#OpenCall β #Transpoesie2026
Where Voices meet
#EUNICBrussels invites #poets, #poetperformers and #poettranslators to #participate in this yearβs edition Transpoesie 2026 - #wherelanguagesmeet, a thematic exploration of language, space, and poetic resistance through and within translation.
We are looking for poets whose work engage with:
β’ translation as creative practice;
β’ local histories, ecological knowledge, or community memory;
β’ geography, displacement, or peripheral territories;
β’ multilingual practices, code-switching, accent, or linguistic friction ;
β’ experimental, performative, or oral approaches to poetry ;
β’ minor, endangered, migrant, hybrid, or βunofficialβ languages;
β’ local foregrounds, situated voice and untranslatable experiences;
We particularly welcome those who work at the intersection of language and spaceβwriters whose poetry emerge from borderlands, diasporas, rural or marginal regions, and in doing so explore how
meaning shifts across cultures, histories, and territories/regions.
Similarly, we particularly welcome
writers whose languages are considered vulnerable or endangered within their respective countries or regions.
Transpoesie is interested in poetic practices
that embrace fragmentation, repetition,
silence, multilingual layering, and productive
misunderstanding.
We seek voices that are authentic and
thought-provoking.
What do we #offer?
#Publication: The poetβs work will be printed in the festival gazette and featured on the Transpoesie website (in its original language and English translation).
#EventInvitation: The poet be invited to participate at our festival from September 17th to 19th, 2026
#Networking: The poet will get the chance to
connect with fellow poets, translators, publishing houses, and cultural operators for potential, future collaborations.
What do we expect?
#Costs & #Logistics:
The travel, accommodation & performance
fee for the poet (participation fee for the poet is β¬550) are to be covered by participant;
β’ The EN translation will need to be provided & any related copyright fees for the performed poems covered by participant;
β’ Translation (NL &FR) for one 5 line poem destined for the Transpoesie Social Media
& website will be covered by participant;
β’ Country specialties for the official reception to be provided by participant.
#Quality:
Ensure poems & translations align with our
festivalβs theme and ethos.
#Participation
Poet Participation #Fee (β¬550):
The live performances at the TRANSPOESIE events include:
β’ Performing an 8-10 minute poetry reading
(English translations will be provided timely);
β’ A public writing session where the poet will be able to write on-demand poems on various topics related to the festivalβs theme.
β’ Additionally, the poetβs work will be displayed on our social media & our website along with a French & Dutch translation and a bio & picture.
Participation #deadline: April 20, 2026
All info & participation requests: [Upgrade to PRO to see contact]