The final day of Books n’ Beer 2025 wrapped up in a vibrant atmosphere of dialogue, music, and literary reflection, bringing together voices from across the Mediterranean and the Middle East in one of the year’s most heartfelt cultural events.
Organized by Red n’ Noir, this year’s festival once again proved that literature is not just a refuge, but a rallying point for ideas, resistance, and solidarity. The final day’s program stood as a testament to that spirit, with powerful speeches, evocative music, and moving tributes that echoed long after the last page was turned.
Focus on Palestine: Literature as Witness and Weapon
Focus on Palestine: Literature as Witness and WeaponTwo newly released books on Palestine, published respectively by Εκδόσεις Ειρήνη (Irini Publications) and other collaborating publishers, were presented to a full house of readers, activists, and artists. These works explore the ongoing realities of the Palestinian struggle, weaving poetry, essays, and testimonials into a literary tapestry that both mourns and mobilizes.
The audience was privileged to hear from three distinguished speakers:
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Roni Bou Saba, whose eloquence laid bare the cultural erasure and resilience embedded in Palestinian history.
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Ahmad Hassan, who spoke with passionate clarity about the role of literature in documenting and resisting occupation.
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Christos Koukis, who provided a powerful contextual reflection on how European and Arab literary traditions can converge in solidarity with Palestine.
Their speeches weren’t mere presentations—they were calls to awareness, engagement, and cultural defiance.
Lamia Yared: A Voice from the Heart of the Levant
Lamia Yared: A Voice from the Heart of the LevantA luminous interlude came through the hauntingly beautiful voice of Lamia Yared, who performed a selection of traditional Arabic songs. Accompanied by live music, her performance created an emotional resonance in the space, drawing the audience into the lyrical landscapes of longing and loss, love and hope. Her songs, some of which echoed centuries-old Levantine traditions, perfectly complemented the themes of memory and resistance discussed in the literary program.
A Festival That Keeps Giving
Books n’ Beer has long been known for creating spaces where words meet action, and the 2025 edition was no different. From grassroots publishers to international voices, from emerging poets to established authors, the festival once again succeeded in blurring the lines between art and activism, literature and lived experience.
Special thanks go to Red n’ Noir for organizing yet another meaningful and beautifully curated edition of the festival. Their tireless efforts, along with the participation of authors, speakers, musicians, publishers, and the attending public, ensured that Books n’ Beer 2025 ended on a high note—both intellectually and emotionally.
As we look toward next year’s edition, the festival continues to grow as a platform where diverse cultures, radical imaginations, and social justice converge.
Stay tuned. Keep reading. Keep resisting.
