HAY FESTIVAL SEGOVIA 2025

In order to lead a socially reasonable life, it is essential to set limits for others. This implies, at the same time, trusting oneself to respond effectively or keeping silent as the best response. The psychologist Alba Cardalda has poured her profound experience in this field in books with resounding titles: Cómo mandar a la mierda de forma educada and Cómo dejar de ser tu peor enemigo (How to politely tell people to fuck off). In short, to be clear about our criteria, to show our red lines and to stop giving us advice if we don't ask for it.

Alba Cardalda is an expert psychologist in cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, brief and strategic therapy and neuropsychology. For more than ten years she has been dedicated to child, youth and adult therapy, both individually and for couples and families. Since 2017 she travels around the world without fixed residence. Through her social media channels she shares tips to improve the daily well-being of her hundreds of thousands of followers.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of her books.

Event in Spanish

The geopolitics of now: China, the United States, Europe

The international chessboard is undergoing a moment of accelerated transformation. Relations between China, the United States and Europe are the focus of geostrategic tensions, technological disputes and fundamental questions about global leadership, multilateralism and the defense of democratic values. Understanding this new geopolitics is key to interpreting the challenges of the present and projecting possible futures.

This high-level dialogue will bring together two key figures in European political thought and action: Josep Borrell and José María Beneyto. Borrell, former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will contribute his diplomatic experience from the epicenter of the continent's strategic decisions. He will be accompanied by Beneyto, professor, jurist and author of fundamental essays on Europe and the global order, whose intellectual vision will enrich the analysis of the current situation.

During the first half of the meeting, the two will discuss the balance of power between China, the United States and Europe, the role of the European Union in a more fragmented international scenario and the keys to a coherent and effective foreign policy. In the second part, three students from IE University's European Union Club, Oleksandr Mysyk, Vanessa Chioaru and Catherine Del Río, will join the conversation in an intergenerational dialogue exercise that will highlight the voice of the European Union.

event in Spanish

Oteyza and the AIDA Foundation present Merina, the story of the Merino sheep, the ancient “Spanish gold”, the greatest cultural and artistic heritage in the history of fashion in our country, in a disruption of the aesthetic codes of dance, electronic music and fashion. A constant progression of tradition and avant-garde.

Paul García de Oteyza and Caterina Pañeda -founders of Oteyza- have created a show in which several performing arts come together, telling the process, tradition, sustainability and avant-garde, in a unique show, in which Spanish wool is a fellow traveler, along with electronic music, dance and fashion.

Creation, direction and production: Oteyza

Original music: Tagore González

Choreography: Antonio Najarro

Costumes: Oteyza

Event in Spanish

Fake News and Soft Power Persuasion

Everyone seems to appreciate the ancient world, and everyone seems to know more than archaeologists, philologists, and historians. Since the early 1970s, there has been a flood of unprofessional publications, and the rise of the internet has enabled the reintroduction of already refuted ideas. In terms of its ability to inform the general public about new discoveries, the study of the ancient world is a disappointment. Fortunately, there are lessons to be learned about proactive forms of scientific communication.

Jona Lendering studied history in Leiden and has since written about archaeology, history, and ancient languages. He published several books and created Livius.org, which, before Wikipedia, was the largest website on Rome, Greece, Persia, and other civilizations of the distant past. He currently maintains a daily blog on ancient history: MainzerBeobachter.com.

Jan W. Bok is a faculty member at the Global College, IE University, Madrid. Previously, he taught Political Philosophy at Erasmus University in the Netherlands, and World Language and Literature at the Università degli Studi di Bologna, Italy. He graduated from various academic institutions, including Erasmus University Rotterdam (History and Arts, Philosophy) and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS, Political Science) in Paris.

Event in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish.

Poetry of the World

Momtaza Mehri is an award-winning writer and researcher working across poetry, criticism, education, and radio. Since 2014, her work has been featured in outlets such as Granta, Poetry International, The Poetry Review, Artforum, Vogue, and The Guardian.

Described by Bernardine Evaristo as “a truly transnational 21st-century poet whose words resonate across the world,” Mehri was named Young People’s Laureate for London and is currently Poet-in-Residence at Homerton College, University of Cambridge. Her debut poetry collection, Bad Diaspora Poems, was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award and won the 2023 Forward Prize for Best First Collection, the Eric Gregory Award, and the Somerset Maugham Award. The book explores what it means to write poetry of the diaspora, weaving together her own family’s experiences with the stories of many others in 19th- and 20th-century Somalia.

In conversation with a Spanish poet of her generation, Mehri will reflect on her writing and on the role poetry can play in challenging a world shaped by race, class, and gender.

The talk will be moderated by Cristina Ward, Director of the Arts Department at the British Council in Spain.

A book signing will follow the event.

