The Palavras que Contam Literary Festival is the celebratory and culminating moment of the project of the same name, promoted by the Aga Khan Foundation Portugal. Its core purpose is to advance literacy and creative expression, giving visibility to young people from diverse communities and enriching Sintra’s literary landscape with plural, inclusive narratives.

On 30 May, from 9:30 onwards at Sintra Municipal Library, the festival marks the official launch of debut works by this group of young authors — published in partnership with Almedina — in a programme that brings together literature, illustration, conversation and live music, with words as the starting point.

A full programme from welcome reception to closing concert, designed so you can drop in for the morning, the afternoon, or stay the whole day.

Discover what awaits across the festival’s programme blocks — from book presentations and creative workshops to the literary circle and the closing concert by MERAI.

Morning sessions where young authors meet the public face to face — sharing the narrative worlds they’ve built.

Creative Writing with Mónica Menezes and Illustration with Joana Mosi — for first-time writers and lifelong ones alike.

Guided tour of the creative process from first drafts, alongside minizines produced by the school-based mini-cycles.

Literary conversation by Hipopómatos na Lua, followed by a festive closing concert by Merai.

Two printable flyers for sharing or putting up where it matters — the invitation and the full hour-by-hour programme.