The Lastovka Award will be presented to the author of the winning entry in the 35th short story competition organised by the Ars programme of Radio Slovenia.

This year, 274 stories were submitted to the competition. The winning story, selected by a three-member expert jury, will be read aloud at the award ceremony. In the days leading up to the event, shortlisted stories and their authors will be presented on the radio programme Literarni nokturno.

The competition was launched in 1992 by Andrej Arko and his colleagues. Initially, it featured separate categories for shorter and longer texts, before later focusing on a single category encompassing, on the one hand, the more narrative genre of flash fiction or microfiction, established in American literature, and, on the other, the more reflective and lyrical vignette familiar from Slovenian literary history.

This year’s award ceremony will be broadcast live on Radio Slovenia’s Ars Programme. The event will be directed by Klemen Markovčič, with Matej Juh as screenwriter.

Launched in 1996, the Prišleki series published by LUD Literatura celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026. To date, 140 titles have appeared in the series. Previous editors include Urban Vovk, Goran Dekleva, Petra Koršič, and Andrej Hočevar, while Veronika Šoster – moderator of the event – has held the role since 2021.

The Prišleki series publishes new Slovenian novels, short story and poetry collections, often introducing entirely new literary voices to the Slovenian publishing landscape. Alongside award-winning titles, the series has also produced numerous longlisted and shortlisted works, including Veronika Dintinjana’s poetry collection V suhem doku (Jenko Award), the Novo Mesto Short Award-winning collections Obvoz by Franci Novak and Leteči ljudje by Ajda Bračič, as well as recipients of the Kritiško Sito Award, presented by the Association of Slovenian Literary Critics to emerging authors Jernej Županič, Muanis Sinanović, Ajda Bračič, and Ana Pepelnik. In recent years, novels from the series have regularly been shortlisted for the Kresnik Award, while the collection has twice received the Brumen Award for outstanding Slovenian design for its iconic covers by Zoran Pungerčar.

To mark this milestone anniversary, authors published in the Prišleki series will gather in Alma Karlin Hall to reflect on past achievements and read excerpts from their works – from Andrej Blatnik’s novel Tao ljubezni (1996) to Nika Nikolič’s novel Zataknjeni v vezju (2026).
 

Immigrant authors will address the importance of immigrant literature, the conditions for creativity in Slovenia and their participation in Slovenia's main literary events and festivals.  

Svetlana Slapšak was born in 1948 in Belgrade and has a PhD in Classics. A critic, scholar and anthropologist, Slapšak has authored numerous works in the fields of anthropology, linguistics, classical studies, gender studies, Balkan studies and comparative studies. 

Lidija Dimkovska (1971, Skopje) has lived in Ljubljana since 2001. She has published seven collections of poetry, four novels, an American diary and a collection of short stories translated into seventeen foreign languages, and edited four anthologies. She is a recipient of numerous awards, most recently the Macedonian Novel of the Year and the regional Štefica Cvek Prize for her novel EMŠO.

Miomira Šegina was born in Srebrenica, grew up in Tuzla, and has lived and worked in Slovenia since 1980. She writes short stories, journalistic articles, reflections and travelogues. She has written three plays, a collection of short stories (Skozi rdečo, 2009), as well as bilingual books Dve drami – dva jezika (2012) and Skrivnost Blejskega jezera (2022).

Hosted by: Selma Skenderović
 

The Vegetarian, originally published in 2007, is a novel by the South Korean author Han Kang, recipient of both the International Booker Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature. The Slovenian edition was translated by Urša Zabukovec, who worked from the Spanish edition while consulting other translations.

The novel centres on a seemingly simple decision with far-reaching consequences. It follows a woman whose decision to stop eating meat unwittingly exposes tensions and misunderstandings within her family. The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of three narrators, each revealing the consequences of the protagonist's rejection of her expected role. As the story progresses, a portrait emerges of a family unable to come to terms with otherness, and of an individual struggling to survive her inner turmoil.

Maša Jelušič and Andrej Blatnik will discuss Han Kang's novel with David Zupančič, physician, writer and one of Slovenia's leading science communicators. An infectious disease specialist at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, he is the author of the bestselling books Življenje v sivi coni ("Life in the Grey Zone"), Znanost mirnega življenja ("The Science of a Peaceful Life") and V mejah normale ("Within the Limits of Normalcy"), as well as the podcast Umetnost lenarjenja ("The Art of Idling").

Widely recognised for his ability to explain complex subjects with clarity and insight, Zupančič is an ideal discussion partner for a novel that explores psychological and social tensions while also touching on questions surrounding vegetarianism.

