The Pa Gya! Literary Festival will mark its tenth anniversary from October 16 to 18, 2026, at the Goethe-Institut Ghana and the Foundation for Contemporary Art–Ghana in Accra. Organized by the Writers Project of Ghana in collaboration with these venues, the festival will feature a blend of readings, panel discussions, poetry performances, storytelling, book launches, prize ceremonies, and various exhibitions and screenings.

Read More

The festival begins officially on the 16th, but preliminary activities kick off on October 14 and 15 with a Self-Editing Workshop for emerging writers hosted by the British Council, in partnership with the Caine Prize for African Writing, and led by Dzifa Benson.

On October 16, the workshop's final session will take place alongside several afternoon masterclasses, including one by Angela Wright on literary research and a three-part publishing lab led by Julianna Asamoa-Krodua, Bieke van Aggelen, and Kezia Adrah Agbenyega. Activities that evening include an Opening Ceremony, a discussion on Ghanaian and African literature featuring Ato Quayson and Kinna Likimani, and a performance of Alice Johnson's adaptation of Ama Ata Aidoo’s Changes: A Love Story.

The busiest festival day will be Saturday, October 17, filled with workshops and panels. It starts with a workshop on African archives and includes discussions on themes like oral tradition, contemporary Ghanaian storytelling, and a panel on reading cultures. Highlights of the day include Boakyewaa Glover discussing mental health and storytelling, while the evening features performances from Eghosa Imasuen and Barbara van Rijn Tuwor and concludes with discussions on writing and publishing fiction in Ghana.

The festival will wrap up on Sunday, October 18, with sessions continuing from previous days, including Carina Ray’s “Black Print,” awards for the New Voices Fiction Contest 2026, and a panel on songwriting as a literary practice featuring Ria Boss. A notable event will be a panel on novel-to-film adaptations presented by Wale Okediran, along with readings from Ike Echeruo and N.O.M Tutu Ani. The festival concludes with “Live Across Africa,” showcasing artists from throughout the continent.

A detailed schedule and participant list can be found on the Writers Project of Ghana's website, which also offers a downloadable timetable.