Sant Jordi NYC Festival of Books & Roses will take place from April 23-26, online and at different Village locations, culminating in a fantastic celebration of international literature, music, and food Saturday, April 26th, on Christopher Street in the West Village. Now in its eleventh year in New York, for the first time it will replicate the amazing experience of the Catalan book festival, bringing the books and roses of Barcelona’s promenades to Christopher Street in the West Village.
“On April 26th, New Yorkers can enjoy a little of the magic of combining books and roses and music and food on beautiful and iconic Christopher Street,” said Mary Ann Newman, the director of Sant Jordi NYC. “We’re grateful to the West Village Business District for helping us to create on a tiny scale the festive street atmosphere of Sant Jordi in Barcelona.”
Sant Jordi is one of the most important days of the year for the book world in Catalonia, the northeast region of Spain, which includes Barcelona, an international publishing hub. Every April 23, throughout the city, publishers and booksellers organize tables to sell books, with hundreds of authors participating in signings. More books are sold on Sant Jordi than Christmas, as it is customary for friends and family to give books to their loved ones.
“Catalans have been celebrating Sant Jordi in New York for over 100 years, since the Catalan Nationalist Center was founded in the 1920’s,” Newman explained. “In 2014, we decided to reach beyond the Catalan community and share this beautiful event with all New Yorkers by embracing world literatures in translation.”
Sant Jordi NYC is the initiative and longtime dream of Newman, a born and bred New Yorker who is an acclaimed translator of Catalan literature into English. Her translations include work by the early 20th century novelist Josep Maria de Sagarra (Private Life, published by Archipelago) and the contemporary short story writer and journalist Quim Monzó (Gasoline, published by Open Letter). She has been awarded the Creu de Sant Jordi and the Ramon Llull International award for her promotion of Catalan culture abroad. The festival is being funded by a series of grants and also a crowdfunding campaign.
Some of the events and participants who will take part are listed below. For a full schedule, description, location and details, please visit the Sant Jordi NYC website.
Wednesday, April 23, 6-8 p.m.
The West Village: Cradle of (Latin) American Literature
Featuring Esther Allen, biographer and translator of José Martí; Suzanne Jill Levine, biographer and translator of Manuel Puig, and Luisa Valenzuela, acclaimed Argentine novelist and former Village dweller. With special guest, Jaime Manrique, renowned Colombian novelist and poet, author of Eminent Maricones. Moderated by Marguerite Feitlowitz.
Wednesday, April 23, 8-10 p.m.
Video Mapping
Laia Cabrera & Isabelle Duverger will present an immersive video mapping projection on the façade of a historic building in Mulry Square.
Thursday, April 24th, 6-8 p.m.
Catalan Women Writers: Frustration, Rage, Compassion
Featuring Ara Merjian, translator of Maria Angles Anglada’s Aram’s Notebook, in conversation with Aurélie Vialette. Translations editor of The Common, Stephanie Malak, which organized a special issue on Catalan women writers, will talk with translators Marialena Carr and Mary Ann Newman about their recent work in the magazine.
Friday, April 25, 6-8 p.m.
Upending European Literature: Who Sets the Canon?
Featuring translators Kate Deimling, Julia Sanches and Emma Ramadan. Author Cécile Wajsbrot will discuss her recent novel Nevermore with her translator Tess Lewis.
Saturday, April 26, 12:00-5:00 – Street Fair
The Street Fair will be held on Christopher Street (between 6th Av & Waverly St) featuring the events below throughout the day.
LIVE MUSIC
Featuring musical performances by Alexis Cuadrado, Nana Simopoulos Trio, Caryn Heilman, Alexis Cuadrado, NOIA, Paloma Toll, with spoken word by Pyeng Threadgill.
READINGS
There will be a wide array of readings from writers, translators, and publishers, including readings from Ross Perlin, Peter Carlaftes, Kat Georges, Andrei Codrescu, Jane LeCroy and Sophie Malleret, Jill Schoolman, Sarah Arvio, Jaime Manrique, Stine An, Jennifer Shyue, Silvia Albert Sopale, Kira Josefsson, Marialena Carr, Mary Ann Newman, and Martí Sales.
SPECIAL WEB GAME
Sant Jordi NYC has developed an innovative web-AR game that allows you to play with Dragonet, a baby dragon, anywhere you go. Web-AR conceived for Sant Jordi NYC by Laia Cabrera & Co., game developed by interactive designer Aniol Saurina Masó, and powered by 8th Wall.
**About our partners:**
Partnering to organize Sant Jordi NYC 2025 Festival of Books & Roses are the Farragut Fund for Catalan Culture in the U.S., the Catalan Institute of America, and Laia Cabrera & Co in collaboration with our hosts, the West Village Business Improvement District and PEN America, our media partner. The Farragut Fund and the Catalan Institute are 501(c)3 organizations registered in the State of New York, and devoted to bringing Catalan culture to the U.S. Laia Cabrera & Co are multimedia artists with an extensive international portfolio in projection-mappings, immersive experiences, and web design. The West Village BID was formed to support a culturally rich, commercially vibrant community reflecting the neighborhood’s history and character. PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression and celebrate creative expression.