For the Forum of Slavic Cultures, 2026 will be marked by a series of important anniversaries, rich programs, and strengthened international cooperation in the fields of literature, cultural heritage, and museology. A year of intensive creative dialogue, encounters, and joint reflection on contemporary cultural challenges lies ahead.
We will begin the spring in a festive spirit, as the literary segment of the program will be highlighted by the Fifth Festival of Slavic Literature, taking place from April 13 to 17. The festival will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 100 Slavic Novels—one of the Forum of Slavic Cultures’ central and most recognizable literary projects. The festival will showcase the richness of contemporary Slavic literature and emphasize its importance within the broader European and international context.
The festival will come to life through literary discussions, public readings, and carefully curated accompanying programs designed to engage both experts and the general public. Visitors will have a unique opportunity to meet renowned writers from various Slavic countries: Robert Perišić (Croatia), Venko Andonovski (North Macedonia), Zdravko Evtimov (Bulgaria), Andrej Nikolaidis (Montenegro), Dragan Velikić (Serbia), Monika Kompaníková (Slovakia), and Aleksandar Gatalica (Serbia).
The festival will also feature a ceremonial academy marking the 20th anniversary of the 100 Slavic Novels, highlighting its long-term significance for international literary exchange, translation culture, and the circulation of ideas within the Slavic world. At the same time, a meeting of the collection’s editorial board will be held, during which members will discuss the future of the project, its development directions, and new content priorities. As in previous years, the festival will take place at multiple venues: the main program in Ljubljana will be organized in cooperation with the Department of Slavic Studies at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, while additional events will also be hosted by libraries in Maribor and Celje, ensuring the festival’s openness and accessibility to a wider audience across Slovenia.
The Forum of Slavic Cultures’ spring program will continue in May and June with a series of talks dedicated to Zofka Kveder, held in the garden of Villa Zlatica. Zofka Kveder, one of the most important Slovenian intellectuals and cultural figures at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, decisively transcended the social and gender limitations of her time through her work. The discussions, led by Dr. Katja Mihurko, will bring together contemporary writers, editors, and activists to address issues related to the position of women in culture and public space today, reflecting on how much has changed and which challenges remain, despite the progress achieved by previous generations.
The autumn portion of the program year will be marked by two outstanding international events in the fields of museology and cultural heritage, taking place in Bled in cooperation with the Bled Culture Institute, the Bled Tourist Board, the Slovenian Tourist Board, and the Municipality of Bled.
On 29 and 30 September 2026, the Heritage in Motion (HIM) Festival will take place in Bled – an award programme dedicated to recognising unique and innovative audiovisual and multimedia projects that promote, explore, document, or safeguard cultural heritage. Recognised and awarded projects are those that approach the presentation of cultural heritage in new and innovative ways, using contemporary technologies and media. At the same time, the award encourages interest in global heritage and is open to submissions from around the world. This year’s edition of the award, jointly organised by the Forum of Slavic Cultures and the European Museum Academy, is particularly special, as the award ceremony will, for the first time, take place within an expanded programme – the HIM Festival. Professional lectures and workshops will be organised for participants. The call for entries will be published in March; more information about the HIM Award and the 2025 winners is available via the link.
From 30 September to 3 October 2026, the programme will continue with the ŽIVA Conference and Awards Ceremony, now in its twelfth edition. ŽIVA represents an international cultural platform that connects Slavic museums and institutions and encourages cooperation, the exchange of ideas, and the development of joint projects. It is not merely an award, but a meeting point for museum professionals from the Slavic world (and beyond, as the programme also includes a Diploma for Excellence in the Preservation of Slavic Heritage Worldwide), offering insight into innovative practices in the preservation of Slavic cultural heritage. Applications are now open.
With its 2026 program, the Forum of Slavic Cultures once again reaffirms its commitment to connecting cultures, promoting dialogue, and creating spaces for the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and creativity in literary, professional, and cultural fields. We invite you to join us in 2026 at festivals, discussions, conferences, and celebratory events, and to help us shape a vibrant, open, and internationally recognized space for Slavic culture.