A brand-new web design to mark our anniversary

The Vilenica Festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, an extraordinary milestone – not only for Slovenian literature but also for the Central European literary scene. Over four decades, it has transformed from modest beginnings into one of the key meeting points of literary thought and free expression in the wider European space. In this jubilee year, it remains faithful to its vision: to foster literary dialogue, openness, and critical thinking, while boldly looking towards the future.

Vilenica 2025 proves that literature – despite the complex geopolitical situation, climate collapse, and the dangers brought by technological developments – is still an indispensable space of freedom, creativity, and the authenticity of human expression. And this is precisely what keeps the festival alive, essential, and inspiring. In a time of deepening crises, the genocide in Gaza, and growing polarization, we believe that literature and art possess the power to transcend – the power to create spaces for dialogue, compassion, and reflection on what we share.

To mark this important anniversary, we have launched a completely redesigned website that reflects the festival’s contemporary identity. The new design brings greater clarity, freshness, and informativeness – content is now more accessible, and the user experience more friendly. Special attention has been devoted to the archive, which now includes informative summaries of all past festival editions as well as selected contributions that testify to the festival’s rich history.

Our sincere thanks go to the president and the SWA office, as well as to all former programme managers and their teams, whose dedication and vision have co-created this remarkable story. Their work lives on today in the renewed digital space, which is not merely an archive but a living document of the festival’s creative continuity.

We invite you to join us as we enter a new digital era of Vilenica – open, engaged, and deeply rooted in both its rich past and its future.

Miha Maurič, Programme Manager