📣Early-bird rate for #BocasAcademy’s June, July and Aug! Whether you're looking to write into unorthodox & taboo topics, reinvigorate your creative practice, or learn to edit your own poetry with expert guidance, we've got you covered: 🔗 academy.bocaslitfest.com

The 16th edition of the Bocas Lit Fest was a celebration of Caribbean books and writers that would not have been complete without all of you. Thank you, from the #bocas2026 Team! More photos: facebook.com/bocaslitfest... and there's lots more in store for the rest of 2026! #alltogethernow

1/4 The conclusion of our 2026 festival is a moment to reflect on how the Bocas Lit Fest’s primary mission of seeking out, developing, and amplifying Caribbean writers and books has stayed constant for the last 16 years, even as our team has grown and evolved. .../2

📣May’s Bocas Book Bulletin is here! Featuring new Caribbean releases, awards/prizes and April’s bestsellers at @paperbasedbookshop.bsky.social! trinidadexpress.com/features/loc... #bocas2026 @chanda.blacksky.app @armbernier.bsky.social @justinhayneswriter.com

🧵We join the regional and wider community in mourning the loss of Puerto Rican writer, teacher and mentor Xavier Navarro Aquino. Xavier's prodigious talents as a writer were matched by his generosity as an active member of the Caribbean literary and cultural community. .../2

🏆Congratulations to the winner of the 2026 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, Tessa McWatt!🏆 She has won the 16th annual award for her book, The Snag: A Mother, a Forest, and Wild Grief. #bocas2026 #OCMBocasPrize

"A priceless gift for any writer is to be read." Margaret Busby, Chief Judge, 2026 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, affirms the importance of every stage of the prize's trajectory, and celebrates the role of publishers of Caribbean writers & writing. #OCMBocasPrize2026

"Today is the last day of the hottest year in recorded history." Tessa McWatt, Winner of the 2026 OCM Bocas Prize, Nonfiction, reads from The Snag: A Mother, A Forest, and Wild Grief. #OCMBocasPrize2026 #bocas2026

"A work of rare brilliance... bold, clear, and searingly beautiful language." Alison Donnell, Chair, #OCMBocasPrize2026 Nonfiction Judging panel, introduces the category winner, The Snag: A Mother, A Forest, and Wild Grief, by Tessa McWatt. #bocas2026

"At first, no one thought anything of the roosting bird." @justinhayneswriter.com, Winner of the 2026 OCM Bocas Prize, Fiction, reads from Ibis. #OCMBocasPrize2026 #bocas2026

"Justin conveys a keen sense of how historical and political forces shape the intimate bonds that define our lives." Kelly Baker Josephs, Chair, #OCMBocasPrize2026 Fiction Judging panel, introduces the category winner, Ibis by Justin Haynes. #bocas2026

"Enough to call the burning world back to love." Canisia Lubrin, winner of the 2026 OCM Bocas Prize, Poetry, reads from The World After Rain: Anne's Poem. #OCMBocasPrize2026 #bocas2026

"A long lucid dream in a strange blue room." Raymond Antrobus, Chair of the #OCMBocasPrize2026 Poetry Judging panel, introduces the category winner, The World After Rain: Anne's Poem, by Canisia Lubrin. #bocas2026

"The creative energy of this region continues to flow, undiminished." Douglas Wilson, GM, Trinidad & Tobago Express, and Director, One Caribbean Media, staunchly reaffirms OCM's longstanding commitment to the OCM Bocas Prize. #OCMBocasPrize2026 #bocas2026

"A pioneering researcher, scholar, educator, & author." Marina Salandy-Brown, Founder and President, Bocas Lit Fest, reads the citation for the 2026 Bocas Henry Swanzy Award for Distinguished Service to Caribbean Letters, honouring Frank Birbalsingh. #BocasHenrySwanzyAward #bocas2026

"Our Caribbean writers have long been concerned with the bigger idea of what the Caribbean can be, asking us to imagine more boldly." Nicholas Laughlin, Festival and Programme Director, Bocas Lit Fest, reminds us that our writers have always been visionaries. #OCMBocasPrize2026

We remember a T&T writer of immense talent, sadly taken from us too soon. With a solemn intensity, we listen to “Waving Gallery”, by Gilberte Farah O’Sullivan, read by her dear friend and confidante, Ira Mathur. #OCMBocasPrize2026 #bocas2026

Our OCM Bocas Prize ceremony begins in remembrance of those we have lost in our Caribbean literary community. With tender reflection, we hear an excerpt from Suite for Supriya, by Rupert Roopnaraine, read by Andre Bagoo. #OCMBocasPrize2026 #bocas2026

Welcome to the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature + Bocas Henry Swanzy Award Ceremony! Ardene Sirjoo, Master of Ceremonies, has the podium. #OCMBocasPrize2026 #bocas2026

Streaming live today, Saturday, on our YouTube channel! For those unable to attend in person, the Festival livestream will bring you all events in the Old Fire Station! www.youtube.com/@bocaslitfes... bocas2026 #alltogethernow

2 days down; 2 to go. It’s Day 3 of the 2026 Bocas Lit Fest and we’re eagerly anticipating the events of today! Author panels, Open Mic, Showcases, Ole Mas, Extempo, and our 2026 Awards Ceremony! More: bocaslitfest.com/programme #bocas2026 #alltogethernow

Bocas Lit Fest Day 2 is streaming live today! For those unable to attend in person, the Festival livestream will bring you all events in the Old Fire Station! Tune in at: www.bocaslitfest.com/programme/live #bocas2026 #alltogethernow

