XXXVII International Literary Festival Druskininkai Poetic Fall 2026
Poetic Cinema Rituals. Short Films by Lithuanian PoetsAušra Kaziliūnaitė, “Plants That Grow in My Sky” (16 min, 2024) “Films and Coffee” Café | |
Launch event for Kerry Shawn Keys’ poetry book “Seasons at the Patch” |
Anonymous competitions:
One poem;
One poem on the theme “No ceremonies”;
Humorous poem on the theme “Ritual Poetry Services”.
Palmira Mikėnaitė will be collecting poems for the anonymous competitions on September 25th from 13:00 to 19:00.
Registration for events:
Donatas Petrošius is registering participants for Friday’s “Open Mic”.
Ričardas Šileika is registering participants for Saturday’s “Readings of Two Poems: One’s Own and A Favorite by Another Poet”.
Literary Vilnius. A Tour of the Old Town for Festival’s Guests (EN)Hosted by bouquiniste Jonas Juozas Valonis and publicist Zigmas Pakštaitis |
|
Presentation of the Druskininkai Poetic Fall AnthologyHosted by the anthology’s editors Vytas Dekšnys and Rimas UžgirisVilnius Literary House (11 Šv. Jono St., Vilnius) |
Creative workshops in Druskininkai schoolsLed by Dainius Dirgėla, Ričardas Šileika, Gražvilė Baleišytė Druskininkai “Saulė” Elementary School, Druskininkai Atgimimas School, Druskininkai “Rytas” Gymnasium | |
Departure of participants to DruskininkaiForeign guests and local poets depart to Druskininkai from the Lithuanian Writers Union | |
Festival participant registration in Druskininkai“Dainava” Centre | |
Festival openingRaising of the Druskininkai Poetic Fall flag Near the former “Širdelė” café | |
Panel Discussion: "Poetry Rituals" (EN / LT; simultaneous translation)Moderated by Rimas Užgiris With Jan Škrob (Czech Republic), Marija Dejanović (Croatia), Metin Celâl (Turkey), Sveta Grigorjeva (Estonia), Roman Honet (Poland), Kateryna Mikhalitsyna (Ukraine), Charl-Pierre Naudé (South Africa), Līva Marta Roze (Latvia), A. E. Stallings (USA), Laima Kreivytė, and others “Dainava” Centre, “Aušrinė” Hall | |
Opening of Ričardas Šileika’s exhibition “A Visual Chronicle of the Analog Process”„Andainykščių PDR’ų fotoliudijimai sertifikuoja, kad buvau, kad buvai, kad buvome. Kad buvo! Ilgainiui mūsų būties atspindžiai veidrodžiuose kinta, ilgainiui keičiasi suvoktys, pajautos, požiūriai. Išeinančius poetus „tęsia“ ateinantys poetai. Būtoji poezija daugiskaitiškai retėja. Šviežioji poezija aistrina skaitančiuosius, energizuoja rašančiuosius, lingvistiškai suprasmina mūsų šiąją esatį. Todėl – varkokime! Poezijos kokakola, poezijos mineralinis, poezijos gira, poezijos vynas, poezijos kava, poezijos pienas. Poezijos vaistažolės.“ Coffee break "Dainava" Center, lobby of the "Aušrinė" Hall | |
Presentation of poetry books published over the past year (LT)Hosted by Mantas Tamošaitis and Eglė Ambrožaitė Publishing houses will be selling their books. Center "Dainava", "Saulė" Hall | |
Poetry EveningReadings by Metin Celâl (Turkey), Kristina Tamulevičiūtė (Lithuania), Roman Honet (Poland), Mindaugas Nastaravičius (Lithuania), Sveta Grigorjeva (Estonia), Dovydas Grajauskas (Lithuania), Līva Marta Roze (Latvia) Hosted by Laura Kromalcaitė and Ernestas Noreika “Dainava” Centre, “Aušrinė” Hall | |
Poetic Night: Young Poets' ReadingsReadings by Saulė Marija Baškytė, Jokūbas Barisevičius, Gabija Kopūstaitė, Dominykas Kručkauskas, Simas Lenkšas, Kornelija Mikalauskaitė, Grantas Rogožinskas, Mūza Svetickaitė, Martina Taurinskaitė, Saulius Venclovas Hosted by Jonas Juozas Valonis and Zigmas Pakštaitis “Dangaus skliautas” Restaurant | |
Open MicHosted by Donatas Petrošius “Dangaus skliautas” Restaurant | |
Secret Readings by the Fire |
Readings of Two Poems: A Favorite Poem by Another Poet and One’s Own (LT)Hosted by Ričardas Šileika V. K. Jonynas Gallery | |
Between Rhyme and Rhythm: Creative Workshops for Children Ages 6–10Led by Marius Marcinkevičius V. K. Jonynas Gallery | |
Aerolyrics: Sweat and Body SculptureAerobics led by instructors Laima Kreivytė and Agnė Žagrakalytė Courtyard of the “Dainava” Centre | |
Creative Europe Programme VERSOPOLIS Poetry ReadingsFeaturing Marija Dejanović (Croatia) and Jan Škrob (Czech Republic) Hosted by Dominykas Norkūnas Center "Dainava", "Saulė" Hall | |
Young Poetry: Discussion | |
Poetry AfternoonReadings by Alvydas Šlepikas, Donatas Petrošius, Nerijus Cibulskas, Vitalija Maksvytė, Indrė Valantinaitė, Kornelijus Platelis, Marius Marcinkevičius, Mantas Balakauskas, Tadas Zaronskis, Nojus Saulytis, Tautvyda Marcinkevičiūtė, Agnė Žagrakalytė Hosted by Dainius Dirgėla Druskininkai Cultural Centre “Lelija” | |
Festivities and Closing Poetry EveningAwarding of the Yotvingian and Young Yotvingian Prizes, the Antanas A. Jonynas Prize. Presentation of the Nemunas prize, “Poetry Unites and Connects Us.” Awards ceremony for competition winners Readings byEdmondas Kelmickas (Lithuania), A.E. Stallings (USA), Benediktas Januševičius (Lithuania), Charl-Pierre Naudé (South Africa), Rūta Mikulėnaitė-Jonuškienė (Lithuania), Kerry Shawn Keys (Lithuania / USA), Kateryna Mikhalitsyna (Ukraine) Hosted by Daiva Čepauskaitė and Eugenijus Ališanka “Dainava” Centre, “Aušrinė” Hall | |
Poetry Auction “The Season of Emptying Wallets”All money collected during the auction will be transferred as support to Ukraine. Hosted by Simonas Bernotas and Austėja Jakas “Dangaus skliautas” Restaurant | |
Disco: Dancing PartyHosted by Grojai Dovydas ir Rokas Broliauskai “Dangaus skliautas” Restaurant |
Departure of Participants for VilniusThe participants’ bus departs from the “Dainava” Centre | |
Closing Poetry EveningReadings by Festival Laureates and Foreign Guests Hosted by Rimas Užgiris and Justina Žvirblytė MO Museum |
