Beyrouth Livres brings literature across Lebanon

Books, authors and artists have taken over venues across Lebanon. The fourth edition of Beyrouth Livres opened on October 9 and runs until October 18. It brings together more than 40 authors, illustrators and artists from nine countries under the banner “The Colors of the Mediterranean,” with events in French, Arabic and English, all free of charge.

The theme grew out of a broader French initiative. Christophe Musitelli, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs and Director of the Institut français du Liban, told The Beiruter that President Emmanuel Macron announced an official “Season for the Mediterranean” for 2026, with joint events organized in France and abroad alongside the countries that share the sea. For Lebanon, the link runs deep. “The Mediterranean is part of Lebanon’s identity. For centuries, it has connected people, cultures and ideas”. He added that the moment calls for solidarity: “At a time when the region faces so many challenges, it feels important to focus on what brings us together.”

A program built on conversation

The guest list reflects that ambition. Musitelli described an effort to gather a wide range of voices, generations and artistic perspectives, with the program turning to identity, memory, women’s place in society, artificial intelligence and the role of translation in connecting cultures. Lebanese writers and artists hold a prominent place beside their international counterparts. The organizers wanted the festival to be more than a calendar of appearances, he noted, aiming at “creating opportunities for meaningful exchanges rather than simply presenting a series of individual events.” His hope is to “spark curiosity and create conversations that continue beyond the festival.”

Highlights include discussions on artificial intelligence and creativity, musical readings, illustrated concerts, and evenings that pair literature with photography and gastronomy. Author talks, panels, creative workshops, concerts and film screenings are spread between the Beirut International Arab Book Fair at Seaside Arena and cultural venues nationwide. The festival closes on October 18 at the Institut français du Liban with an illustrated concert, « Et toi, comment ça va? », featuring Charles Berberian and Michèle Standjofski.

Beyrouth Livres also travels to Jounieh, Deir el-Qamar, Saida, Tripoli and Zahlé. Musitelli insisted that the regional reach is central to the festival’s purpose. “Lebanon’s cultural life doesn’t stop at Beirut,” he stated, pointing to the Institut français du Liban’s network of regional branches, which allows it to work closely with local partners. He framed the approach as a matter of access and exchange. “Our ambition is to ensure that people across Lebanon can take part in the festival, wherever they live,” he affirmed.

Multilingualism is another cornerstone. Musitelli described Lebanon’s linguistic diversity as “one of its greatest cultural strengths,” with French rooted in the country’s history and identity alongside Arabic and English. This year marks a notable step, following an initiative led by Minister of Culture Ghassan Salamé, French-language and Arabic-language publishers are gathering within a single Beirut Book Fair.

He characterized the change as far more than a shared venue, calling it a chance for literary communities that have not always had enough opportunities to meet to connect. He also moved to dispel any suggestion of rivalry. “For us, promoting Francophonie does not mean competing with other languages. Quite the opposite,” he emphasized, describing multilingualism as complementary and a source of openness, creativity and opportunity.

Winning back young readers

A book festival can in fact reach generations raised on screens. “I don’t think books and screens have to compete,” he explained. A festival offers what a screen cannot always provide, meeting an author, asking questions, joining a workshop or discovering a story through live performance. For that reason, Beyrouth Livres puts particular emphasis on activities for children, teenagers and students.

The festival also supports the National Fifteen Minutes of Reading initiative, run in partnership with Lebanon’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education, to encourage students to make reading a daily habit. Musitelli set the bar beyond the festival’s own dates. “The goal is not simply to get young people to read during the festival, but to help them develop a lasting curiosity for books and stories,” he explained.

For Lebanese writers and publishers, Musitelli described the festival as a platform to “gain visibility, meet international guests and build professional connections.” Such encounters can lead to collaborations, translations and opportunities abroad. He recalled Lebanon’s long and distinguished publishing tradition and presented support for the local literary ecosystem as essential to strengthening Beirut’s position as a regional center for books and ideas. The Institut français du Liban, he added, wants to encourage connections and back initiatives with a lasting impact. Accessibility remains a founding principle. “All events are free of charge because we believe everyone should be able to enjoy culture without financial barriers,” Musitelli stated.

Musitelli kept his hopes for the future both modest and ambitious. “First of all, I hope people will want to come back next year, that would already be a very good sign!” he joked. More seriously, he expressed the wish that the edition would show books can create a shared space for people of different backgrounds, generations and linguistic communities. “Whether someone reads in Arabic, French or English, comes to meet a novelist, attend a discussion or simply discover something new, everyone should feel welcome,” he concluded.

Beyrouth Livres remains a meeting point for readers, writers and publishers, and an even more powerful hub for literature and art, the very stories that touch the human soul in any language.