Event in English

Does AI threaten creativity?

CEDRO raises a critical reflection on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on written culture, copyright and access to culture. The role of writers, translators, journalists and publishers, the confusion between creation and compilation of works and the risks of cultural homogenization will be discussed. Carme Páez and Miguel Ángel Serrano will address the debate, moderated by the writer, deputy director of the RAE and president of CEDRO, Carme Riera.

Carme Páez is undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture. Miguel Ángel Serrano is a writer and author of the essay Androiceno. Writing in the age of artificial intelligence.

At the end of the event, the authors will sign copies of their books.

Event in Spanish

At a time of profound transformation, Europe faces key challenges: democratic renewal, its position on the global geopolitical stage, and the exponential impact of artificial intelligence. This dialogue brings together two essential figures to discuss the future of Europe and its role in the world. Enrico Letta, Dean of IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs and former Prime Minister of Italy, has just published Europe: Last Chance, a call to action for a stronger and more competitive European Union. Alongside him is Nick Clegg, another strong advocate for integration, former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and until recently, President of Global Affairs at Meta. Clegg offers a unique perspective from the intersection of politics, technology, and society, after years of leading institutional and regulatory relations at one of the world's tech giants.

The discussion will be moderated by journalist Helena de Bertodano, an international correspondent and regular contributor to outlets such as The Times and The Sunday Times, known for her incisive insights into major global figures. This conversation aims to understand how Europe's values and structures are being redefined in a time marked by technological disruption and new power balances.

The event will be in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish.

As the world faces growing polarisation, democratic fragility and technological disruption, how can we rethink the institutions that hold our societies together? What kind of new social contract do we need for this era of uncertainty, and what role should universities play in shaping it?

Baroness Minouche Shafik, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Victoria and Albert Museum and member of the UK House of Lords, has held leadership positions in some of the world's most influential institutions, including President of the London School of Economics, Deputy Governor of the Bank of England and Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund. In her influential book What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract, she puts forward a powerful proposal to redefine the balance of responsibilities between individuals, governments and institutions, with dignity and opportunity at its core.

She will be joined by Manuel Muñiz, international rector of IE University and chairman of the board of directors of IE New York College. An expert on global affairs and former secretary of state for Global Spain, Muñiz offers a forward-looking vision of the role universities can play in strengthening democracy, civic trust and international cooperation.

Moderated by Anne McElvoy, executive editor of POLITICO in Europe and host of the Politics at Sam and Anne's podcast. This timely conversation will explore how higher education can contribute to rebuilding social cohesion and fostering a renewed civic ethic in a context of global change.

Event in English (with direct translation in Spanish available)

Mexican architect Fernanda Canales has dedicated her career to reflecting on space, not only as an aesthetic or functional issue, but as a political and social act. Considered one of the most lucid voices in contemporary architecture, her work lies at the intersection of creation, research and activism. Her book, El aula abierta (The Open Classroom), and her urban projects question the ways in which we inhabit and the structures that condition our cities.

In this conversation with David Goodman, Dean of IE School of Architecture and Design, they will explore the role of architecture as a tool for transforming social dynamics, rethinking public space and giving citizens back the right to imagine their environment. From the everyday to the monumental, the dialogue will focus on how to design not only buildings, but possibilities.

Event in English with direct translation in Spanish available

Hubertus von Hohenlohe, known as “sportsman, globetrotter and bon vivant”, is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative career spans photography, design, performance and media. Born into the European aristocracy and educated in philosophy and economics, he has forged a career defined by curiosity and irreverence. A Leica ambassador and permanent traveler, his photographs often blur the line between self and scene, celebrity and anonymity, turning moments into reflections of the viewer's own gaze. His work has been exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Belvedere Museum (Vienna), the Hungarian National Museum (Budapest), the Cajasol Foundation (Seville), the Unicaja Foundation (Malaga) or the Chiostro del Bramante (Rome), among others.

Hubertus will discuss his work with Sema D'Acosta, independent curator, art critic, teacher and researcher, one of Spain's foremost specialists in photography.

Event in Spanish

Desire as attraction and repulsion. Its eruption into the everyday, into the small things that inhabit a life, a home, a familiar environment, and the way it erodes everything until it transforms it. This is how Yael van der Wouden has approached her first work of fiction, The Safekeep, which has received unusual support from critics. The writer declares herself not very fond of conventionalisms, especially when two women face desire as a lever of self-destruction.

She will exchange with Irene Hernández Velasco, head of the Culture section at El Confidencial.

Presented by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Spain, Roel Nieuwenkamp.

At the end of the conversation the author will stay to sign some of her works

The event is in English with direct translation in Spanish available

The acclaimed British philosopher Anthony C. Grayling will speak about his latest book, Discriminations: Making Peace in the Culture Wars. In this timely and provocative work, he explores the history and consequences of cancel culture, drawing connections between ancient ostracism and modern political and social polarization. Grayling argues that many so-called cultural conflicts do not arise from opposing rights, but from the clash between vested interests and fundamental freedoms.

