Santiago del Teide is getting another weekend dedicated to books, poetry, music and a fair few people who clearly enjoy reading.
The Santiago de Letras festival returns for its second edition on 3 and 4 October, taking over Plaza de Santiago del Teide under the theme “Letras al cielo”.
The programme brings together writers from the Canary Islands and further afield, with book talks, workshops, poetry, live music, family activities and a Book Fair.
More than just book launches
The festival is designed to take literature out of the usual bookshop or library setting and put it into the middle of the town.
There will be literary conversations, author meetings, book signings, creative workshops and activities for children and families.
Among the visiting names are Alfredo Relaño, May R. Ayamonte and Pedro Martí, alongside a sizeable group of writers and creators from the Canary Islands including Ceci Wallace, Diego G. Reinfeld, Marcos Dosantos, Antonio Martín Piñero, Sophia Hidalgo, Ana Nayra Gorrín, Jesús Barranco, Iván Cabrera Cartaya and Montse Díaz.
One of the discussions, “Escribir desde la periferia”, will look at what it means to write and develop culture from the Canary Islands.
Something for younger readers too
Children and families are very much part of the programme.
There will be a children’s reading workshop, comic character creation with Fran Rodríguez Vié, the Biblioteca Viva Intercultural project and a literary recital from the children’s reading workshop led by Ana Guacimara.
There is also “Contar lo nuestro”, involving pupils from local schools who will share stories they have written and their experience of taking those stories all the way to Miño in Galicia.
So the children aren’t simply there to sit quietly while adults discuss books. They actually get to make some themselves.
Poetry, workshops and live music
Other activities include a Literary Breakfast, the El paisaje en 3 versos haiku workshop with Iago Fandiño, Poesía para todas las tallas, author meetings and the Book Fair.
The weekend will finish with live music from Sandra Santana.
The organisers say the aim is to create connections between writers, readers, local residents and visitors, rather than simply filling two days with presentations.
Santiago del Teide takes centre stage
The festival is organised by the Ayuntamiento de Santiago del Teide, Asociación Cultural Islotes and Atlántida Cultural, with the municipality itself playing an active role in the programme.
The organisers also see the event as a way of building longer-term links with other parts of Spain, with the connection to Miño and Galicia continuing through cultural and educational projects.
In other words, the idea is that the festival doesn’t simply disappear when the tents come down.
Santiago de Letras 2026
Dates: 3 and 4 October 2026
Location: Plaza de Santiago del Teide
Book Fair: Saturday 11am to 2pm and 5pm to 9pm; Sunday 11am to 2pm
Admission: Free, although some activities require advance registration due to limited capacity
More information and registrations are available at www.santiagodeletras.com