and inspire.
Why Attend?
Strong journalism does more than report the news. It asks difficult questions, amplifies important voices, and helps communities understand the world around them. Learn the skills that turn curiosity into impactful storytelling.
Facilitated by
S4, Main BuildingLyrical Voices: A Poetry Workshop
Poetry lives in rhythm, imagery, sound, and voice.
In this interactive workshop, poet Yara Liceaga guides participants through creative exercises designed to strengthen their craft, sharpen their ear for language, and uncover fresh possibilities for expression.
Through experimentation and reflection, participants will explore how poets transform ordinary moments into unforgettable lines.
Why Attend?
The right poem can stay with a reader for years. Discover new techniques, push your creative boundaries, and find fresh ways to make language sing.
In this interactive workshop, poet Yara Liceaga guides participants through creative exercises designed to strengthen their craft, sharpen their ear for language, and uncover fresh possibilities for expression.
Through experimentation and reflection, participants will explore how poets transform ordinary moments into unforgettable lines.
Why Attend?
The right poem can stay with a reader for years. Discover new techniques, push your creative boundaries, and find fresh ways to make language sing.
Facilitated by
H1, Main BuildingKRIK? KRAK? The Short Story and the Oral Tradition
Before stories were written down, they were told.
They travelled from porch to porch, village to village, generation to generation.
In this hands-on workshop, award-winning novelist Ingrid Persaud explores the relationship between Caribbean oral traditions and contemporary short fiction. Through close reading, discussion, writing exercises, and feedback, participants will discover how voice, memory, folklore, and storytelling traditions can shape powerful narratives on the page.
⚠️ Bring pen and paper. No laptops.
Why Attend?
The Caribbean has always been rich with storytellers. This workshop offers an opportunity to draw from that tradition while developing the tools needed to craft compelling contemporary short fiction.
They travelled from porch to porch, village to village, generation to generation.
In this hands-on workshop, award-winning novelist Ingrid Persaud explores the relationship between Caribbean oral traditions and contemporary short fiction. Through close reading, discussion, writing exercises, and feedback, participants will discover how voice, memory, folklore, and storytelling traditions can shape powerful narratives on the page.
⚠️ Bring pen and paper. No laptops.
Why Attend?
The Caribbean has always been rich with storytellers. This workshop offers an opportunity to draw from that tradition while developing the tools needed to craft compelling contemporary short fiction.
Facilitated by
H4, Main BuildingFROM PEN TO PRINT: A Guide to Publishing in the Age of AI
Brown Bag Lunch Session
You've written the story.
Now what?
From editing and publication to distribution, promotion, and discoverability, From Pen to Print pulls back the curtain on the publishing industry and examines what it takes to bring a manuscript to readers in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
This practical conversation brings together publishers, editors, and industry professionals for an honest discussion about writing, publishing, marketing, and navigating today's rapidly evolving literary landscape.
Why Attend?
Publishing doesn't end when the writing is done. Learn what happens next and gain insight from the professionals responsible for bringing stories from manuscript to marketplace.
You've written the story.
Now what?
From editing and publication to distribution, promotion, and discoverability, From Pen to Print pulls back the curtain on the publishing industry and examines what it takes to bring a manuscript to readers in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
This practical conversation brings together publishers, editors, and industry professionals for an honest discussion about writing, publishing, marketing, and navigating today's rapidly evolving literary landscape.
Why Attend?
Publishing doesn't end when the writing is done. Learn what happens next and gain insight from the professionals responsible for bringing stories from manuscript to marketplace.
with
Moderated by
H3–S3, Main BuildingNorthshore Shell Museum Experience: A Cultural Heritage Excursion
Carrot Bay, Tortola
Long before stories found their way into books, they lived in the people who carried them.
The Northshore Shell Museum offers a rare opportunity to experience Virgin Islands culture through the eyes and life's work of Egbert Donovan, cultural preservationist, educator, musician, craftsman, and storyteller.
Located in Carrot Bay, this extraordinary museum is unlike anywhere else in the Virgin Islands. Covered in thousands of shells and filled with artefacts, tools, photographs, crafts, stories, sayings, and historical treasures, it serves as a living archive of Virgin Islands heritage.
Visitors will encounter:
Part museum, part cultural experience, and part storytelling sanctuary, the Northshore Shell Museum stands as a powerful reminder that preserving stories is just as important as telling them.
Why Attend?
To understand the Virgin Islands, you must understand the stories that built it. This visit offers a unique opportunity to connect with living history, cultural memory, and one of the Territory's most remarkable guardians of heritage.
Some stories live in books. Others live in the people who refuse to let them be forgotten.
Carrot BayLong before stories found their way into books, they lived in the people who carried them.
The Northshore Shell Museum offers a rare opportunity to experience Virgin Islands culture through the eyes and life's work of Egbert Donovan, cultural preservationist, educator, musician, craftsman, and storyteller.
Located in Carrot Bay, this extraordinary museum is unlike anywhere else in the Virgin Islands. Covered in thousands of shells and filled with artefacts, tools, photographs, crafts, stories, sayings, and historical treasures, it serves as a living archive of Virgin Islands heritage.
Visitors will encounter:
- Thousands of shells embedded throughout the property
- Traditional island artefacts and cultural treasures
- Handcrafted works created by local children and artisans
- Hand-painted Caribbean sayings and wisdom gathered from generations of Virgin Islanders
- Stories that preserve the spirit of old Tortola
Part museum, part cultural experience, and part storytelling sanctuary, the Northshore Shell Museum stands as a powerful reminder that preserving stories is just as important as telling them.
