For poets Jannine Horsford (Jurassic Coast) and Fawzia Muradali Kane (Guaracara), a sensuous engagement with specific places unlocks memories, questions and sometimes imagined selves. At #bocas2026, they'll be in conversation with Simone Leid.
✨Own a rare piece of festival history & support the future of Caribbean literature! We're proud to release a special limited-edition festival poster of ‘The Seeker’ by celebrated T&T artist Shalini Seereeram
Signed: TT$250 at @paperbasedbookshop.bsky.social
bocaslitfest.com/festival-art/
#bocas2026
How do you know when your manuscript is ready to go out into the world, & what are the green & red flags a publisher looks for when considering a submission? In ‘Writers First: Ready or Not?’, @johnnytemple.bsky.social, @akashicbooks.bsky.social, shares his insights.
🗓 Sun 3 May 🕒1–2 pm
#bocas2026
In this ‘Writers First’ seminar, writer and UWI creative writing MFA director Muli Amaye shares insights from her new book 'The Black Writer's Toolbox', exploring both technique and theory and the historical implications of language, voice and power.
🗓 Sat 2 May 🕒 1–2 pm
#bocas2026
In ‘Writers First: Introducing Jacaranda’, Magdalene Abraha of UK-based @jacarandabooks.bsky.social shares insights about their origins, ethos, and what makes their catalogue unique — plus their special interest in writing from the Caribbean.
🗓 Sat 2 May 🕒10–11 am
#bocas2026
Following the resounding success of 'Kaiso Conversations: David Rudder' we present an intimate, thought-provoking conversation with Rapso standard-bearers 3canal and music critic Nigel A. Campbell.
#bocas2026
Tix: islandetickets.com/event/kaisoc... or @paperbasedbookshop.bsky.social
As excitement builds in the lead up to the announcement of this year’s recipient of the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, we are treated in today’s Express to an excerpt from the winner of the Poetry category: The World After Rain: Anne’s Poem, by Canisia Lubrin.
#bocas2026
📣Our early-bird special ends soon! Sign up for workshops designed for budding, emerging and established writers led by some of the best facilitators and celebrated authors.
🎟️TT$100 up to Sun 12 April
🎟️TT$200 from Mon 13 April
bocaslitfest.com/programme/wo...
#bocas2026 #alltogethernow
The past is another country, and for the protagonists of debut novels by Karen Barrow (Palmyra) and @christinajcooke.bsky.social (Broughtupsy), a return to a place that was once home excavates secrets & possible other lives. At #bocas2026 they'll be in conversation with Michael A. Bucknor.
For novelist Cristina Bendek (Salt Crystals) and poet Adalber Salas Hernández (Isolario/Islarium), islands are complicated places of memory, desire, identity & loss. At #bocas2026 they'll be in conversation with Nicholas Laughlin.
In partnership with the Embassies of Spain & Colombia.
#alltogthernow
Bringing together elements of humour, suspense, and romance, T&T authors Lance Dowrich (Long Rope for Magga Goat) and Scarlet Ibis James (Scarlet Birthright) tell stories of family, friendship, and what makes a place home. At #bocas2026, they'll be in conversation with RyanBachoo.
#alltogethernow
Margaret Busby's new collection of writings, Part of the Story, ranges over the astonishing sweep of her career, an autobiography assembled from her essays on people, places & political thought. At #bocas2026 Margaret will be One on One with Bocas founder Marina Salandy-Brown.
#alltogethernow
In ‘The Quiet Ear: An Investigation of Missing Sound’, acclaimed poet Raymond Antrobus tells the story of growing up “at the intersection of race and disability” & how deafness — and its community — have shaped his life & sensibility.
One on One with @abagoo.bsky.social at #bocas2026
#alltogethernow
The biggest questions about life and death, grief and solace are at the heart of ‘The Snag: A Mother, a Forest, and Wild Grief’, a meditative and deeply affecting memoir by Tessa McWatt. In this One on One, Tessa will be in conversation with @dboodoofortune.bsky.social.
#bocas2026 #alltogethernow
In The World After Rain, a book-length elegy for her mother, Canisia Lubrin explores the powerful dynamic between love and loss. In this One on One panel, Canisia will be in conversation with Shivanee Ramlochan @novelniche.bsky.social
#bocas2026 #alltogethernow
Set in a small coastal village but ranging across centuries, Ibis, the debut novel by @justinhayneswriter.com, explores the power and peril of intimate bonds in the face of great social forces. In this One on One, Justin will be in conversation with Breanne Mc Ivor.
