Hay Festival Arequipa 2025

Taller de herramientas para la emoción (o de herramientas emocionales) con Paula López Espinosa

Wednesday 5 November 2025, 9am –  Asilo Víctor Lira

Este año ampliamos nuestro alcance con actividades en el Asilo Víctor Lira, junto a la escritora y coach espiritual colombiana Paula López Espinosa, quien acompañará a los adultos mayores, brindándoles consejos, ejemplos y estrategias útiles para transformar el dolor en sabiduría

Hay Festival Comunitario is sponsored by LXG

Taller con Paula López Espinosa

El arte de cuidar(se)

Wednesday 5 November 2025, 4pm –  Clínica San Juan de Dios Arequipa

La coach de vida y logoterapeuta Paula López Espinosa ofrecerá herramientas a cuidadores y familiares de los niños y niñas beneficiarios de la Fundación Teletón atendidos en la Clínica San Juan de Dios Arequipa, con el propósito de fortalecer su crecimiento personal y demostrar que, aunque los desafíos pueden ser grandes, también lo es nuestra capacidad para superarlos. Esta colaboración representa un valioso apoyo para familias y cuidadores.

Hay Festival Comunitario is sponsored by LXG

Pilar Quintana in conversation with Dante Trujillo

Wednesday 5 November 2025, 7pm GMT-5 –  La Noche de Barranco

Sponsored by Grupo UNACEM, with the support of El Pardo DoubleTree by Hilton and La Noche de Barranco

Carlos Granés and Alberto Vergara in conversation

Wednesday 5 November 2025, 8.15pm GMT-5 –  La Noche de Barranco

Sponsored by UNACEM, with the support of El Pardo DoubleTree by Hilton and La Noche de Barranco

Patricia del Río and Fernanda Trías in conversation with Gustavo Rodríguez

Fury in the memory

Wednesday 5 November 2025, 9.30pm GMT-5 –  La Noche de Barranco

Sponsored by UNACEM, with the support of El Pardo DoubleTree by Hilton and La Noche de Barranco

BBC Mundo journalism workshop with Ana Pais and Santiago Vanegas

Thursday 6 November 2025, 10am GMT-5 –  Universidad Católica de Santa María - Instituto Confucio

Two journalists from one of the world’s most respected and prestigious media outlets will give a digital journalism workshop aimed at university students. Ana Pais and Santiago Vanegas will explain the working model of this British news service, which is over a hundred years old and is renowned for its news rigour and quality. Our guests will talk particularly about broadcasting content creation and managing the social media.

Carla Arce Tord in conversation with Helen Vásquez Pauca

@astrocarlaa

Thursday 6 November 2025, 4pm GMT-5 –  Universidad Continental (auditorio)

Carla Arce Tord, better known as @astrocarlaa, is a young Peruvian astrophysicist and science commentator. She shares her passion for the stars and the cosmos in El universo extremo, a work that brings astronomy to the general public, presenting concepts such as the Big Bang, superclusters, quasars, blazars and antimatter using an engaging, simple language. As she herself says “science is for everyone”. In conversation with Helen Vásquez Pauca, professor of General Sciences.

Héctor Abad Faciolince, Patricia del Río and Carlos Granés in conversation with María Gracia Ríos

Homage to Mario Vargas Llosa

Thursday 6 November 2025, 6pm GMT-5 –  Teatro Municipal

The 2025 Hay Festival Arequipa gets underway with a homage to Mario Vargas Llosa in the year of his death. The Colombians Héctor Abad Faciolince and Carlos Granés and the Peruvian journalist Patricia del Río will talk about his work and the legacy left by the city’s greatest writer. In conversation with María Gracia Ríos.

LSP Peruvian Sign Language interpretation available

Sponsored by SURA

Screening of the documentary '20 años del Hay Festival en Colombia'

Presented by Cristina Fuentes La Roche

Thursday 6 November 2025, 6pm – 7pm GMT-5 –  Centro Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (teatro)

20 years of the Hay Festival in Colombia condensed into a one-hour documentary. Through the voices of some of the most outstanding figures who have participated in the festival, the public can see some of the secrets behind the scenes of the Hay Festival in Colombia. Presented by Cristina Fuentes La Roche.

