In English

Gothenburg was designated a UNESCO City of Literature in 2021, a permanent commitment to work strategically with literature to promote a sustainable society in accordance with Agenda 2030, the UN’s global goals for sustainable development.

The denomination to be a City of Literature encompasses both the city and the region, both carrying a rich literary history and present-day landscape of authors, publishing houses and cultural journals, literary associations, literary education programmes, one of the largest Book Fairs in Europe, and a wealth of public libraries – and, not least, its readers.

Gothenburg is also a hub for raising issues of freedom of speech as an ICORN-city, from 2026 also host-city for the national coordinator for ICORN in Sweden, as permanent participants at the Freedom of Expression Stage at the Gothenburg Book Fair, and not least, as initiative-takers and leaders of the Task and Finish Group for Freedom of Expression in the Unesco City of Literature network and of the ICORN/UNESCO Collaboration Initiative.

The City of Gothenburg, the University of Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg Book Fair, and literary organisations Författarcentrum Väst and Gothenburg House of Literature, form the six key partners of Gothenburg as a City of Literature.

Read more and visit our English-language website: Gothenburg City of Literature

Photo: The Gothenburg harbour. Photo: Lo Birgersson