Secundino Hernández in conversation with Sema D’Acosta
Painting is risking
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IE University. Aula Magna
Secundino Hernández’s work hangs in some of the most prestigious private collections in the world, and he regularly exhibits with leading international galleries. Since Don and Mera Rubell acquired several of his paintings in 2013, his career has experienced steady and remarkable growth. Without a doubt, he is one of the most prominent Spanish painters working today. His artistic expression often emerges from intuition rather than a deliberate search, which leads him to take the risks that come with working without a safety net. Yet he is comfortable with uncertainty, open to exploration and the unexpected. Demanding and self-critical, he refuses to settle and continues to evolve. He believes that painting must reflect “our time” in the most personal way possible.
Hernández will discuss his life and work with Sema D’Acosta an independent curator, art critic, educator and researcher, considered one of the leading specialists in visual arts in Spain.
Angélica Tanarro in conversation with Carlos Aganzo
What we (don't) know about words
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Biblioteca Pública de Segovia
Two poets. Two writers. Two cultural journalists. Two faithful to the word, to its ultimate consequences. Angélica Tanarro and Carlos Aganzotalk about their experiences in the world of journalism and culture, but also about their own poetic work, in that other way of looking at the world that poetry always has, and about their relationship with readers. Two very different voices, but the same literary devotion.
Presented by Carmen Delibes Senna-Cheribbo, director of Biblioteca Pública de Segovia.
Event in Spanish
This event has taken place
With the collaboration of the Junta de Castilla y León and Biblioteca Pública de Segovia
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Biblioteca Municipal de Segovia Casa de la Lectura
Europe is currently facing unprecedented challenges, with a devastating war on its border, internal tensions, the rise of the far right, the migration crisis, an uncertain economic context and the shift of its historical ally, the United States. Miriam González Durántez, Founder of España Mejor, and Sergio Vila-San Juan, a prestigious writer and journalist who coordinates the cultural supplement cultura/s of La Vanguardia, will debate what Europe must do to emerge strengthened from this crisis.
The event will be introduced by Kseniia Trifonova and Sam Ferdinand, President and former President of the IE International Relations Society.
Hubertus von Hohenlohe in conversation with Sema D’Acosta
City & Me
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IE University. Aula Magna
Hubertus von Hohenlohe, known as a ‘sportsman, globetrotter and bon vivant’, he is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative career spans photography, design, performance and media. Born into the European aristocracy and educated in philosophy and economics, he has forged a career defined by curiosity and irreverence. A Leica ambassador and permanent traveller, his photographs often blur the line between self and scene, celebrity and anonymity, turning moments into reflections of the viewer's own gaze. His work has been exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Belvedere Museum (Vienna), the Hungarian National Museum, the Fundación Cajasol (Seville), Fundación Unicaja (Málaga) and the Chiostro del Bramante (Rome), among others.
Hubertus will discuss his work with Sema D’Acosta, independent curator, art critic, teacher and researcher, one of Spain's foremost specialists in photography.
Mariana Enriquez in conversation with Miquel Molina
South to North Conversations
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Teatro Juan Bravo
Gothic horror, or ‘weird fiction’ with a twist, some punk thrown in, and laced with episodes from the history of her native Argentina, give us the works of renowned writer and journalist Mariana Enriquez, know as the Princess of Terror. Her novels also offer social commentary on issues such as the role of women, violence, and the never-fully-told story of her country’s dictatorship. In 2019, she won Anagrama’s Herralde Prize with her novel Nuestra parte de noche (Our Share of Night). In 2022, she was nominated for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the horror category for The Dangers of Smoking in Bed, going on to receive the 2024 José Donoso Ibero-American Literature Prize.
Enríquez will discuss her work and her many influences with Miquel Molina, writer and Deputy Editor of La Vanguardia.
There will be a book signing after the event
Event in Spanish
This event has taken place
Supported by Open Society Foundations and organised together with Diputación de Segovia and Teatro Juan Bravo
Acclaimed British philosopher Anthony C. Grayling will discuss his latest book, Discriminations: Making Peace in the Culture Wars. In this timely and provocative work, British philosopher Grayling, author of more than 30 books and founder of the New College of the Humanities, explores the history and consequences of cancel culture, drawing connections between ancient ostracism and modern political and social polarisation. He argues that many so-called cultural conflicts do not arise from conflicting rights, but from the clash between vested interests and fundamental freedoms.
Following his presentation, AC Grayling will converse with Martin Ivens, journalist, editor of The Times Literary Supplement and former editor of The Sunday Times.
