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30+ speakers

BVI Literary Arts Festival

Theme“Mouth Open, Story Jump Out”

Tortola, British Virgin IslandsNovember 5–8, 2026
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
Where Caribbean stories meet the world
November 5–8, 2026

Festival Schedule

9:00 AM – 10:20 AMPanel

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.
with
Robert Swain Jr
Enya Douglas-Tarabay
Naudia Turnbull
Khalarni Rivers
Moderated by
Charis Hoyte
Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium
10:30 AM – 11:50 AMPanel

Minds 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.
with
Suzette Camile Buchanan
Collin Butler
Dr. Michelle Martin
Moderated by
Dr. Virginia Rubaine
Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium
1:00 PM – 2:20 PMPanel

The 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.
with
Brent Hoyte
Rhakim Todman
Monéa
Moderated by
André Braithwaite, MBE
Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium
2:30 PM – 3:50 PMPanel

IN 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.
with
Eishar Brar
Carol Mitchell
Lilliam Rivera
Moderated by
Alake Pilgrim
Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium
6:00 PM – 10:00 PMTicketed · Buy

Writers’ Welcome Reception

Allamanda Estate
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Voices 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:

  • Premium VIP Package

  • All-Access Pass


with
Etaf Rum
Moderated by
Marsha Massiah
8:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Razor Blades

Allamanda Estate
8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

STORY 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 landing
9:00 AM – 9:55 AMPanel

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.
with
Anthony Joseph
Carol Mitchell
Karen Lord
Moderated by
Johnny Temple
HLSCC Learning Resource Centre
10:00 AM – 10:55 AMPanel

SAY 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.
with
Safiyya Chance
Yara Liceaga
Kamaal Lettsome
Moderated by
Natalia Olivero
HLSCC Learning Resource Centre
11:00 PM – 11:55 PMPanel

THE 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?
with
Diana McCaulay
Claire Adam
Moderated by
Tiphanie Yanique
HLSCC Learning Resource Centre
1:00 PM – 1:55 PMPanel

MACHINE 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?
with
Ingrid Persaud
Elise Dillsworth
Chris Jackson
Moderated by
Yona Deshommes
HLSCC Learning Resource Centre
2:00 pm – 2:55 pm Panel

FRESH 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.
with
Johanna Gibson
Dominique deCastro
Rea Vanterpool
Moderated by
Traci O’Dea
HLSCC Learning Resource Centre
3:00 PM – 4:20 PMPanel

NO 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.
with
Eunice Bedminster
Omaya Sosa Pascual
Ryan Bachoo
Monique Clesca
Moderated by
Freeman Rogers
HLSCC Learning Resource Centre
6:00 pm – 10:00 pmTicketed · Buy

Sunset Stories

Brandywine Estate Restaurant
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Love 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:

  • Premium VIP Package

  • All-Access Pass


with
Claire Adam
Ingrid Persaud
L. Sauda Smith
Dominique deCastro
Brandywine Estate Restaurant
9:00 PM – 10:00 PM

DJ/Afters at the Bay

Brandywine Restaurant
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

STORY 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

  • 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?
Main Building (Atrium)
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Literary Wonderland: Children’s Programme

This year's children's programme celebrates the power of storytelling with hands-on activities, readings, and crafts inspired by children's book authors and the rich cultural expressions of local writers and artists. Free books, bouncy house fun, and delicious treats will make this a literary celebration to remember. Featuring GIS representatives.
with
Alake Pilgrim
Janice Stoutt
Thea Cooke
Kailah Thomas
HLSCC Learning Resource Centre
9:00 AM – 11:00 AMWorkshopTicketed · Buy

Writing Fiction for Young Adults

What makes a story resonate with young readers long after they turn the final page? In this interactive workshop, acclaimed author Lilliam Rivera shares insights into crafting compelling young adult fiction, exploring character, voice, world-building, and themes that matter most to today's teens.
Facilitated by
Lilliam Rivera
S1, Main Building
9:00 AM – 11:00 AMWorkshopTicketed · Buy

Speaking Truth: A Workshop in Journalism

Great journalism begins with curiosity, integrity, and the courage to ask difficult questions. In this hands-on session, participants will explore the fundamentals of reporting, interviewing, fact-checking, and storytelling, learning how journalists uncover the truth and transform information into impactful stories.
Facilitated by
Omaya Sosa Pascual
S4, Main Building
9:00 AM – 11:00 AMWorkshopTicketed · Buy

Lyrical Voices: A Poetry Workshop

Poetry begins with voice, and comes alive through rhythm, imagery, and imagination. In this workshop, participants will explore the craft, experimenting with language, sound and rhythm, to discover and strengthen their lyrical voice.
Facilitated by
Yara Liceaga
H1, Main Building
9:00 AM – 11:00 AMWorkshopTicketed · Buy

KRIK? KRAK? The Short Story and the Oral Tradition

This hands-on short story workshop is for writers wanting to draw on the Caribbean’s oral tradition and what happens when they move from voice to page. Novelist Ingrid Persaud leads participants through close reading of a short model text followed by a generative writing exercise with small-group feedback. Suitable for writers with some prior experience. Bring pen and paper. No laptops.
Facilitated by
Ingrid Persaud
H4, Main Building
9:00 AM – 11:00 AMWorkshopTicketed · Buy

From Voice to Screen: A Workshop on Visual Storytelling

In this interactive workshop, participants will explore the fundamentals of screenwriting, from crafting compelling characters and dialogue to building scenes, structure, and visual storytelling.
Facilitated by
Caleb Femi
H2, Main Building
11:30 AM – 1:00 PMWorkshopTicketed · Buy

FROM PEN TO PRINT: A Guide to Publishing in the Age of AI

What happens after the final draft? This panel maps the journey of stories through editing, publishing, and promotion to reach their audience. It examines how writers and industry professionals shape narratives that resonate, sell, and stay with readers.
with
Johnny Temple
Chris Jackson
Elise Dillsworth
Eishar Brar
Moderated by
Yona Deshommes
H3–S3, Main Building
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Northshore Shell Museum

Site visit to the Northshore Shell Museum in Carrot Bay.
Carrot Bay
6:00 PM – 9:00 PMTicketed · Buy

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:

  • Premium VIP Package

  • All-Access Pass


with
Anthony Joseph
Safiyya Chance
Derron Sandy
Johanna Gibson
Yara Liceaga
Caleb Femi
Rea Vanterpool
Kamaal Lettsome
Brent Hoyte
Hosted by
Derron Sandy
Loose Mongoose
9:00 PM – Until

Afterparty

Loose Mongoose
10:00 AM – 2:00 PMTicketed · Buy

Book 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:

  • 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
Marsha Massiah
Programme subject to change.
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