#bocas2026 #alltogethernow
Beloved Trinidad-born, New York-based writer @cboycetaylor.bsky.social talks to BCLF founder Marsha Massiah about motherhood and migration, grief and pleasure, and her book The Limitless Heart: New and Selected Poems (1997–2022).
#bocas2026 #alltogethernow
@bklyncbeanlitfest.bsky.social
In ‘Salt, Sweat and Steam’, Trini food writer Brigid Washington recounts her time at one of the world’s top culinary schools & spills secrets about what it really takes to become a top-tier chef, and will be in conversation with Franka Philip.
#bocas2026 #alltogethernow
@stmartinspress.bsky.social
7/✨At night, we step out across POS:
Fri: BackChat, hosted by CAISO Trinidad & Tobago: Sex & Gender Justice at Kafe Blue;
Sat - Kaiso Conversations featuring rapso legends 3canal in conversation with Nigel Campbell at Big Black Box;
Sun - the National Poetry Slam Finals at NAPA
#bocas2026
5/✍️Fri 1 May holds a full slate of events for teens — including a timely interactive session exploring the possibilities & pitfalls of AI, the annual Bocas Youth Debate, and the launch of a new multimedia graphic novel produced by young writers & artists.
#bocas2026
4/📚Caribbean writers who have been nearly forgotten; life writing — memoirs and biographies — so important for Caribbean readers; translation, and its crucial role in making our stories available to bigger regional & international audiences.
#bocas2026
3/🗣Big Ideas discussions: we’re bringing together panels of experts to debate the future of Caribbean regionalism & the thorny questions of how we define our cultural heritage & how heritage institutions need to grapple with ideas about decolonisation & restitution.
#bocas2026
2/ ✨️Here are a few of our programme highlights, Thurs 30 April to Sun 3 May:
✍️An expanded Writers First series — free seminars for early-career writers that focus on the publishing business and practical aspects of nurturing a professional literary career. #bocas2026
✍️Cannibal Translations, with Adalber Salas Hernández, is open for registration!
🗓Thurs 30 April, 10 am–2 pm
📍1st Floor Seminar Room. NALIS POS
🎟 TT$100
🔗 bocaslitfest.com/cannibal-translations
Presented in partnership with the Embassy of Spain in T&T.
#bocas2026 #alltogethernow
✍️Registration is open for ‘The Fictional Antagonist: Your Main Character’s Best Friend’, with @justinhayneswriter.com, winner of the 2026 OCM Bocas Prize for Fiction!
🗓Sat 2 May🕙10 am–12 pm
📍1st Flr Seminar Rm, NALIS POS
🎟 TT$100
🔗 bocaslitfest.com/the-fictional-antagonist
#bocas2026 #alltogethernow
In a world of digital overload, escaping into fiction provides can enhance personal and professional life. ✍️‘Reading for Mental Health’, with @ellaberthoud.bsky.social
🗓 Sat 2 May 🕑2–4 pm
📍1st Floor Seminar Rm, NALIS
🎟 TT$100
🔗 bocaslitfest.com/reading-for-mental-health
#bocas2026 #alltogethernow
✍️Registration is open for 'There’s No Place Like...', with Tessa McWatt, winner of the 2026 OCM Bocas Prize for Nonfiction!
🗓 Sun 3 May 🕑 10 am–12 pm
📍1st Floor Seminar Room, NALIS POS
🎟 TT$100
🔗 bocaslitfest.com/theres-no-place-like
#bocas2026 #alltogethernow
✍️Registration is open for ‘Poetry as Vessel’, with Canisia Lubrin, winner of the 2026 OCM Bocas Prize for Poetry.
🗓Sun 3 May 🕑 2–4 pm
📍1st Floor Seminar Room, National Library, POS
🎟TT $100
🔗 bocaslitfest.com/poetry-as-vessel
#bocas2026 #alltogethernow
📣April’s Bocas Book Bulletin is here! Featuring new Caribbean releases, Bocas Lit Fest news, awards/prizes, and March bestsellers at @paperbasedbookshop.bsky.social!
trinidadexpress.com/features/loc...
#bocas2026
@peepaltreepress.bsky.social @jacarandabooks.bsky.social
📣Registration is open! Designed for budding, emerging & established writers, workshops focused on craft have been staples of our annual literary festival; this year we have workshops with some of the best facilitators & celebrated authors: bocaslitfest.com/programme/wo...
#bocas2026 #alltogethernow