At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his books
Event in English with simultaneous translation into Spanish
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Torreón de Lozoya (entrada por la Calle Grabador Espinoza)
A new edition of Own and Others, a series of read-aloud readings now in its 17th year. The Torreón de Lozoya is one of the most iconic buildings in the city — a fortified tower-house, a type that was very common in Segovia between the 13th and 15th centuries. It is a palatial complex with two towers, a courtyard, and a garden with a fortified gallery. Carlos Aganzo, Guillermo de'Medici, Marian Hens, Carlos Hernández-Lahoz, Fernando R. La Fuente, Momtaza Mehri, Ainhoa Sánchez, Javier Velaza, Cristina Ward, Pablo Morillo, Margarita Sanz Lobo and Beltrán Gambier will read their own texts or those of their favourite poets.
José Félix Valdivieso, poet and self-confessed lover of languages and language, will be joining the readings as master of ceremonies.
Event with readings in Spanish, Dutch and English
This event has taken place
Co-organized with the Torreón de Lozoya Foundation of the Caja Segovia Foundation and the collaboration of Acción Cultural Española, AC/E and The Jose Manuel Lara Foundation
Rob Riemen in conversation with Jesús García Calero
Rescuing European Humanism
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IE University. Sala Capitular
Rob Riemen (Netherlands) is an essayist, philosopher and director of the Nexus Institute, through which he aims to generate spaces for debate and keep alive the principles of European humanism. He is the author of books such as Nobility of Spirit and The Art of Being Human. He believes that Europe is at a complex crossroads. One that has to do with the loss of memory of the principles of duty, freedom, justice and even love for others. There are no magic formulas, but Riemen appeals to the 'nobility of spirit' to return to the democratic ideal; and he proposes to do so through philosophers —both classical and contemporary— and leading intellectuals such as Thomas Mann and Albert Camus.
He will talk about all this with Jesús García Calero, director of ABC Cultural. He specialises in heritage information and dissemination.
The event will be presented by Hannah Schildt, Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Spain.
At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his books
Event in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish
This event has taken place
Co-organised with the Embassy of the Netherlands in Spain and Penguin Radmon House Grupo Editorial and the collaboration of the ABC newspaper
William Chislett, Marta Rebón and Uta Staiger talk to Debbi Christophers
The foreign gaze: Writing Here and There
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Biblioteca Municipal Casa de la Lectura
What happens when we see ourselves as others see us? How does the place we are in influence the content of our writing and the way we write? What challenges do authors face when writing about a city, a country or in a language that is not their own? To discuss these questions, we will take as our starting point the literary map offered by the exhibition Lost & Found, organised by University College London, which explores London through the eyes of European writers, and Los Curiosos Impertinentes, the new book by William Chislett, about how three centuries of British travel writing have shaped Spain’s image abroad.
He will be joined by Marta Rebón, writer and literary translator who has won awards for her versions of Vasili Grossman's Life and Fate and Georgy Vladimov's The Faithful Ruslan. Uta Staiger,who has co-organised Lost & Found. A European Literary Map of London.
The debate will be moderated by Debbi Christophers, Cultural Attache at the British Embassy, Madrid.
Concert by the Symphony Orchestra and Big Band of the British School of Madrid
From Classicism to Jazz
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Teatro Juan Bravo
The Symphony Orchestra and Big Band of the British School of Madrid are made up of students, Music21 programme teachers, alumni, and parents from the School who come together to share their passion for making music as an ensemble. Their repertoire ranges from classical works to contemporary and popular music, including film scores and jazz.
The British School of Madrid is firmly committed to musical development—not only for the artistic achievements it fosters, but also for the values cultivated through the shared challenges of teamwork: loyalty, dedication, flexibility, resilience, and care for others.
This event has taken place
Coorganized with the Colegio Británico and the collaboration of Diputación de Segovia and Teatro Juan Bravo
Giles Tremlett in conversation with María José Ferrari
Challenges of History
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IE University. Aula Magna
Giles Tremlett is a British historian, journalist and author, widely recognised for his work on Spain and its contemporary history. He has written extensively on the Spanish Civil War, the Franco dictatorship, and the role of Spain in Europe, including acclaimed biographies of Isabel the Catholic and Catalina of Aragón. A contributing writer for The Guardian and former correspondent for The Economist, Tremlett has become one of the foremost foreign voices interpreting Spain’s recent past.
His most recent book, Franco. El dictador que moldeó un país (Franco: The Dictator Who Shaped a Country), offers a compelling portrait of the man who ruled Spain for four decades and whose legacy continues to shape the present.
