Isabel Ballesteros, the councillor for Cultural Action and Promotion in Almendralejo, has announced the details of the city's Literary Autumn programme, which will begin on Thursday, 1 October, and continue through October, November, and December. During the presentation, Ballesteros emphasised that the initiative aims to ensure that “books regain a prominent place in our cultural agenda,” featuring a diverse programme designed for various audiences that will bring literature to different spaces and formats.
The Literary Autumn will include book presentations, meetings with authors, poetry readings, music performances, storytelling sessions, and activities aimed at children and young people. October will kick off with a rich literary offering, starting with the presentation of Manuel López Gallego's book on 1 October at 20:30 in the Centro Cultural San Antonio. The following day, 2 October, will see the first activity specifically for children: a storytelling session led by Félix Zambrano at 18:00 in the children's section of the Municipal Library. This session will be repeated on the subsequent Fridays of the month, specifically on 9, 16, and 23 October.
October's programme will also feature encounters with authors such as Francisco Serrano, winner of the 2025 Tusquets Prize, Pilar Galán, Santiago Cambero Rivero, and Sara Mesa. A highlight of the month will be a poetic concert by Carlos Palacio, known as “Pala,” on 21 October at the Official Conservatory of Music Auditorium. Pala was awarded the José de Espronceda Poetry Prize in 2022 for his work La vocación del Remo. The month will conclude with a special activity designed to introduce children to the National Library through a virtual visit using 3D glasses, scheduled for 30 October at 18:00 in the Municipal Library.
November will continue to promote literature among authors and schools, featuring more literary encounters with writers such as Lorenzo Silva, Jesús Sánchez Adalid, and Víctor del Árbol, alongside additional storytelling sessions and activities for children. A notable event is planned for 25 November, where Beatriz Osés will engage with students from Almendralejo's schools, fostering direct contact between young people and literature. November will also see the presentation of El ebanista del Cristo by local author Loli Galeano, as well as an activity by Pilar Fernández, who will present a story related to gender violence accompanied by a storytelling session.
December will wrap up three months of literary activities, continuing with the presentation of Florián Recio's book, a literary meeting with Paula Pérez focused on comics, and a poetic recital and presentation of the magazine La Metáfora. This last event will aim to highlight the contributions of women from the Generation of '27, known as Las Sinsombrero. The Literary Autumn is expected to conclude on 15 December with a meeting featuring Óscar de los Reyes and the Municipal Library's Reading Club.
In total, the programme will span three months, offering activities for both regular readers and those looking to discover new authors and genres, as well as for those beginning to engage with the world of books. Ballesteros has underscored that the aim of this programme is to ensure literature is present throughout the city and reaches audiences of all ages. “We do not want literature to be solely the domain of writers or habitual readers. We want it to be part of the city's life, from childhood and adolescence to older adults,” Ballesteros stated. Thus, the Almendralejo City Council is committed to a programme that combines the promotion of reading, direct encounters with authors, and the involvement of various groups, with the goal of making literature an active part of the city's cultural life.
