As Türkiye’s first and only UNESCO City of Literature, Kahramanmaraş has officially welcomed international literary figures for the Kahramanmaraş International Writers’ Residency Program 2026. Designed to foster cross-cultural dialogue and global creative output, the four-week residency provides writers, poets, and literary translators with dedicated creative space and deep immersion into the city’s rich cultural fabric.
The 2026 residency cohort brings together distinguished international literary figures Archil Kikodze, Mohamed Amine Lajili, and Rebecca Ruth Gould.
Selected through a competitive process, the three residents participate in a fully funded program that includes private accommodation, dedicated workspace, and complete travel support. Beyond residency benefits, the program integrates the authors into the local ecosystem through cultural panels, collaborations with regional writers, journal publications, and media features.
During their four-week stay, residents are invited to craft a short creative work, including poetry, short fiction, essays, or literary letters inspired by their experience in Kahramanmaraş. Each resident will also engage in at least three public literary and cultural events, building meaningful bridges with the local creative community.
Recognized as Türkiye’s first UNESCO City of Literature and long revered as the “Capital of Poetry and Literature,” Kahramanmaraş boasts an extraordinary heritage spanning classical Ottoman verse, traditional folk poetry, the UNESCO-listed âşıklık (minstrelsy) tradition, and modern Turkish literature shaped by iconic figures such as Karacaoğlan, Âşık Mahzunî, and Cahit Zarifoğlu.
Beyond its literary lineage, the residency immerses participants in thousands of years of civilization—from Hittite roots and ancient mosaics to the UNESCO Tentative Heritage Site of Eshâb-ı Kehf and vibrant historic bazaars. Complemented by traditional craftsmanship and world-famous gastronomy, the Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan Municipality continues to strengthen international cultural diplomacy, positioning the city as a permanent sanctuary for global literature.
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