Angela Davis Joins FLIP in Paraty, Brazil’s Biggest Book Festival
Culture
Key Facts
—The debut. The American philosopher and activist Angela Davis appears at FLIP for the first time, as a guest of the Casa Sesc.
—The dates. The 24th edition runs from 22 to 26 July in the colonial town of Paraty, in Rio de Janeiro state.
—The headliner. British novelist Zadie Smith takes the main stage on Saturday, 25 July, at 7 pm.
—The honoree. This year’s edition celebrates the late Brazilian poet Orides Fontela.
—The cost. Main-program tickets start at R$25 ($5) for concessions and R$50 ($10) full price, with panels streamed free online.
As FLIP Paraty prepares to open this week, one late addition stands out: the American philosopher and activist Angela Davis will take part in the festival for the first time.
Brazil’s most important literary festival returns to the colonial town of Paraty from 22 to 26 July. Its full name is the Festa Literária Internacional de Paraty, the International Literary Festival of Paraty.
Davis joins not the main program but a parallel one, hosted by the Casa Sesc in the historic center. For a global audience, her presence is one of the edition’s headline draws. Her appearance extends a long relationship with Brazilian audiences: our reporting has shown Davis has been a recurring figure in the country’s intellectual life since at least 2019, when she toured São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro for lectures and the release of her autobiography.
Who else is at FLIP Paraty this year
The biggest name on the main stage is Zadie Smith. The British novelist, long courted by the festival, appears on Saturday, 25 July, in a session moderated by the writer Juliana Borges.
The international roster is heavyweight. It includes the Franco-Algerian writer Kamel Daoud, a recent Goncourt winner, and the Angolan poet Ana Paula Tavares, a Camões laureate.
There is a strong Brazilian bench too. Supreme Court justice Cármen Lúcia will launch a book about voting and democracy alongside the doctor and writer Drauzio Varella and the novelist Milton Hatoum.
All 21 main panels take their titles from verses by Orides Fontela, the honoree. A demanding, cult poet little known abroad, her choice signals a festival that prizes literary depth over celebrity.
Why FLIP Paraty matters to foreign readers
For a visitor, FLIP is a rare open window onto Brazilian writing. The country’s literature is under-translated and under-read abroad, and the festival is one of the few moments it commands global attention.
The theme this year leans political. The curator, critic Rita Palmeira, built the program around exile, migration and the idea of home and country as unstable ground.
That framing lands in a charged moment. Cármen Lúcia’s panel comes on the eve of a major election and amid trials over the 2023 assault on Brazil’s institutions, a subject she is expected to address.
Paraty itself is part of the appeal. A preserved town of whitewashed houses and cobbled streets on the coast between Rio and São Paulo, it fills with readers and writers for five days each year.
The format is deliberately open. Ticketed talks in a main tent run alongside free events, concerts and children’s programs spread through the town, so the festival feels like a street party as much as a conference.
This year FLIP is also formally linked to Britain’s Hay Festival, as part of a United Kingdom and Brazil cultural season. That partnership raises the event’s profile in English-speaking markets, which can matter for Brazilian authors chasing translation deals.
For Paraty, the festival is a major economic event. It draws tens of thousands of visitors and fills the town’s hotels and restaurants, turning a quiet coastal outpost into a national cultural capital for a week.
Practical planning helps. Some panels have already sold out, remaining tickets are on the festival’s official site, and anyone unable to travel can follow the main sessions on the free live stream.
Founded in 2003 by the British publisher Liz Calder, FLIP has grown into a fixture of the world literary calendar. Past guests have ranged from Nobel winners to global names, giving the small town an outsized place in the book world.
For a foreign resident or visitor, the closing days of July are the moment to plan around. A weekend in Paraty pairs a heavyweight literary program with one of Brazil’s prettiest historic towns.
When is FLIP Paraty 2026 and how can I attend?
The 24th edition runs from 22 to 26 July in Paraty, in Rio de Janeiro state. Main-program tickets start at 25 reais, about 5 dollars, for concessions and 50 reais, around 10 dollars, full price, and the panels are streamed free online.
Why is Angela Davis at FLIP Paraty notable?
It is her first appearance at the festival, and she joins the parallel program run by the Casa Sesc rather than the main stage. Her presence adds a globally recognized voice on race and justice to an edition already built around exile and democracy.
Who are the main FLIP Paraty headliners in 2026?
The headline guest is British novelist Zadie Smith, appearing on Saturday, 25 July. Other draws include Goncourt winner Kamel Daoud, Camões laureate Ana Paula Tavares and Supreme Court justice Cármen Lúcia, who launches her book on August 1, 2026, with the poet Orides Fontela honored across all 21 panels.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is FLIP Paraty 2025 and how much do tickets cost?
The 24th edition runs from 22 to 26 July in Paraty, Rio de Janeiro state. Main-program tickets start at R$25 (about $5) for concessions and R$50 (about $10) full price, and the main panels are streamed free online.
Who are the biggest names appearing at FLIP this year?
British novelist Zadie Smith headlines the main stage on Saturday, 25 July, joined by Goncourt winner Kamel Daoud, Camões laureate Ana Paula Tavares, and Supreme Court justice Cármen Lúcia. Philosopher and activist Angela Davis also appears for the first time, in a parallel program hosted by the Casa Sesc.
Why is Angela Davis's appearance at FLIP considered notable?
It is her first-ever appearance at the festival, making it a historic debut. She joins the parallel Casa Sesc program rather than the main stage, adding a globally recognized voice on race and justice to an edition already themed around exile and democracy.
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