Sant Jordi 2026 - Catalan literature around the world
Durada: 33 min
25/04/2026
Happy Sant Jordi to everyone! Celebrated on April 23, Saint George's Day honors the patron saint of Catalonia and transforms the region into a vibrant celebration of love, literature, and tradition. Often compared to Valentine's Day ¿but richer in cultural meaning¿, it fills the streets with roses, books, and the legend of dragons. In this episode, we explore the global reach of Catalan literature with special guest Izaskun Arretxe, Director of the Literature Department at the Ramon Llull Institute, reflecting on whether Sant Jordi helps project Catalan writing beyond its borders. We highlight recent international successes such as Eva Baltasar's "Boulder" and Irene Solà's "When I sing, mountains dance", asking whether global audiences connect more with contemporary voices or classic works. We also hear Oriol Escudé debunk common myths about the day, and visit two English-language bookshops in Barcelona that are building a sense of community among international readers.