Rob Riemen (Netherlands) is an essayist, philosopher, and director of the Nexus Institute, through which he aims to create spaces for debate and keep the principles of European humanism alive. The author of The Art of Being Human believes that Europe is at a complex crossroads, dealing with a loss of memory regarding the principles of duty, freedom, justice, and even love for others. There are no magic formulas, but Riemen calls for a "nobility of spirit" to return to the democratic ideal. He suggests achieving this through philosophers—both classical and contemporary—and prominent intellectuals like Thomas Mann and Albert Camus.

He will discuss these topics with Jesús García Calero, director of ABC Cultural, who specializes in heritage information and dissemination. The event will be presented by Hannah Schmidt, cultural attaché of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Spain.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his books.

The event will be in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish.

Paul Preston is a prominent British historian whose main work focuses on contemporary Spanish history, especially on the Second Republic and the Civil War. He has written numerous books along these lines, backed by very high sales figures, although many of them are not without controversy and authors who have refuted them. A staunch defender of Europe, he has always regretted the scant support that the Spanish Republic received from the Western democracies during the civil war. His latest reference is La pérfida albión: El contradictorio papel británico en la guerra civil española (The perfidious albion: The contradictory British role in the Spanish civil war).

He will discuss his work and the past and present of Europe and Spain with María José Ferrari, professor and director of the Chair of Hispanic Cultures at IE University.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his books.

Event in Spanish

Rubens Paiva, a federal deputy in Brazil and staunch opponent of his country's dictatorship, was arrested in 1971 and disappeared. Only 40 years later, and thanks to the efforts of his wife, Eunice, it was confirmed that he had been tortured and murdered by military forces.

Decades later, his son, the writer, playwright and journalist Marcelo Rubens Paiva, captured this experience in Aún estoy aquí , a memoir that intertwines the Paiva family history after the disappearance of the patriarch with the politics of Brazil in the last decades of the 20th century. The work was adapted to film by director Walter Salles Jr. and, in 2025, the film of the same name won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

Paiva will talk with Portuguese actress, director and singer Maria de Medeiros, whose artistic career is characterized by a deep commitment to historical memory and human rights. Moderated by Iôna de Macêdo, vice-dean of IE University and expert in communication, audiovisual production and creative talent development. The event will be introduced by Catalina Tejero, Dean of IE School of Humanities.

Event in Portuguese with simultaneous translation in Spanish

The world of art and antiques, their creation process, the interest of collectors and the vicissitudes suffered by the pieces, constitute a kaleidoscopic universe that presents infinite possibilities, not without risks. And at the center, the figure of art dealers, capable of raising the profile of works that had been left aside and, above all, of transmitting passion for those objects that carry a part of our past. Portuguese Mário Roque, who abandoned cardiology to devote himself to antiques and founded São Roque Antiquities and Art Gallery, very focused on Portuguese art from the Age of Discoveries, has been doing this for some time.

Mário Roque is frequently seen in artistic events and collaborates with numerous museums and institutions, through the loan of pieces for both national and international exhibitions. His extensive knowledge has created a school of art dealers for young students from all over the world who seek his instruction.

Lorenzo de' Medici is a member of the Medici family, one of the most emblematic and representative of European collecting, from the Renaissance to the present day, and direct heir to a history intertwined with the most admired art in the world.

Event in French with simultaneous interpretation into English.

What can Dante teach us about leadership and the human condition in the 21st century? British philosopher A.C. Grayling, founder of the New College of the Humanities and author of more than 30 books on ethics and reason; Santiago Iñiguez, president of IE University, one of the most influential leaders in higher education and author of "Dante in the Workplace"; and Italian essayist and executive Fabio Corsico, an expert in the intersection of power, culture, and economy.

From philosophical ethics to business leadership and decision-making, the speakers will explore the relevance of Dante's thought in the contemporary world. The dialogue will be moderated by journalist Anna Bosch, a prominent figure in international journalism at TVE and former correspondent in London and Washington.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of their books.

The event will be in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish.

Dolores Redondo is the author of the Baztan trilogy, a true literary phenomenon. The three installments -El guardián invisible, Legado en los huesos and Ofrenda a la tormenta- have exceeded three million readers; and between 2017 and 2020 their respective film adaptations were successfully released. The trilogy was followed by Todo esto te daré, the best-selling Premio Planeta-winning novel of recent times. For the moment, her latest novel is Las que no duermen NASH.

His novels delve into a world of traditions where secrets had been buried in the folds of evil and human contradictions. She will discuss her works with Laura Ventura, PhD in Hispanic Philology and professor of Literature at the Carlos III University; she is also a journalist for the Argentine newspaper La Nación.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of her books.

