A poetry festival, a conversation with the winners of the Dar Prize, an independent publishing fair, and a poetry slam — our selection of literary events for the coming days.
10 September, Prague
10 September, Prague
“Stikhi vne sebya” (“Poetry Outside Itself”): An Evening of Free Poetry
For the first time in Prague, Yuly Gugolev, Dmitry Vedenyapin, Sergey Gandlevsky, and Polina Barskova will appear together on one stage — four major voices in contemporary Russian-language poetry.
The evening will feature poetry readings followed by a conversation about what it means to write in Russian while living away from Russia — at a time when language, memory, and place no longer align.
The “stikhi_vne_sebya” festival is part of thePrague Book Tower and is organised in partnership with the “slova_vne_sebya” media project.
18:30–21:00
18:30–21:00
Meeting Hall of the National Library of the Czech Republic, second floor of the Klementinum, Mariánské náměstí 190/5
11 September, Prague
Meet the Winners of the Dar Prize
Ksenia Buksha, author of "A Little Paradise", and Alexandra Krashevskaya, author of "Lullaby for Mariupol", they will discuss their books and answer questions from visitors to the fair.
The conversation will be moderated by literary critic Nikolay Alexandrov.
17:15–18:00
Part of the Prague Book Tower
11–13 September, Prague
Prague Book Tower
Prague’s new tamizdat fair — dedicated to independent Russian-language publishing outside Russia — returns for its third edition. It will bring together independent publishers, writers, bookshops, literary magazines, and readers.
One of this year’s main themes is translation and dialogue between cultures: how Russian-language books find readers in other languages, and how international literature reaches Russian-speaking audiences.
The programme includes new books at publishers’ prices, conversations with authors, discussions about literature and publishing, and a children’s literary programme.
The fair’s motto is: “Books that matter. Conversations we are missing. People who understand.”
12 September, Berlin
PANDA Poetry Slam
The Berlin Book Fair invites poetry lovers to the autumn round of the PANDA Poetry Slam. Participants will perform their own work, and the winners will be chosen by the audience. The event will be hosted by poet and musician Alexander Delfinov.
The rules are simple: original work only, no more than five minutes on stage, and no music or props.
Would you like to take part in one of the next rounds? Send one to three poems and a short biography to slam@panda-platforma.berlin.
Doors open at 19:00; the event starts at 19:30
PANDA platforma, Knaackstraße 97, Berlin
What Are the Objectives of the Award?
The primary goal of the Award is to support authors and promote Russian-language literature worldwide. We welcome all who write and read in Russian, regardless of citizenship or place of residence. We aim to foster a Russian-language culture free from political and imperial influences.
How Is the Award Process Conducted?
The Prize is awarded annually. The Jury holds a vote in which each member selects between one and three works. The author whose work receives the highest number of votes becomes the winner.
What Awards Are Provided?
The Prize winner receives a grant for the translation of their work into English, French, and German.
When Does the Submission Period for the Competition Start and End?
Submissions for the third season of the prize will open on July 15, 2026, and close on October 15, 2026.
When will the list of finalists and winners be announced?
On January 20, 2027, the Council of Experts will announce the shortlist. The Independent Jury will announce the winner on May 25, 2027.
What are the conditions for the nomination of a book for the award
Works published in 2025 are eligible for the third season of the competition. Eligible works (novels, novellas, short story and essay collections, documentary prose) may have been published either as standalone editions or in literary magazines. Nominations may be submitted by publishing houses and magazine editorial boards, as well as by the authors themselves or third parties (with the author's consent and written confirmation). Texts must be submitted for consideration in electronic format. The DAR Prize is open to all authors. Given the prize's main goals — promoting contemporary Russian-language literature outside of Russia — and the nature of the award itself (a translation grant), priority will be given to authors whose works have not previously been translated into English, French, or German.
