Bocas Lit Fest

View on map
Arts & CulturePort of Spain
DatesDates TBA · Usually AprilCheck locally before booking
Duration4 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsBocas Lit Fest built its identity around the
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: TTD
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Bocas Lit Fest in Port of Spain

The NGC Bocas Lit Fest is Trinidad and Tobago's annual literary festival, held in Port of Spain over the last weekend of April. Founded in 2011 by Marina Salandy-Brown, it is the first major literary festival in the southern Caribbean and the largest in the Anglophone Caribbean, drawing regional and international writers for readings, panels and workshops.

In 2011 a small group of Port of Spain literary figures, led by journalist and broadcaster Marina Salandy-Brown, set out to give Trinidad and Tobago something it had never had: a major festival built entirely around books.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Bocas Lit Fest built its identity around the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, one of the region's most prestigious literary awards, alongside the Johnson & Johnson-backed Bocas Henry Swanzy Award for outstanding contribution to Caribbean letters and the Burt Award for Caribbean young-adult fiction

02

The mystery stays covered

The festival takes its name from boca, Spanish for mouth, referencing both storytelling and the Bocas del Dragon straits off Trinidad's north-west coast

03

The city starts moving

Programming spans poetry, fiction, non-fiction, performance and a National Poetry Slam, and the festival has partnered with the Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival and the Edinburgh World Writers' Conference to extend Caribbean writing onto international stages

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival roots itself in the Caribbean's oral storytelling and calypso wordplay traditions while building formal institutions around them

Water and renewal

Living ritual

the OCM Bocas Prize

The sacred route

Living ritual

the Emerging Caribbean Writers Prize and the National Poetry Slam

The local code

Living ritual

that give literary culture the same public stage Trinidad already gives music and mas

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually April

Getting around

Stay close enough to the part of Port of Spain you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

What to wear

Casual and comfortable. Venues are indoor, air-conditioned library and auditorium spaces in Port of Spain, so light layers help offset the contrast with the tropical heat outside.

Safety

Bocas Lit Fest is best approached as a guest: follow local crowd guidance and avoid blocking participants.

Where to stay

Base yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Bocas Lit Fest runs late.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

TTD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map10.67 N, 61.52 WOpen in Google Maps

Port of Spain, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Nearest airportPOS — Piarco
TransportStay close enough to the part of Port of Spain you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.
Stay areaBase yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Bocas Lit Fest runs late.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Port of Spain via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Port of Spain, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for April.Compare faresFestival gearCasual and comfortable. Venues are indoor, air-conditioned library and auditorium spaces in Port of Spain, so light layers help offset the contrast with the tropical heat outside.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Trinidad and Tobago and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

We may earn a small commission from trusted travel partners at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Bocas Lit Fest?

Bocas Lit Fest is listed for Past edition: 30 April–3 May 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Bocas Lit Fest take place?

The festival is listed in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

4 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Port of Spain, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLbocaslitfest.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually April
Source statusOfficial source linked
Related festivals

Continue the route.

Photo pending

Buenos Aires International Book Fair

Past edition: 23 April–11 May 2026

Buenos Aires, Argentina
Photo pending

Cairo International Book Fair

Past edition: 21 January–3 February 2026

Cairo, Egypt
Photo pending

Pageant of the Masters

Not represented as one continuous festival occurrence

Laguna Beach, United States
Photo pending

Annecy International Animation Film Festival

Past edition: 8–14 June 2025

Annecy, France

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →