Santiago del Teide presents the second edition of *Santiago de Letras*, a festival that transforms the municipality into a hub for cultural connection.

La Casona del Patio hosted the presentation of "Letras al cielo" (Words to the Sky), an event bringing together national and Canary Islands authors, schools, creators, and local residents on October 3 and 4 to focus on literature, the local area, and civic engagement.

La Casona del Patio hosted the official presentation of the second edition of *Santiago de Letras*, which will take place on October 3 and 4 in the Santiago del Teide town square under the theme "Letras al cielo." The press conference was attended by the Mayor of Santiago del Teide, Emilio Navarro; the Councilor for Culture, David Quintero; and the festival director, Emilia Vié.

 

Mayor Emilio Navarro stated, "The local government remains firmly committed to culture as a tool for connection, participation, and the enrichment of our society. Hosting the second edition of the *Santiago de Letras* Festival marks a step forward in solidifying an initiative we want to see continue growing and becoming an integral part of our municipality's cultural life. Bringing literature, ideas, and dialogue with authors and creators closer to our residents is also a way to create new opportunities to enjoy culture without having to leave our municipality."

The Councilor for Culture, David Quintero, also spoke, outlining the key events of this second edition, which is about to begin.

A festival aiming to leave a lasting mark

Santiago de Letras sets out to be more than just a series of book presentations. Its program combines literature, outreach, a sense of place, conversation, children's activities, poetry, music, workshops, and civic engagement. The goal is to take books out of their usual settings and bring them into the town square, schools, and the municipality's daily life.

This second edition is once again organized by the Santiago del Teide Town Council, the Islotes Cultural Association, and Atlántida Cultural. Islotes handles key aspects of the project, including cultural design, direction, production, and coordination, as well as fostering connections between authors, activities, schools, and the community.

"Santiago de Letras was born from the idea that culture doesn't always have to take place in the same locations. We want Santiago del Teide to become a destination for a weekend where people can encounter books—but, above all, other people. At Islotes, this is exactly how we view cultural management: not merely as scheduling activities, but as creating the conditions for things to happen and ensuring that, once the tents are taken down, something of the experience remains," notes Emilia Vié, director of Santiago de Letras.

Visiting authors and voices writing from the Canary Islands

The program will bring together guests such as Alfredo Relaño, May R. Ayamonte, and Pedro Martí alongside a wide range of Canarian authors and creators, including Ceci Wallace, Diego G. Reinfeld, Marcos Dosantos, Antonio Martín Piñero, Sophia Hidalgo, Ana Nayra Gorrín, Jesús Barranco, Iván Cabrera Cartaya, and Montse Díaz.

A central theme of the program will be the meeting of diverse voices, backgrounds, and creative approaches. The panel discussion "Writing from the Periphery" will explore the experience of writing and developing culture from the Canary Islands, while other formats will allow authors, readers, and the public to share less conventional spaces.

Literature reaching out to the public

The program includes the Literary Breakfast; "The Landscape in 3 Verses," a haiku workshop with Iago Fandiño; "Poetry for All Sizes"; a comic book character creation workshop with Fran Rodríguez Vié; a literary recital by Ana Guacimara’s Children’s Reading Workshop; the Intercultural Living Library; activities for children and families; author meet-and-greets and book signings; a Book Fair; and a musical finale by Sandra Santana.

The initiative aims to offer various entry points into literature—ranging from conversation and reading to creative work, music, poetry, and play—so that Santiago de Letras can be enjoyed both by avid readers and by those drawn to the town square by the cultural activity.

Schools and the municipality take center stage

The involvement of local schools is a cornerstone of the festival. The "Contar lo nuestro" (Telling Our Stories) project allows fourth-grade students to share the stories they wrote and the experience of taking those tales to Miño, Galicia. The project transforms students into creators and storytellers, rather than mere spectators of a cultural event.

Santiago de Letras also seeks to acknowledge and provide a platform for the existing cultural interests within the municipality—including local writers, families, readers, neighbors, and active participants. The goal is for Santiago del Teide to serve not just as a backdrop for the festival, but as an active participant in it.

Bridges that endure beyond the festival

The connection with Miño and Galicia is part of an ongoing effort to foster exchange and build ties between different regions. The "Contar lo nuestro" experience demonstrates how these bridges can translate into concrete projects and experiences that live on long after the festival itself has ended.

"To me, a festival is meaningful when what happens there remains alive even after we’ve taken down the tents." "If someone takes home a book, discovers an author, starts writing, meets someone who shares their interests, or simply feels that culturally significant things are happening here too, then Santiago de Letras will have fulfilled its purpose," adds Emilia Vié.

Santiago de Letras 2026

Santiago de Letras will take place on October 3 and 4, 2026, at the Plaza de Santiago del Teide. The Book Fair will be open on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Admission is free, although some activities require prior registration due to capacity limits.

The festival is organized by the Santiago del Teide Town Council, the Islotes Cultural Association, and Atlántida Cultural, with the support of the Canary Islands Institute of Cultural Development (ICDC) and the Government of the Canary Islands.

For more information and registration: www.santiagodeletras.com