August 1, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Inaugural Conference of SWANA Editors & Publishers to Convene Regional and Diaspora Literary Leaders in Montpellier

Supported by the Open Society Foundations and hosted in partnership with the City of  Montpellier, the groundbreaking gathering aims to foster cross-border collaboration and address crises in SWANA literary publishing.

MONTPELLIER, France — For the first time, literary editors and publishers from across the South West Asian and North African (SWANA) region and its global diasporas will gather under one roof for the inaugural SWANA Editors & Publishers Conference: A Literary Consortium. Taking place from October 2–5, 2026, in Montpellier, France, this historic four-day convening brings together key voices to address the pressing constraints shaping regional literary production and to build sustainable models for cross-border collaboration.

The conference is generously supported by primary funder Open Society Foundations and hosted in partnership with the City of Montpellier at the historic Maison des Relations Internationales Nelson Mandela, and the Jost Hotel.

“This conference is a starting point, not a finished structure,” noted Jordan Elgrably, publisher of The Markaz Review, which is producing the conference. “Over three days in Montpellier, we will introduce our work to one another, exchange honestly about the crises and constraints shaping SWANA literary publishing in this moment, and spend real working time on what collaboration between our publications could actually look like.”

Key Highlights of the Program

• Day One (Saturday, Oct. 3): Dialogue, Translation & Field Mapping

Maison des Relations Internationales Nelson Mandela, Jardin de l’Hôtel de Sully, 14 Dsc en Barrat, 34000 Montpellier

The formal program opens with remarks by Jordan Elgrably (Publisher, The Markaz

Review), Lina Mounzer (Editor-in-Chief, The Markaz Review), and Claire Hart (Vice President of International Affairs, Office of the Mayor of Montpellier). Panel discussions will feature leading figures, including translators Salar Abdoh, Öykü Tekten, and translator TBA (moderated by The Markaz Review Managing Editor Lara Vergnaud), examining the ethics and politics of language translation. Rima Rantisi (Editor-in-Chief, Rusted Radishes) will lead a session mapping the modern SWANA literary ecosystem.

• Public Engagement & Community Connection

Gazette Café, 6 rue Levat, 34000 Montpellier

On the evening of Saturday, Oct. 3, a Public Meet-and-Greet (18:00–19:30) at the Gazette Café, 6 rue Levat, will welcome local community members, independent writers, translators, editors, and publishers in Montpellier to connect with international delegates.

• Day Two (Sunday, Oct. 4): Action-Oriented Working Sessions

Maison des Relations Internationales Nelson Mandela

Shifting from conversation to action, Day Two focuses on collaborative mechanics. Sessions will feature peer knowledge-sharing, group SWOT analyses, editor-focused roundtables, and microgrant planning. Attendees will study international models—such as Eurozine, CLMP, PEN International, and the LEILA project—to draft concrete proposals for solidarity, distribution networks, and shared infrastructure.

• Day Three (Monday, Oct. 5): Next Steps and Consortium Building

Jost Hotel, 50 rue Isabelle Eberhardt, 34000 Montpellier

The conference concludes with a final gathering designed to finalize joint initiatives and outline a road map for the consortium’s future projects.

About the SWANA Editors & Publishers Conference

The SWANA Editors & Publishers Conference is a literary consortium dedicated to building long-term solidarity, resource-sharing, and structural collaboration among publications across the SWANA region and its diasporas.

Event Summary

• Event: Conference of SWANA Editors & Publishers: A Literary Consortium
• Dates: October 2–5, 2026
• Primary Venue: Maison des Relations Internationales Nelson Mandela, Jardin de l’Hôtel de Sully, 14 Dsc en Barrat, 34000 Montpellier, France
• Closing Venue: Jost Hotel, 50 rue Isabelle Eberhardt, 34000 Montpellier, France
• Public Event: Saturday, October 3, 2026 | 18:00–19:30 Gazette Café

For      press   credentials,     interview          requests,         or         further information, please contact editor@themarkaz.org.

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