Topophonies of an Untranslatable Europe

The Cervantes Institute of Brussels will take part in the 2026 edition of the international poetry festival TRANSPOESIE, to be held from 17 to 19 September in Brussels and Ghent, featuring four distinguished authors who represent the linguistic and poetic diversity of Spain: Ángel Erro (Basque), Damià Rotger Miró (Catalan), Ledicia Costas Álvarez (Galician), and Marisa Martínez Pérsico (Spanish). The poets will give a poetry reading on Friday, 18 September, at 5:00 p.m. at Poetik Bazar. ÁNGEL ERRO (Pamplona, 1978) A Basque-language writer and translator, Ángel Erro's work combines introspection with humour and engages in dialogue with the classical tradition. His published works include 'Eta harkadian ni', 'Gorputzeko humoreak', 'Poema liburu bat', and 'Itzulpena-Traducción'. He has received several prestigious awards, including the Spanish Critics' Prize, the Lauaxeta Poetry Prize, and the Navarra Booksellers' Prize. His work has been featured in anthologies such as 'De Chueca al cielo' and 'Amores Raros' (Instituto Cervantes, 2025). He has translated authors including Emily Dickinson and John McGahern and has been a regular contributor for more than a decade to the Basque-language newspaper Berria. DAMIÀ ROTGER MIRÓ (Ferreries, Menorca, 1981) A Catalan-language poet based in Mallorca, Damià Rotger Miró combines literary creation with typography and teaching, developing a close relationship with language through multiple disciplines. He is the author of the award-winning children's book 'El país dels rellotges', recipient of the Francesc d'Albranca Prize, as well as an extensive body of poetry that includes 'Grams de tu', '482 mm', 'Arèola', 'Umbilical', and 'Calls al gest'. In 2025, he received the Mallorca Poetry Prize for 'El Periple'. His work has been translated into several languages and featured in numerous national and international anthologies. He is also widely recognised for his involvement in spoken-word and performance poetry, participating in festivals and collaborative artistic projects. LEDICIA COSTAS ÁLVAREZ (Vigo, 1979) Ledicia Costas is one of the most acclaimed authors in contemporary Galician literature, with works translated into languages including Persian, Korean, Italian, and Bulgarian. A prolific writer of fiction, poetry, and children's and young adult literature, she has published more than thirty books. Her many distinctions include the Spanish National Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature (2015), the Galician Culture Prize, the Castelao Medal, and the Lazarillo Prize, which she has received on three occasions. In poetry, her collection 'Ultraluz' (2022) was awarded the Afundación Poetry Prize. Her work is noted for its versatility and international reach. MARISA MARTÍNEZ PÉRSICO (Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1978) An Argentine poet who has lived in Italy since 2010, Marisa Martínez Pérsico holds a PhD in Spanish and Latin American Literature from the University of Salamanca and a degree in Literature from the University of Buenos Aires. She is Professor of Spanish Language and Translation at the University of Udine. Her published works include 'Las voces de las hojas', 'Poética ambulante', 'La única puerta era la tuya', 'El cielo entre paréntesis', 'Finlandia', 'Principios y continuaciones', and 'Los parques interiores', which received the Rafael Morales National Poetry Prize. Her poetry has been published in several countries and translated into French, among other languages.