Rosa Montero, Brianda Fitz-James Stuard, Mario Vaquerizo, and Topacio Fresh kick off FLEST Estepona

The literary event, organized by the Estepona City Council, is taking place at the Mirador del Carmen Cultural Center throughout the weekend, featuring prominent figures from the arts and literature such as Enrique Vila-Matas, Estrella Morente, Pedro Piqueras, and Belén Cuesta, among others

Writer and journalist Rosa Montero, artist and designer Brianda Fitz- James Stuart, musician and broadcaster Mario Vaquerizo, and gallery owner Topacio Fresh participated yesterday in the opening of the third edition of the Estepona Literary Festival (FLEST), organized by the Estepona City Council at the Mirador del Carmen.

The Estepona Literary Festival takes to the streets with the exhibition “The Path: From the Invisible to the Visible” by artist Brianda Fitz James Stuart, a journey through a selection of paintings in which each work represents a key word that has accompanied and inspired the artist throughout her artistic and personal journey. Brinda Fitz James is a multidisciplinary artist who has collaborated with numerous brands and across all kinds of media: from illustrations to watch designs, packaging, ceramics, and books. The exhibition, located on Terraza Street, will be open to the public through September 20.

For Mayor José María García Urbano, this third edition of FLEST represents another step forward in the City Council’s steadfast commitment to culture. “Estepona is making progress in many ways, and one of them is undoubtedly culture. For years, we have been committed to culture, the arts, and intellectual discourse, and this has been reflected not only in top-tier events like this festival but also in new facilities capable of hosting them.”

For his part, Alejandro Simón Partal, the festival’s director, highlighted the quality of its program, which is designed to strengthen the city’s cultural fabric through diverse activities, bringing major figures in the arts and literature to the general public. This third edition, he notes, “emphasizes its cross-cultural nature and the celebration of the word, with a lineup of guests covering film, literature, music, painting, and research.”

FLEST Award

The City Council will also present the FLEST Award to writer Enrique Vilas-Matas this Saturday at 9:00 p.m. This award recognizes the careers of creators who have successfully blurred the boundaries between literary genres and who, through experimentation, have helped propel contemporary literature into the future.

The artwork accompanying this award was designed by artist Juan Miguel Quiñones, who has reinterpreted some of the iconic ice creams that are part of his

, creating a unique piece that reflects the innovative spirit and forward-looking vision that inspire the Estepona Literary Festival.

Young Adult Literature and Poetry

The festival program runs throughout the weekend. Young adult literature will be represented by author Myriam M. Lejardi, who will open the day on Saturday, June 27, at 12:00 p.m. Following that event, thinkers Marta Peirano and Santiago Alba Rico will discuss the future and artificial intelligence in a talk titled “AI and Eternity: Who Wants to Live Forever?”

Also on this day, there will be a children’s workshop (which will be repeated on Sunday) titled “La casa por la ventana,” aimed at boys and girls ages 6 to 12. It will begin at 11:00 a.m.

In the evening, at 8:00 p.m., the spotlight will be on Málaga-born actress Belén Cuesta, who will speak about TV series and literature. At 9:00 p.m., it will be the turn of writer Enrique Vila-Matas, one of today’s most prominent European authors, whose work has been translated into 32 languages.

The poet and philologist Luis Alberto de Cuenca, winner of the 2015 National Poetry Prize and the 2025 Reina Sofía Prize for Ibero-American Poetry, will participate starting at 10:00 p.m. in the “Poets at the Lighthouse” section.

Singer Estrella Morente will close out this second day of FLEST at 11:00 p.m. with a concert/recital to be held outside the Cultural Center.

Final Day

A recital by poet and writer Sara Torres (12:00 p.m.) and the lecture “Franco: History and Memory,” presented by historian Julián Casanova (1:00 p.m.), will open the morning of Sunday, June 28.

In the evening, starting at 8:00 p.m., writer Paloma Sánchez-Garnica, winner of the Fernando Lara Novel Prize (2016) and the Planeta Prize (2024), will continue the festival’s program with the lecture “The Intimate and the Published.”

Journalist and writer Pedro Piqueras will bring the festival to a close with a conversation moderated by writer and producer Jacobo Bergareche.

The 3rd Estepona Literary Festival (FLEST) will once again feature a book fair, where guest authors will sign copies of their works after their presentations and the public will be able to purchase these and other titles.