Encontro Internacional de Editores 2025: Connecting Cultures Through Publishing
From June 16 to 18, 2025, Lisbon welcomed a vibrant gathering of publishers, translators, literary agents, and cultural organisations for the Encontro Internacional de Editores (International Meeting of Publishers). Hosted in iconic venues like the Torre do Tombo, and AICEP headquarters, this event created space for meaningful dialogue and new literary possibilities across borders.
As the founder of Letras Ausentes, I was honoured to participate in this exceptional initiative—one that underscores the power of books to foster cultural exchange, understanding, and collaboration.
What Is the Encontro Internacional de Editores?
Organised by Creative Europe Desk Portugal in partnership with AICEP Portugal Global, Camões – Institute for Cooperation and Language, and DGLAB, the Encontro Internacional de Editores aims to strengthen relationships between Portuguese and European publishers.
More than a networking event, it is a celebration of literary diplomacy—a space where stories cross borders and where ideas take root in new cultural soils.
Key Objectives of the Event:
- Promote Portuguese literature abroad through translation and licensing
- Introduce European voices into the Portuguese publishing scene
- Facilitate editorial partnerships and collaborative book projects
- Showcase funding opportunities from national and European Union level programmes
Highlights from the 2025 Edition
This year’s event featured a well-balanced mix of presentations, personal meetings, and open discussions. Each segment offered a fresh perspective on the current state of publishing and where it’s headed.
Presentations at Torre do Tombo
The opening day offered an overview of available support programs for publishers interested in literary translation and cross-border projects. Speakers from Creative Europe, Camões I.P., and DGLAB shared practical insights and fielded questions from attendees.
One-on-One Meetings at AICEP
Representatives from over ten countries, including France, Poland, Armenia, Serbia, and Romania, met with Portuguese publishers in structured bilateral sessions. These face-to-face conversations helped open doors to potential co-editions, rights negotiations, and future partnerships.
Public Panel at the Lisbon Book Fair
A special roundtable titled “O Livro Português no Mundo e o Mundo em Português” (“Portuguese Books in the World and the World in Portuguese”) brought the event into the public sphere. Writers, translators, and publishers reflected on the role of literature in promoting cultural diversity and the ways in which language connects communities rather than divides them.
A Space for Dialogue and Discovery
The Encontro Internacional de Editores stood out not only for its practical value but also for its atmosphere of curiosity and openness. It offered a reminder that publishing is as much about relationships as it is about books—relationships between people, between cultures, and between ideas.
For us at Letras Ausentes, it was a meaningful opportunity to exchange experiences, gain perspective, and discover new paths forward. We returned with a deeper appreciation for the ways literature can transcend borders and how independent publishers play a key role in keeping that spirit alive.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Creative Europe Desk Portugal, AICEP, Camões I.P., DGLAB, and all the participating publishers, translators, and cultural bodies.
Your efforts make the global circulation of literature possible—one meeting, one book, and one conversation at a time.
Want more literary insights? Check out our article on the Porto Book Fair 2025 for more highlights from Portugal’s vibrant book scene.
