Hay Festival Cartagena 2026

The Colombian Academy of the Language —the continent’s oldest— has taken over a century and a half to open its doors to racialized women. This systematic invisiblisation has started to be remedied this year with the recognition as members of the institution of the Afro-Colombian poet Mary Grueso and the Misak linguist Bárbara Muelas. Muelas is working on the first Namtrik-Spanish dictionary and Grueso has been showing for years that her poetry, in the Afro oral tradition, is also literature. The two will talk to Mar Ortega about the historical repercussions of these appointments.

All events on Saturday, January 31st will be free for people with ID from the department of Bolívar. Complimentary tickets can be requested —up to capacity— at the box office of the Hay Festival (Centro de Convenciones) showing your identification on the same day the event is taking place.