Why Attend?
To understand the Virgin Islands, you must understand the stories that built it. This visit offers a unique opportunity to connect with living history, cultural memory, and one of the Territory's most remarkable guardians of heritage.
Some stories live in books. Others live in the people who refuse to let them be forgotten.
Light a Fire: Poets’ Showcase
Hosted by Derron Sandy 🎶 Music by Brent Hoyte (DJ)
Some stories whisper.
These stories arrive in a blaze.
As the sun sets over the Sir Francis Drake Channel and the shoreline comes alive, Light A Fire gathers some of the Caribbean's most compelling poets, performers, and spoken word artists for an unforgettable evening of language, rhythm, truth, and transformation.
Inspired by this year's festival theme, Mouth Open. Story Jump Out., this signature poetry showcase celebrates what happens when poets step to the mic and let the story take over. Through verses that challenge, comfort, provoke, and inspire, audiences will experience poetry in its most powerful form: spoken aloud and shared in community.
From intimate reflections and island realities to stories of belonging, resistance, memory, and hope, these poets remind us that words still have the power to move people, spark conversations, and change the way we see the world.
With music by Brent Hoyte, the evening flows between poetry, performance, rhythm, and atmosphere, creating a uniquely Caribbean experience beneath the stars.
Set against the vibrant waterfront of Loose Mongoose, this is where poetry escapes the page and takes on a life of its own.
Why Attend?
Poetry was one of the Caribbean's first social media platforms. Long before hashtags and headlines, poets carried the stories, the protests, the love letters, the jokes, the warnings, and the wisdom of our communities.
At Light A Fire, you'll laugh, reflect, feel challenged, and perhaps hear something that stays with you long after the night is over.
Come for the poetry. Stay for the sparks. Leave carrying a story.
Included In:
Some stories whisper.
These stories arrive in a blaze.
As the sun sets over the Sir Francis Drake Channel and the shoreline comes alive, Light A Fire gathers some of the Caribbean's most compelling poets, performers, and spoken word artists for an unforgettable evening of language, rhythm, truth, and transformation.
Inspired by this year's festival theme, Mouth Open. Story Jump Out., this signature poetry showcase celebrates what happens when poets step to the mic and let the story take over. Through verses that challenge, comfort, provoke, and inspire, audiences will experience poetry in its most powerful form: spoken aloud and shared in community.
From intimate reflections and island realities to stories of belonging, resistance, memory, and hope, these poets remind us that words still have the power to move people, spark conversations, and change the way we see the world.
With music by Brent Hoyte, the evening flows between poetry, performance, rhythm, and atmosphere, creating a uniquely Caribbean experience beneath the stars.
Set against the vibrant waterfront of Loose Mongoose, this is where poetry escapes the page and takes on a life of its own.
Why Attend?
Poetry was one of the Caribbean's first social media platforms. Long before hashtags and headlines, poets carried the stories, the protests, the love letters, the jokes, the warnings, and the wisdom of our communities.
At Light A Fire, you'll laugh, reflect, feel challenged, and perhaps hear something that stays with you long after the night is over.
Come for the poetry. Stay for the sparks. Leave carrying a story.
Included In:
- Premium VIP Package
- All-Access Pass
with
Hosted by
Loose MongooseAfterparty
Loose MongooseBook Brunch
Hosted by Marsha Massiah
Some of the best conversations happen around a table. So pull up a chair and join the conversation.
The Book Brunch brings together readers and writers for one of the most anticipated experiences of BVI Lit Fest. Set against the breathtaking coastline of Long Bay Beach Resort, this signature event combines great food, meaningful conversation, and unforgettable literary encounters.
Guests will participate in an intimate roundtable experience, rotating between tables hosted by featured authors throughout the morning. Each table offers a new opportunity to ask questions, explore ideas, discover creative inspiration, and engage directly with the minds behind some of the festival's most compelling stories.
No stage. No barriers. Just authentic conversation.
As the festival's closing signature event, the Book Brunch is also where attendees gather for some of the most anticipated festival announcements, including:
Whether you're a passionate reader, aspiring writer, or simply someone who enjoys thoughtful conversation, the Book Brunch offers a unique opportunity to connect beyond the page.
Good food. Great company. Stories worth sharing.
Included In:
Some of the best conversations happen around a table. So pull up a chair and join the conversation.
The Book Brunch brings together readers and writers for one of the most anticipated experiences of BVI Lit Fest. Set against the breathtaking coastline of Long Bay Beach Resort, this signature event combines great food, meaningful conversation, and unforgettable literary encounters.
Guests will participate in an intimate roundtable experience, rotating between tables hosted by featured authors throughout the morning. Each table offers a new opportunity to ask questions, explore ideas, discover creative inspiration, and engage directly with the minds behind some of the festival's most compelling stories.
No stage. No barriers. Just authentic conversation.
As the festival's closing signature event, the Book Brunch is also where attendees gather for some of the most anticipated festival announcements, including:
- The 2026 Writing Competition Winners
- The Official Reveal of the 2027 BVI Lit Fest Theme
- Exclusive Festival Merchandise Announcements
Whether you're a passionate reader, aspiring writer, or simply someone who enjoys thoughtful conversation, the Book Brunch offers a unique opportunity to connect beyond the page.
Good food. Great company. Stories worth sharing.
Included In:
- Premium VIP Package
- All-Access Pass
- Book Brunch
Hosted by
Programme subject to change.
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