In conversation with María José Ferrari, Professor and Director of the Chair of Hispanic Cultures at IE University, Tremlett will reflect on the enduring challenges of interpreting history, the tensions between memory and historiography, and the relevance of Spain’s past for today’s Europe.
Event in Spanish
This event has taken place
Co-organised with Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial and in collaboration with IE School of Humanities and the UK Embassy in Spain
News Fires: The Construction of Manipulated Narratives about Disasters (A Summer of Fires)
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Torreón de Lozoya
Political information practices contaminate all uses of journalism in times of populism and polarization.
Natural disasters have become windows of opportunity, or opportunism, as has happened with the fires of the summer of 2025, as with the Dana disaster in Valencia months ago.
Electoral gains trump effective management, and the priority is the construction of news narratives that shape a social perception of reality tailored to ideological and partisan interests.
The the prestigious journalists and writers Teodoro León Gross and Juan Soto Ivars discuss this post-truth in its purest form.
Event in Spanish
This event has taken place
Co-organized with the Torreón de Lozoya Foundation of the Caja Segovia Foundation
Javier Moreno and Andrea Rizzi in conversation with Laura Ventura
Emergency Geopolitics
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Biblioteca Municipal Casa de la Lectura
What are the limits of democratic power and its weaknesses when faced with other forms of power that operate outside the bounds of legality? The Western world is immersed in deep uncertainty, caused in part by the errors of its own leaders—as in the case of Latin America—and in part by geopolitical challenges from countries such as Russia and China. These tensions are contributing to a rise in violence and populism, the latter often fuelled by the discontent of the most disadvantaged social classes.
These topics will be explored in conversation by Javier Moreno and Andrea Rizzi. Moreno has recently published ¿Quién manda aquí? (Who’s in Charge Here?), a reflection on powerlessness in the face of growing violence in Latin America, where he interviews seven former presidents to understand why so many of their promises went unfulfilled and why legitimate power is losing ground. Andrea Rizzi is a Global Affairs correspondent and columnist for El País. He recently published La era de la revancha (The Age of Revenge), an analysis of the disruption facing Western structures and the dangers posed by challenges that fall outside democratic and legal frameworks.
The conversation will be moderated by Laura Ventura, PhD in Hispanic Philology and professor of Literature at Carlos III University in Madrid. She is also a contributor to La Nación (Argentina).
The event will be introduced by Maria de la Paz González Ross and Laia Sophie Rusch Vilaplana, President and Head of Events Segovia of the IE Debate Club.
The authors will sign copies of their books at the end of the event
Event in Spanish
This event has taken place
With the collaboration of the publishing house Anagrama and El País newspaper
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Biblioteca Municipal de Segovia Casa de la Lectura
Writer Carmen Posadas claims to have seen it all. With a rich literary trajectory spanning genres and themes, her stories often revolve around dazzling and dramatic pasts, far-off travels, and grounded characters who confront reality. Her latest novel, misterioso caso del impostor del Titanic (The Mysterious Case of the Titanic Impostor), takes inspiration from a real-life figure —Emilia Pardo Bazán— to craft an unexpected journey through New York and Cuba in the days following the sinking of the Titanic.
Posadas will speak with Ana Gavín, Director of Editorial Relations at Grupo Planeta.
At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of her books
Juan Cruz in conversation with Cristina Fuentes La Roche
Literature versus Reality
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Torreón de Lozoya
A thoughtful dialogue between a seasoned writer with a cultural manager on our environment, the dramatic changes taking place, in Europe in particular, and what the future holds, if indeed anything can be predicted. Canary Islander Juan Cruz, man of the periphery, where different cultures converge, and Cristina Fuentes La Roche, International Director of Hay Festival, will discuss how literature can confront and allay all this uncertainty.
Cruz has just published Secreto y pasión de la literatura, a "luminous and passionate" portrait of great contemporary authors such as Mario Vargas Llosa, Gabriel García-Márquez, Jorge Semprún and Jorge Luis Borges.
There will be a book signing after the event.
Event in Spanish
This event has taken place
Co-organised with Grupo Planeta and the collaboration of Acción Cultural Española, AC/E and Fundación Torreón de Lozoya of Fundación Caja Segovia
FT Weekend Debate: Radka Denemarková, Amanda Sloat, Carlos Franganillo and Barney Jopson in conversation with Frederick Studemann
Friends No More? The US, Europe, and the End of a Transatlantic Era
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IE University. Aula Magna
For decades, the transatlantic relationship has been a cornerstone of Western stability, built on shared values and strategic interests. Today, diverging priorities, cultural misunderstandings, and shifting global power threaten to turn a shared horizon into a widening gulf.