Duration: 70 minutes

Director: Gustavo Gordillo

Afra Kane in concert

Thursday 6 November 2025, 8pm GMT-5 –  Teatro Municipal

With the support of the Swiss Embassy, Swiss Cultural Fund and Pro Helvetia

Mauricio Huaco, María Pía Palacios and José Luis Ramos Salinas in conversation with Mabel Cáceres

25 years of El Búho: quarter of a century in the history of Arequipa

Thursday 6 November 2025, 8pm GMT-5 –  Centro Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (teatro)

Discussing the coverage given by El Búho to the affairs of Arequipa over these last 25 years, the editor, Mabel Cáceres, will talk to the architect Mauricio Huaco, the sociologist José Luis Ramos and the entrepreneur, Director of IPE Arequipa and former Chair of Caja Arequipa, María Pía Palacios. They will debate the evolution of the city during this period and also talk about the future of the White City in the fifth century since its founding, a milestone celebrated in 2040. They will discuss facing the challenges of mass migration, the lack of adequate urban development planning, social conflicts, and different views on the economy.

Enmanuel Grau in conversation with Raúl Romero

Friday 7 November 2025, 9.30am GMT-5 –  Establecimiento penitenciario de hombres de Arequipa

Since 2019, the Hay Festival Arequipa has been running sessions in men’s and women’s prisons in Arequipa with the aim of fulfilling its goal of reaching the most vulnerable sections of the community. This year, the Peruvian writer, Enmanuel Grau, will talk about his book of short stories El fin de los tiempos, which relates the experiences of marginal, and marginalised, characters who have been powerfully marked by a failed system. He will talk to Raúl Romero, reading mediator of La Bibliobici de Arequipa.

Hay Festival Comunitario is sponsored by LXG

Paula López Espinosa in conversation with Carla Galdós

Followed by workshop in emotional restoration, healing and forgiveness

Friday 7 November 2025, 9.30am GMT-5 –  Establecimiento penitenciario de mujeres de Arequipa

Hay Festival Comunitario is sponsored by LXG

Laura G. de Rivera in conversation with Daniel Mitma

What the algorithm tells us

Friday 7 November 2025, 10am GMT-5 –  Universidad Continental (auditorio)

We are puppets of the algorithm, although sometimes we don’t realise it. The puppet master is not always artificial intelligence itself, but rather those who pull the strings to predict and mould our behaviour. The science journalist Laura G. de Rivera (Spain) has spent years researching the consequences of this invisible control. In Esclavos del algoritmo she offers a necessary and critical view of the impact of algorithmic systems on our lives. In conversation with Daniel Mitma.

With the support of Acción Cultural Española, AC/E

Rodolfo Sánchez-Aizcorbe in conversation with Pablo Quintanilla Bedregal

Understanding the Palestine-Israeli conflict

Friday 7 November 2025, 10am GMT-5 –  Universidad Católica de Santa María, Instituto Confucio

Lecture-workshop with María del Milagro Lozada

Intercultural skills in professional fields

Friday 7 November 2025, 11.30am GMT-5 –  Colegio de Alto Rendimiento de Arequipa

Hay Festival Comunitario is sponsored by LXG

María Galindo, Arwa Mahdawi and Rafia Zakaria in conversation with José Luis Ramos Salinas

South to North Conversations: feminisms

Friday 7 November 2025, 12pm GMT-5 –  Centro Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (teatro)

A look at the diversity of feminisms that have forged our ways of thinking in conversation with José Luis Ramos Salinas. With the anarcho-feminist and “techno-shaman” María Galindo (Bolivia); the journalist and writer of The Guardian’s Week in Patriarchy column, Arwa Mahdawi (United Kingdom/Palestine); and the lawyer and journalist, Rafia Zakaria (Pakistan), author of Against White Feminism.

Simultaneous interpretation from English to Spanish available

With the support of Open Society Foundations and the British Council

Carla Arce Tord in conversation with Ana Pais

Passion for the universe

Friday 7 November 2025, 12pm GMT-5 –  Centro Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (auditorio)

Sponsored by Fundación BBVA

Alexandra Pareja and Olenka Soto Cárdenas in conversation with Ruhuan Huarca Llamoca

Publishing Talent: publishing

Friday 7 November 2025, 12pm GMT-5 –  Teatro Arequepay

L.M. Bracklow in conversation with Ángela Valeria Mya Pazo Romero

Fantasy literature

Friday 7 November 2025, 2pm GMT-5 –  Universidad Católica de Santa María, Instituto Confucio

El reino de Belmar by L.M. Bracklow is the latest book of the Islands of Iros series. With this third book of the adventures of Luke, Damien and Kaori, the bestselling young Peruvian author has captivated millions of readers around the world, and the acclaim she has received has made her books a standard of Peruvian fantasy writing for young adults. She will talk about her creative process and will share with the audience tips about how to publish work on different platforms, as she has done, actively and successfully. In conversation with Ángela Valeria Mya Pazo Romero, professor at the School of Social Communication.

