Nicosia alternative book festival returns for second edition

The Nicosia Alternative Book Festival is set to return for its second edition on November 14 and 15, 2026. Hosted at the YALLA Collective Space & Café, the event serves as a platform for independent publishers, bookstores, and collectives from Cyprus and abroad to engage in discussions regarding critical thinking, independent publishing, and social change.

The 2026 program includes a series of thematic sessions addressing contemporary social and political issues. Key discussions will focus on colonialism, anti-colonialism, and nationalism in the Cypriot context, as well as the experiences of migrants and the impact of racism. Additional topics include the intersection of language and power, and the relationship between capitalism and the Ottoman world. Participating entities include local and international groups such as Affect Editions, Moufflon Bookstore, Anarchiki Domi Vivliou, and the New Cyprus Association among others.

Building on the success of its inaugural event, this year's festival aims to foster an environment where diverse perspectives and political traditions can intersect. The gathering is designed to promote the free exchange of ideas, encouraging visitors to view books not merely as reading material but as tools for intellectual and societal reflection.