This debate brings together Carlos Franganillo, journalist, anchor of TV News at Telecinco and former foreign correspondent in the US and Rusia; Radka Denemarková, acclaimed Czech novelist and essayist known for her sharp insights on democracy and human rights; Amanda Sloat, former Senior Director for Europe at the US National Security Council with deep expertise in transatlantic relations; and Barney Jopson, Financial Times Spain & Portugal correspondent with two decades of geopolitical reporting.
In conversation with Frederick Studemann, Literary Editor of the Financial Times, they will ask whether the US and Europe are undergoing a necessary evolution —or facing an irreversible divorce.
Event in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish
Tourism and Literature: The Opportunity for a New Humanistic Vision of Travel
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IE University. Sala Capitular
Literary tourism is a growing segment worldwide. A phenomenon valued at $2.3 million globally in 2024, and growing in 2025. A true strategic window for Latin American countries, where spaces like the Macondo Route in Colombia; Pablo Neruda's house museums in Chile; the Borges and Cortázar tours in Argentina; or the Pueblo Mágico of Comala in Mexico have become true pilgrimage routes, and in Castilla y León, where the houses of Antonio Machado and Miguel de Cervantes are located... and Miguel Delibes's house will open soon.
Ángel Cárdenas, one of the leading experts and manager of Infrastructure for Development at CAF (Bank of Development of Latin America and the Caribbean), will have a conversation with writer and journalist Carlos Aganzo.
Event in Spanish
This event has taken place
Co-organised with CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean) and the collaboration of the newspaper El Norte de Castilla
Maria de Medeiros and Marcelo Rubens Paiva talk to Iôna de Macêdo
Never Again
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IE University. Aula Magna
Rubens Paiva, a Brazilian congressman and staunch opponent of his country's dictatorship, was arrested and disappeared in 1971. Only 40 years later, thanks to the efforts of his wife, Eunice, was it confirmed that he had been tortured and murdered by military forces.
Decades later, his son, the writer, playwright and journalist Marcelo Rubens Paiva, captured this experience in Ainda Estou Aqui ('I'm Still Here'), a memoir that intertwines the Paiva family history after the father's disappearance with Brazilian politics in the last decades of the 20th century. The work was adapted for the cinema by director Walter Salles Jr. and, in 2025, the film won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
Paiva will talk with Portuguese actress, director and singer Maria de Medeiros, whose artistic career is defined by a deep commitment to historical memory and human rights. Moderated by Iôna de Macêdo, Vice Dean of IE University and expert in communication, audiovisual production and creative talent development. The event will be introduced by Catalina Tejero, Dean of IE School of Humanities.
Event in Portuguese with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish
This event has taken place
Organised together with IE Foundation and the Brazilian Embassy in Spain
Alfonso Alegre Heitzmann in conversation with Félix Losada Vieira
Poetry, threshold of the world
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Torreón de Lozoya
From the poetic roots of his latest book, Hueso en astilla, Alfonso Alegre Heitzmann talks to Félix Losada Vieira about writing as a form of attention, the word as threshold, silence as origin. Poetry as a place of presence: a way of being in the world that does not seek to represent, but to reveal. A conversation that crosses the arts, mysticism and the poetic memory of an author who has known how to listen to the world from its deepest breath.
At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his books.
Event in Spanish
This event has taken place
With the support of Acción Cultural Española, AC/E
Mário Roque and Lorenzo de’ Medici in conversation
The Great Art Dealers
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IE University. Sala Capitular
The world of art and antiques —its creative process, the interest of collectors, and the unpredictable journeys of artworks— forms a kaleidoscopic universe full of possibilities, though not without risk. At its center stands the figure of the art dealer, capable of elevating forgotten pieces and, above all, sharing a passion for objects that carry fragments of our past.
Portuguese dealer Mário Roque has been doing exactly that for years. He left a career in cardiology to dedicate himself to antiques, founding São Roque Antiguidades e Galeria de Arte, a gallery with a strong focus on Portuguese art from the Age of Discoveries. Roque is a regular at major international events and collaborates with numerous museums and institutions, loaning works for both national and international exhibitions. Roque’s expertise has inspired a new generation of young art dealers from around the world, turning him into a reference point and mentor in the field.
He will be joined by Lorenzo de’ Medici, a descendant of the iconic Medici family — one of the most renowned names in European collecting, from the Renaissance to the present day. The conversation will be introduced by the ambassador of Portugal, the honourable Don Jose Augusto Duarte.
Event in French with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish
This event has taken place
With the collaboration of Embassy of Portugal in Spain