Event in Spanish

Absence as a stimulus is the new creation of Alberto García-Alix, winner of the National Photography Award. Conceived in the format of a visual conference, the author reflects on how absence, its existence and its vital stimulus, influences and is reflected in his work, being the guiding thread and catalyst in his photographs. García-Alix intersperses 68 images, mostly unpublished and taken over the last fifteen years, with his dissertation text. The photographer reflects on how absence is present in everything that surrounds us: in nature, in architecture, in objects and even in portraiture, “because something always escapes us from the model”. In the words of the author: “Absence is stimulus”.

The event will be presented by Sema D'Acosta, independent curator, art critic, teacher and researcher, one of the most outstanding visual arts specialists in our country.

Event in Spanish

In 2023, Javier Cercas receives an unusual assignment: to accompany Pope Francis I on a trip to Mongolia, with absolute freedom to talk to him. The unusual thing is that Cercas declares himself an atheist and anticlerical. From the trip, he says, he came back “more atheist and more anticlerical” and wrote El loco de Dios en el fin del mundo.

But Cercas is more than his last book; a convinced Europeanist, he has a solid narrative and essayistic work that has been translated into more than 30 languages. Among them are El vientre de la ballena, Soldados de Salamina, Anatomía de un instante, El impostor, El monarca de las sombras and Terra Alta. Underlying Cercas' work is the need for culture to get out of the trenches and impose itself on the established powers.

He will talk about his work with the journalist Montserrat Domínguez, a journalist of great experience who, among other positions, has been director of Contents of Cadena Ser, deputy director of El País and head of El País Semanal, and director of the digital newspaper Huffpost.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his books.

Event in Spanish

Few contemporary historians have as comprehensive a view of the last century and a half of Europe and how each event has influenced the entire continent in a sort of interconnected system as Orlando Figes. He has won several awards for his work, with books like "A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution" and "Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History of Russia," which have been translated into fifteen languages. Educated at Cambridge and a member of Trinity College from 1984 to 1999, his work "The Europeans" is a reference on a key moment for European culture: the mid-19th century. His latest book is "The Story of Russia." Santiago Herrero is the Director of Cultural and Scientific Relations at AECID. A diplomat by profession, he has distinguished himself as a cultural agitator in the positions he has held.

Both will converse with Pablo Gil, head of Culture at the newspaper El Mundo and a collaborator with Radio 3 and Radio 5 on the programs Multipista and Debut.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his books.

The event will be in English with simultaneous translation in Spanish.

Does a writer need routines in order to create? It seems that no two formulas are the same, and there are those who slide into extravagance, others into the force of schedules, and some even write their ideas on laundry receipts. Álvaro Colomer brings together his articles on how writers face the blank page or the blank screen in Aprende a escribir. One of his main conclusions is that “the writers of yesteryear” are in danger of extinction.

He will talk about writers and their hobbies with Sara Barquinero, considered the revelation author of Spanish literature in 2021 by Woman magazine and whose novel Los Escorpiones was selected as the Best Novel in Spanish in 2024 according to El Mundo and Best Fiction Book of the Year by the Madrid Bookstore Association.

At the end of the event, the authors will sign copies of their books.

Event in Spanish

The epic of costumbrismo narrated from a very personal world that transcends reality. Human relationships taken to the extreme of words. The passing of time that places and dislocates everyone. David Uclés develops a powerful narrative that sinks its roots in magical realism, deconstructing all reality and all supposed truth. Gabriel García Márquez, Günter Grass, Jaroslav Hasek are just some of the literary bearings on which he now treads with force. A world of his own to give a new vision of the Spanish Civil War that overcomes the clichés of good guys and bad guys, as well as to relate the vital and affective relationship between two men.

Uclés will talk about his work with Montserrat Domínguez, a journalist with a great background who, among other positions, has been director of Contents at Cadena Ser, deputy director of El País and head of El País Semanal, and director of the digital newspaper Huffpost.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his books.

Event in Spanish

The Italian writer Andrea Marcolongo, based in Paris, is one of the most outstanding figures in European thought today. A profound connoisseur of ancient Greece and Rome, her works have been characterized by the recovery of classical teachings and knowledge that, even today, can illuminate our present. As a staunch advocate of linking that period with the present, there is no one better than her to reflect on today's Europe and how it is not only intimately related to these two classical civilizations, but also should not forget to return to them to find the answers to its present. Because, as he says, “everything that is happening now in Europe has already happened”.

He will talk with journalist Irene Hernández Velasco. She worked for El Mundo as a correspondent in New York, Rome, London and Paris, until 2023, when she joined El Confidencial where she is head of Culture.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of her books.

Event in Spanish