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International Mother Language Day, which takes place annually on the 21st of February, aims to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity across the globe. The day has been internationally recognized since 1999, with UNESCO Cities of Literature all over the world using it as a platform to highlight the importance of one's mother tongue.

By combining strategic coordination, cultural expertise, and active author engagement, Closer Together is a to-year programme strengthening connections between literary cities. The project aims to ensure meaningful exchange, and highlights literature as a vital tool for dialogue, reflection, and cultural preservation in challenging times. 

Folk & kultur is a convention created to be Sweden’s leading meeting place for art and culture in democratic and societal development questions. UNESCO’s Creative Cities in Sweden presents a yearly series of seminars at the event. In 2026, the focus was on culture and freedom.

Poet, antropologist and filmmaker Rachel Runesson represented Gothenburg City of Literature in the 2025 Slamovsion finals. Her rythmic and engaging contribution, "Sheep and Wolves" explores the shift from child to woman, securing the third place in the global contest held in Dublin, Ireland.

Between Banned Books Week and the Day of the Imprisoned Writer Gothenburg highlights forbidden voices: in 2025, over 30 events were to be held at libraries, cultural centres, museums, and schools around the city.

in 2024, Baek Heena, the ALMA-awarded children's author from Seoul and Peter Pan Prize-laureate Laura Santullo of Montevideo visited Gothenburg to meet school pupils, teachers, and the general public as part of Läsning utan gränser (“Reading Without Borders”), a reading promotion project organised by Författarcentrum Väst.