World Translation Day

A day devoted to the practice of literary translation

World Translation Day is an event dedicated to the practice of literary translation. Jointly organised by the Université libre de Bruxelles and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, it brings together literary translators, writers, scholars, students, and readers to reflect on, and valorise, the role of literary translation in the world. This year's theme will be Translation, Literature, and the Machine.

Held in proximity to International Translation Day, the event understands translation as both an exchange between languages or nations, and as a practice of creating literary relations across cultures and traditions. Translation carries literature across borders, but more than that, it imagines, negotiates, and creates worlds through language.

Through a keynote lecture, conversations, and hands-on translation workshops, World Translation Day explores translation as both a creative practice and a condition for the circulation of literature. This year’s event will feature a keynote by Jan Wilm and literary translation workshops by Rokus Hofstede, Kristen Gehrman and Isabelle Rosselin.  

Situated in Brussels – a city whose multilingual character is integral to its identity – World Translation Day aims to establish an annual meeting place for literary translation in all its diversity.