Alexandra Pareja in conversation with Jullisa del Pilar Falla Aguirre

Publishing funds

Friday 7 November 2025, 3pm GMT-5 –  Universidad Continental (auditorio)

Jeremías Gamboa in conversation with Juan Gabriel Vásquez

More ambitious than ever

Friday 7 November 2025, 4pm GMT-5 –  Teatro Municipal

With a style that is reminiscent of Miguel Gutiérrez and Leon Tolstoy, Jeremías Gamboa (Peru) has recently published El principio del mundo. Manuel, the main character, aims to find his true identity, while he travels through a Peru that is characterised by a mixture of cultures and all the contradictions this brings with it. After the success of Animales luminosos, he returns, more ambitious than ever, with a bildungsroman. In conversation with Juan Gabriel Vásquez.

LSP Peruvian Sign Language interpretation available

Arwa Mahdawi and Rodolfo Sánchez-Aizcorbe in conversation with Natalia Sobrevilla

South to North Conversations: the Palestinian-Israeli conflict

Friday 7 November 2025, 4pm GMT-5 –  Colegio de Arquitectos (auditorio)

In order to understand the reasons, implications and consequences of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, it is necessary to listen to those who know the situation well. Arwa Mahdawi (United Kingdom/Palestine), a US-based Guardian journalist, has written columns such as What did you do during the genocide in Gaza?, which examines the question of Western complicity. Rodolfo Sánchez-Aizcorbe (Peru) is the co-author of Para entender el conflicto palestino-israelí. In conversation with Natalia Sobrevilla.

Simultaneous interpretation from English to Spanish available

With the support of Open Society Foundations

Patricia del Río and Fernanda Trías in conversation with Dante Trujillo

Inhabiting the wild

Friday 7 November 2025, 4pm GMT-5 –  Centro Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (auditorio)

Nelly Luna and Josefina Townsend with David Marcial Pérez

South to North Conversations: this democracy is not democracy

Friday 7 November 2025, 4pm GMT-5 –  Teatro Arequepay

With the support of Open Society Foundations

Elise Ann Allen in conversation with Paola Ugaz

Leo XIV

Friday 7 November 2025, 4pm GMT-5 –  Centro Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (teatro)

Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost (USA/Peru) had been a quiet but important figure in the Peruvian church. He spent 40 years in the country, from his early days in the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, to his appointment as Bishop of Chiclayo. The journalist Elise Ann Allen, who specialises in Catholic affairs and writes for Crux, has recently published his biography. In conversation with Paola Ugaz.

Sponsored by Cerro Verde

Dario Sztajnszrajber in conversation with Daniel Mitma and Jorge Jaime Valdez

Love is impossible

Friday 7 November 2025, 5pm GMT-5 –  Universidad Continental (auditorio)

Pedro Cateriano in conversation with David Marcial Pérez

El País lecture: Vargas Llosa, political biography

Friday 7 November 2025, 6pm GMT-5 –  Teatro Municipal

Vargas Llosa, su otra gran pasión is the first political biography of Mario Vargas Llosa. Pedro Cateriano offers a detailed reconstruction of the ideological background of the Arequipan intellectual: from his Communist youth, through his rupture with the Cuban Revolution, to his transition to liberalism and failed bid for the presidency. This portrait offers a political life of one of the Spanish-speaking world’s most influential thinkers. In conversation with David Marcial Pérez.