South Korean writer Han Kang is known for her uncompromising exploration of pain, violence and historical trauma. Her works, including The Vegetarian, Human Acts and We Do Not Part, combine poetic language with unflinching honesty.
In South Korea, she is widely regarded as a symbol of artistic integrity, recognised for her refusal to yield to political pressure and her commitment to artistic independence. Her Nobel Prize has also been celebrated as a landmark achievement for Korean literature as a whole, a literary tradition that has long grappled with historical trauma and social upheaval.
 

Globoko v gozdu ("Deep in the Forest") by Irena Štaudohar is a deeply personal, essayistic and poetic journey into the space between nature and the human psyche. Drawing on the forest where her father disappeared decades ago, as well as the symbolic forests of memory, myth and art, the author weaves a narrative of loss, silence, wilderness and the often overlooked dimensions of existence.

The book is at once an intimate autobiography and a cultural history of the wilderness. In an increasingly rationalised world, the book reminds us of our primal bond with nature and of the mysterious anima that continues to inhabit every living being.

Irena Štaudohar is a dramaturg, editor and journalist. She served as editor-in-chief of Maska, was a co-curator of the international festival Mladi levi, and spent several years as editor of Delo's Saturday supplement, where she continues to contribute as a journalist.
Her thoughtful and culturally perceptive articles have earned her a wide readership, while her book Kaj hoče ženska? ("What Does a Woman Want?") has been one of Slovenia's most widely discussed books of the past five years. Globoko v gozdu ("Deep in the Forest") is her fourth book.
 

The Ministry for the Future, a work of climate fiction, imagines a near future in which the world confronts the increasingly tangible consequences of climate change. At its centre stands an international organisation established to devise solutions for an increasingly desolate world. Robinson follows a range of characters, from officials to scientists, as they seek to reconcile political, economic and ethical interests. Rather than dwelling on catastrophe, he focuses on the practical mechanisms of change.

Matjaž Gruden, columnist and Director of Democratic Participation at the Council of Europe, seems almost like a character who could step directly into Robinson's novel. Together with the moderators, he will discuss how convincingly the book portrays these processes and to what extent its characters, conflicts and plot developments reflect real-world challenges.

Kim Stanley Robinson is an acclaimed US writer and multiple recipient of the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards. He is the author of more than twenty books, including the bestselling Mars trilogy, which established his international reputation, as well as such acclaimed works as The Years of Rice and Salt (2002), Forty Signs of Rain (2004) and 2312 (2012).

Widely regarded as one of the leading science fiction writers of his generation, Robinson had an asteroid named after him in 2001. The Ministry for the Future, translated into Slovenian by Alenka Ropret, is the first of Robinson's novels to appear in Slovenian.

With the participation of: Anuša Plesničar, Dr. Gregor Pompe and Steven Loy

Widely regarded as one of the greatest contemporary composers, Arvo Pärt is also the most performed living composer of contemporary classical music.

Throughout his career, Pärt has developed a distinctive minimalist style centred on tintinnabula – a self-invented, meditative compositional technique characterized by sparse, two-voice textures and a profound influence from Gregorian chant and Orthodox liturgy. His music reflects a deeply rooted spirituality and faith. From 2011 to 2018, Pärt was the most performed living composer in the world. His best-known works include Für Alina, Spiegel im Spiegel, and Silouan’s Song.

Anuša Plesničar, Gregor Pompe, and Steven Loy will discuss Pärt’s spiritual biography, written by his friend, the American Orthodox priest Peter C. Bouteneff.

At Cankarjev dom, the book will be available for purchase at a promotional price.

Viola player Anuša Plesničar studied at the Academy of Music Ljubljana, the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, and the Detmold University of Music, where she earned her master’s degree. She also completed a bachelor’s degree in musicology at the Faculty of Arts University of Ljubljana, where she is currently pursuing her doctoral studies. She is a member of the Slovenian String Sextet (Slovenski godalni sekstet) and regularly collaborates with Slovenian symphony and opera orchestras.

Gregor Pompe (born 1974 in Ljubljana) studied comparative literature, German language, and later musicology at the Faculty of Arts University of Ljubljana, where he received a student Prešeren Award for his undergraduate thesis. He began his academic career as an assistant at the Department of Musicology, earning his PhD in 2006 with a dissertation on music semantics and postmodernism. He was appointed Assistant Professor in 2009 and Associate Professor in 2014, and has served as Head of the Department of Musicology since 2012. His areas of research include contemporary music, music semantics, and opera. The Slovenian Musicological Society presented him with the Mantuani Award in acknowledgement of his scholarly work. He serves on several expert committees, including those of the City of Ljubljana, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovenian Philharmonic.

