The BVI Literary Arts Festival—affectionately known as the BVI Lit Fest—is where the Virgin Islands meets the world through the power of words. Each year in November, our shores become a stage for writers, poets, publishers, and book lovers to gather in celebration of literature, culture, and community.
More than a festival, Lit Fest is a living conversation. It’s where stories are shared, identities explored, and creativity given room to shine. Through workshops, panel discussions, readings, and performances, we spotlight voices from across the Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, and the wider world—honouring our heritage while pushing the boundaries of what literature can mean today.
The BVI Lit Fest is rooted in a simple belief: that literature builds bridges. Here, in the Virgin Islands, we welcome everyone to cross them.
History
The BVI Literary Festival was founded in November 2021 as a signature feature of the Department of Culture’s Culture and Tourism Month, in partnership with the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. Its inaugural staging, held from 2–13 November 2021, set a strong foundation with a robust lineup of events and international talent.
Festival highlights included:
Since its debut, the BVI Lit Fest has grown into an annual cultural highlight, proudly hosting a diverse programme of workshops, readings, book launches, and events. Each year, the festival continues to welcome both emerging and established authors, creating a vibrant space for reflection, connection, and deeper dialogue on cultural identity through literature.
Resilient and rising, the BVI Lit Fest stands as a testament to the Territory’s creative spirit—an evolving tradition that celebrates the stories of the Virgin Islands while engaging with the diaspora and wider world.
From film and podcasts to poetry, music, and public relations, how does our storytelling adapt across different formats and what does it mean to distill a narrative without losing its essence? Panelists: Kamau Georges, Sandra Ward, Naudia Turnbull Moderator: Adrianna Soverall
This conversation dives into the fast-paced world of digital storytelling, where content competes for attention in the scroll — and creators must balance authenticity, brevity, and engagement. Panelists: Cindy Allman & Kyra James in Conversation
This panel celebrates the storytelling power of music in the Virgin Islands, reflecting on lyrics as cultural memory and honouring the legacy of Elmore Stoutt’s contributions to the territory’s soundscape. Jougo, Andre Braithwaite, Tooma, & Dr. Arliene Penn with Alton Bertie
The Virgin Island Studies Institute at HLSCC, through the Virgin Islands Storytelling & Media Workshop, brings to the public a showcase of VI-made short films that capture the rhythms, realities and imagination of our Virgin Islands. This session celebrates the power of short-form film in telling long stories; briefly, beautifully. Zola Mashariki & Shane Liburd in Conversation with Enya Douglas
From page to production, what does it take to bring a story to life on screen? In this insightful conversation, producer Zola Mashariki shares her journey through the creative and logistical layers of filmmaking. Zola Mashariki in conversation with Enya Douglas
The Razor Blades, a young band keeping the Virgin Islands culture alive with fungi music, plays into the night on the beach.
Three of our greatest griots explore the transformative potential of personal and collective storytelling in shaping identity, healing, and community connection. Panelists: Dr. Charles Wheatley, Dr. Patricia Turnbull, Medita Wheatley Moderator: Nekita Turnbull
This panel features women writers whose work captures the spirit, struggles, and beauty of island life, offering insight into gender, place, and voice in Caribbean literature. Panelists: Tiphanie Yanique, Diana McCaulay, and Andria Flax Moderator: Rochelle Smith
This panel features voices who explore the power of poetry to distill long stories into lyrical moments and craft intimate spaces where words linger and resonate. Panelists: Raven Phillips, Isabelle Baafi, Linette Rabsatt & Johanna Gibson Moderator: April Glasgow
In celebration of Dr. Robert Mathavious’s enduring legacy, this panel will explore how the Financial Services Commission (FSC) manages complex industry regulation and the crucial steps needed to preserve the sector’s integrity and viability. Discussion will also focus on seizing new growth opportunities within the private sector, directly connecting the future of the industry to his profound, pioneering impact. Panelists: Brodrick Penn, Dwayne Thomas & Jennifer Potter Moderator: Janice Skelton SPONSORED BY O’NEAL ALEXANDER CONSULTING
This year, Sunset Stories expands to a double session! Two Voices, One Sea and Virgin Islands Noir.
In this evocative reading, prize winning novelists Celeste Mohammed and Diana McCaulay share stories shaped by salt, memory and migration from their latest novels. Celeste Mohammed and Diana McCaulay with Dr. Sauda Smith
Dark secrets, watery borders, and magical realities; Virgin Islands Noir probes the shadows of island life. This reading brings noir sensibility to the Caribbean landscape, offering stories that are brief but haunting. Featuring: Johnny Temple, Richard Georges, Tiphanie Yanique, Johanna Gibson, Traci O’Dea, & Rea Vanterpool
Enjoy conversations with the authors, have a drink or two, then cut up the dance floor.
This year’s children’s program celebrates the power of storytelling with hands-on activities, readings, and crafts inspired by children’s book authors and the rich cultural expressions of local writers and artists. Free books, bouncy house fun, and delicious treats will make this a literary celebration to remember.
In this workshop, writers will compose longer prose poems that they will then transform into short erasures, new poems with redacted words that present completely different meanings. Facilitator: Traci O’Dea
This creative writing workshop explores how writers use third-person narration to decide what to expand, what to condense, and how close readers feel to a character’s inner world. Through playful exercises with familiar tales, participants will discover how shifting “the distance between us” can completely change the impact of a story. Facilitator: Celeste Mohammed
In this immersive workshop, movement meets metaphor as participants explore the expressive power of the body through a fusion of dance, spoken word, and rhythm, to tell stories with breath, gesture, and presence. Facilitators: Safiya Kamaria with Amanda Georges
In this dynamic workshop, participants will explore the art of visual storytelling through the lens of film. Guided by acclaimed producer Zola Mashariki, the session invites emerging creatives to shape narrative, emotion, and perspective using cinematic tools. From concept to camera, participants will engage with the building blocks of filmmaking—story structure, character, and visual language—while discovering how film can illuminate culture, identity, and truth.
What happens after the final draft? This panel maps the journey of stories through editing, publishing, and promotion to reach their audience. It will examine how writers and industry professional shape narratives that resonate, sell and stay with the readers. Facilitators: Johnny Temple, Chris Jackson, Elise Dillsworth, & Yona Deshommes with Marsha Massiah
This panel explores creative expression beyond purpose and narrative, highlighting art as its own purpose; bold, unapologetic and rooted in cultural identity. Panelists: Malene Barnett, Priscilla Hintz Rivera Knight, and Simond Llewellyn in Conversation with Desiree Smith SPONSORED BY CREATIVE WAVES
(Ticketed Event) As the sun sets, words ignite. Light a Fire brings together poets whose verses spark reflection, resistance, and renewal. In this evening reading, voices rise to illuminate the quiet and kindle connection, proof that even the shortest lines can burn bright. Featuring: Johanna Gibson, Anika Christopher, Linette Rabsatt, Michael Jefferson, Pat Turnbull, April Glasgow, Raven Phillips, David Knight, Derron Sandy, Isabelle Baafi and Safiya Kamaria
Pull up a chair and share a meal with the minds behind the stories! Our brunch with the writers offers an intimate, roundtable experience where festival-goers can engage in casual conversation with two writers per table. Long story short, come, connect, ask questions, and be inspired. Hosted by Marsha Massiah Brunch with writers (2 per table) Announcements: fellows, competition, thanks, theme for 2026
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