Writers Unlimited 2027: Free Fall

Is a free fall the beginning of a downfall, or an opportunity to break free and start anew? At the Writers Unlimited Festival 2027, writers, poets and thinkers from the Netherlands and around the world explore the theme Free Fall. From 21 to 24 January, the 32nd edition of the festival explores what happens when we lose control.

British writer Jeanette Winterson opens the festival with a special keynote written for Writers Unlimited on the freedom of the imagination. Over four days, the festival features performances by international authors including Paul Murray, Maaza Mengiste, Claudia Rankine and Iraida Martha Ooft, alongside Dutch authors such as Manon Uphoff, Adriaan van Dis, Mina Etemad, Simone Zeefuik and Anne Vegter.

With Free Fall, we explore a theme that resonates on both a personal and a societal level. The programme delves into the psychological depths people can find themselves falling into, the consequences of societal upheaval, and the question of how we can free ourselves from entrenched ways of thinking and established structures.

The festival features Dutch- and English-language programmes, including conversations, readings, poetry, music and multidisciplinary performances across several venues in The Hague. The full programme and list of participating authors will be available online from December 1st.