Steven Loy is a Slovenia-based conductor known for his strong commitment to contemporary classical music. He is the founder and artistic director of Neofonía, a new music ensemble that has introduced numerous important late 20th- and early 21st-century works to Slovenian audiences, including notable performances at the Predihano festival in Cankarjev dom. Loy regularly conducts and records with the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, performing both contemporary and standard repertoire. He also collaborates with smaller ensembles such as the Slovenian Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra, Slovenian Percussion Project, MD7, and Slowind. As a guest conductor, he has worked with leading European ensembles, including Klangforum Wien and the SWR Experimentalstudio Ensemble. He is also active as a composer, with performances by the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra. Loy teaches orchestral conducting as an Assistant Professor at the Academy of Music University of Ljubljana.

In cooperation with the publishing house Družina 
 

In Slovenian, without translation.

The World Literature Festival – Fabula is an international partner of the European platform CELA – Connecting Emerging Literary Artists, which brings together young writers, translators, and literary professionals to provide long-term support for emerging authors, fostering their development and integration into the European literary scene. In collaboration with the Goga publishing house, Fabula strengthens the professionalization of literary activity, while positioning Ljubljana as an important hub of contemporary European literature.

As part of Fabula × CELA, a special evening will be dedicated to three Slovenian writers selected for the project. The addressed themes: writing as a process, coming onto the international literary scene, and how an author’s voice evolves at the intersection of local roots and European exchange.

Participating authors:
•    Liu Zakrajšek – novelist, essayist, and translator, known for blending theory, philosophy, and distinctive literary voice.
•    Selma Skenderović – writer and poet, president of Young PEN Slovenia, acclaimed for her fiction exploring identity and memory. 
•    Tina Perić – writer, translator, and musician, merging language, sound, and collective creation in her work.

The evening will include a discussion on writing in today’s literary landscape, the intersection of local and European literary networks, and the visibility of Slovenian authors.

Moderated by Ana Geršak, the event presents Fabula × CELA as a literary laboratory, a space where authorial voices are nurtured and connected.
 

Weaving a cinematic narrative – an interlacement of music and narration, the artists take the audience on a journey through the life and work of Josip Jurčič, a historical novelist and the author of the first Slovenian novel who derived his motifs from Slovenian folk tradition. Captivating memories unfold before the eyes of the spectator, presenting Josip Jurčič's life (Epilogue), the short story Kozlovska sodba v Višnji Gori (The Famous Goat Trial), Lepa Vida (The Fair Vida), and Rokovnjači (The Bandits), concluding with the Epilogue. Inspired by Ivan Tavčar’s Visoška kronika (The Visoko Chronicle), the project creators wrote musical compositions that seamlessly overlap with the most relevant, dramatic and joyful passages from this historical novel, which deals with a broad spectrum of human emotions, ranging from the basest motives to the noblest sentiments.

Joining forces with Slovenia’s foremost narrator, Ivan Lotrič, the project authors (performing their own original compositions) are academically trained guitarist Andrej Ofak and accordionist Borut Mori.

Cankarjev dom’s new music and literature series taking place in the Alma Karlin Hall focuses on an interlacement of music and narration flowing seamlessly into one another in the search for meaning, rhythm, and emotion. The series opens up space for an intimate yet engaging experience, where poetry, narrative, and music come together in an insightful reflection on our times.

*When purchasing tickets for all five concerts of the Notopisi series, you are entitled to a 20% discount.
 

Between April 23 and 25, access to Cankarjev dom is limited. For visitors of the Notopisi concert: Katja Šulc in the Alma Karlin Hall, the entrance through the Small Gallery will be open one hour before the start. 

Line-up: Katja Šulc, vocals, voice processor, sampler, looper, ukulele; Andraž Mazi, pedal steel guitar, banjo, charango; Marino Kranjac, dulcimer

A Slovenian singer and songwriter known for her signature blend of poetry and music, contemporary folk, and diverse cultural traditions, Katja Šulc employs an eclectic musical approach, a method built on atmosphere, intimate interpretation, storytelling, and sound effects. After obtaining an education in Slovenia and studying at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York, Šulc has released five studio albums, whose common thread is poetry in music.  Her latest album, West Wind Blow From Your Prairie Nest (ŠKUC, 2024), reached the World Music Chart Europe Top 20 and received a nomination for the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik.

At this concert, Katja Šulc will take the audience on a journey through the landscapes that inspire the poetry in her albums. From Romani to Mexican and North American Indigenous worlds, all the way to Istria – the magical region at the heart of her new project, developed during her artist residency in Kubed. She will premiere her upcoming single Kubejski, featuring musical settings of poems by Alojz Kocjančič, the bard of Istria. The special guest will be the Istrian musician Marino Kranjac.
 

Cankarjev dom’s new music and literature series taking place in the Alma Karlin Hall focuses on an interlacement of music and narration flowing seamlessly into one another in the search for meaning, rhythm, and emotion. The series opens up space for an intimate yet engaging experience, where poetry, narrative, and music come together in an insightful reflection on our times.

*When purchasing tickets for all five concerts of the Notopisi series, you are entitled to a 20% discount.