LSP Peruvian Sign Language interpretation available

Marie-Pier Lafontaine and Rafia Zakaria in conversation with Nelly Luna

South to North Conversations: in first person

Friday 7 November 2025, 6pm GMT-5 –  Centro Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (teatro)

The feminist struggle can be looked at from various angles, and this event features two authors who do so from the intensity of their own experience. Marie-Pier Lafontaine (Canada) resists in the face of family abuse and breaks the silence that surrounds it in Chienne, while Armer la rage takes an angry swing at shame and trauma. The Pakistani lawyer and journalist Rafia Zakaria advocates a dismantling of the hegemony of white, Western, middle-class feminism, complicit in capitalist imperialism. Against White Feminism aims to break a yoke and create a future free of racism. Feminism will be intersectional, or it will not be feminism. In conversation with Nelly Luna.

Simultaneous interpretation from English to Spanish available

With the support of Open Society Foundations and the Canadian Embassy in Peru and Bolivia

Alberto Fuguet in conversation with Enrique Planas

Fuguet: yesterday and today

Friday 7 November 2025, 6pm GMT-5 –  Centro Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (auditorio)

It is a great time to read Alberto Fuguet. Missing, his fifth novel, mingles fiction and reality in order to talk about the disappearance of his uncle. It is the third Fuguet book to be republished this year, after Aeropuertos and No ficción. What is more, the Chilean writer published Ciertos chicos last year, a coming of age novel about two teenagers, Tomás y Clemente, in 1986, during the Chilean dictatorship. In conversation with Enrique Planas.

Pedro Salinas in conversation with Santiago Vanegas

Sodalitium: rise and fall

Friday 7 November 2025, 6pm GMT-5 –  Colegio de Arquitectos (auditorio)

The Sodalitium of Christian Life was a machinery of power and abuse, and one of the darkest cases involving the Church in Latin America. In La verdad nos hizo libres, Pedro Salinas (Peru) reconstructs the workings of the sect through personal testimonies and rigorous research. This was a network of power and concealment that began to unwind when victims raised their voices and finally the truth became stronger than impunity. The writer will talk to the BBC Mundo journalist, Santiago Vanegas.

Carlos Chávez and Esther Cruces in conversation with Edward de Ybarra

Eccles Institute event: archives of a return journey

Friday 7 November 2025, 6pm GMT-5 –  Teatro Arequepay

With the support of the Eccles Institute for American Studies at the British Library and PUCP

Lecture-workshop with Alejandra Moffat

Friday 7 November 2025, 6pm GMT-5 –  Universidad Continental (sala de Audiencias)

Alejandra Moffat (Chile) is a natural when it comes to telling stories, whether as novels, tales or for the screen, and this is clear from her many successful screenplays for fiction, animation and documentary film. The young people who attend the workshop will learn basic notions when it comes to expressing their ideas in the outline of a script: from developing the plot to profiling the characters, and setting out the progression of the action.

Reading club with Andrés Barba and Omar Zevallos

The rise and fall of Bam the Rabbit

Friday 7 November 2025, 6pm GMT-5 –  Instituto Cultural Peruano Alemán

The Hay Festival reading club comes to Arequipa lead by Omar Zevallos presenting Andrés Barba (Spain) and his novel Auge y caída del conejo Bam. This animal fable, featuring a rabbit protagonist, is a tale about social manipulation, ideals and lies, fear and violence.

Sponsored by SURA

Ricardo Raphael in conversation with David Marcial Pérez

The Wallace case: a fabricated mourning

Friday 7 November 2025, 8pm GMT-5 –  Teatro Arequepay

The story that all Mexico believed: the kidnapping of a child and the later media campaign of a mother seeking justice, which involved the highest spheres of power in the country. This was the Wallace case, when the victim became the perpetrator. In Fabricación, the journalist and writer Ricardo Raphael (Mexico) tells how a manufactured mourning became a spectacle, and a manipulation of the reality, justice and the media. A true story that could have been a thriller and a systematic reminder of the impunity that haunts us. In conversation with David Marcial Pérez.

Roxana Barrantes, Luis Carranza and Pedro Francke in conversation with Fernando Carvallo

Can the free market promote social equity?

Friday 7 November 2025, 8pm GMT-5 –  Teatro Municipal

The polarization of Peruvian society is clear in many spheres, including the economy. Given this situation it is appropriate to wonder whether a right-wing political economy can integrate social policies for the most disadvantaged. Can social equity be promoted with free-market basis? With a general election coming next year, two former Economic ministers —Luis Carranza and Pedro Francke—, and one of the directors of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru, Roxana Barrantes, will talk about these matters together with the journalist Fernando Carvallo.

LSP Peruvian Sign Language interpretation available