Are you ready for #bocas2026 Day 2? We Lit’s youth workshops, drama showcase, the highly anticipated Youth Debate, the launch of Project Fusion Junction’s multimedia graphic novel, Take Two & Big Ideas panels, and Kaiso Conversations with 3canal tonight at Big Black Box! bocaslitfest.com/programme

✍️One day left to sign up for the #bocas2026 workshop, ‘The Fictional Antagonist: Your Main Character’s Best Friend’, with Justin Haynes, winner of the 2026 OCM Bocas Prize for Fiction! 🗓 Sat 2 May🕙10 am–12 pm 🔗 bocaslitfest.com/the-fictional-antagonist

It’s happening! Day 1 of the 2026 Bocas Lit Fest is here and we’re starting off with a writing workshop and the high-energy BackChat! With 50 events over 4 days and 150+ writers, speakers & performers, what’s on your list?👉 bocaslitfest.com/programme #bocas2026 #altogethernow

The announcement of this year’s recipient of the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature is days away, and today we are treated in the Express to a second excerpt from the winner of the Nonfiction category: The Snag: A Mother, a Forest, and Wild Grief, by Tessa McWatt #bocas2026 #OCMBocasPrize

One week ahead of the announcement of this year’s recipient of the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, we are treated in today’s Express to an excerpt from the winner of the Nonfiction category: The Snag: A Mother, a Forest, and Wild Grief, by Tessa McWatt #bocas2026 #OCMBocasPrize

Join us for a special Bocas fundraiser featuring rapso legends @3canal, in conversation with music critic and writer Nigel Campbell about the art of writing lyrics. 🗓️Fri 1 May 🕠Doors open 6 pm 📍@BigBlackBoxTT 🎟️$150 islandetickets.com/event/kaisoc... #bocas2026 #kaisoconversations

Writers First, #bocas2026's series of FREE seminars for early-career & self-published authors, covers diverse topics in publishing & professional development, from talks by international publishers to sessions on translation, audiobooks, and publishing plays. More info: bocaslitfest.com/programme

Last few days to register for #bocas2026 workshops! Designed for budding, emerging & established writers, workshops focused on craft have been staples of our annual literary festival, facilitated by some of the best facilitators and celebrated authors. 👉 bocaslitfest.com/programme/wo...

Our TAKE TWO panel discussions at #bocas2026! 🌎For viewers abroad, events at the Old Fire Station will be broadcast live on our website and YouTube, no sign-ups required! 🔗For our full Festival programme, visit bocaslitfest/programme #alltogethernow

Our ONE-ON-ONE panel discussions at #bocas2026! 🌎For viewers abroad, events at the Old Fire Station will be broadcast live on our website and YouTube, no sign-ups required! 🔗For our full Festival programme, visit bocaslitfest/programme #alltogethernow

Cultural heritage shapes how we understand ourselves as a society. But “heritage” is never static, and each generation must debate for itself what is/isn't worth preserving. Join us for a #bocas2026 Big Ideas panel: 'Heritage Matters' with Tracy Assing, Margaret McDowell, and Rita Pemberton.

At #bocas2026, Richard Lynch, Sunity Maharaj, and Nirad Tewarie discuss Caribbean regionalism and its future prospects. Politically, economically, culturally, philosophically, what does “Caribbean” mean now, and what is the value of regional institutions for ordinary citizens?

As excitement builds in the lead up to the announcement of this year’s recipient of the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, we are treated in today’s Express to a second excerpt from the winner of the Fiction category: Ibis, by @justinhayneswriter.com. #bocas2026 #alltogethernow

A festival fixture returns: members of the Writers Union of Trinidad and Tobago share their latest work and offer a snapshot of current directions in contemporary Caribbean writing. 🗓 Sat 2 May, 🕒4-5.30 pm 📍AV Room, National Library #bocas2026 #alltogethernow

Register today for the 2026 Bocas Lit Fest Ole Mas Competition! This year’s theme, “All Together Now", invites you to bring your wit, creativity & commentary to the stage in true Ole Mas style! Sat 2 May, NALIS POS Sign up at: bocaslitfest.com?ff_landing=32 #bocas2026

1/2 We're launching a new multimedia graphic novel! See the results of Project Fusion Junction — a 7-month, transnational collaboration among teens from T&T, Jamaica, and Northern Ireland that explores the dystopian consequences of AI, the replacement of humanity, corruption, and survival. .../2

“When I first heard of the Bocas Lit Fest, I wanted to read there. I promised my father at 15 that I would grow up to become a poet, and that I would read my poems in Trinidadian dialect all over the world. My father laughed his big laugh and said he believed me." trinidadexpress.com/features/loc...

As excitement builds in the lead up to the announcement of this year’s recipient of the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, we are treated in today’s Trinidad and Tobago Express to an excerpt from the winner of the Fiction category: Ibis, by @justinhayneswriter.com #bocas2026 #OCMBocasPrize

CAISO: Sex and Gender Justice hosts their high-octane BackChat with the theme Queer Community: Celebrating LGBTQI+ Voices in Hard Times 🗓 Thurs 30 April 🕒 8 pm 📍Kafe Blue Join us for poetry & music, stories & celebration, featuring an incredible lineup of LGBTQI+ writers & performers. #bocas2026

1/2 Translation is the lifeblood of literature, giving readers access to books across borders of language — especially important in the Caribbean, where our regional literature is written and published in several official languages. .../2

1/2 Bocas' managing director Georgia Popplewell and festival & programme manager Nicholas Laughlin met with His Worship Alderman Chinua Alleyne at City Hall. "We had a fruitful meeting with Mayor Alleyne, briefing him on the upcoming Festival which makes downtown POS.../2

📣Meet the official cohort of The Bocas-Jacaranda Short Story Intensive! Tanya Batson-Savage 🇯🇲 Darryn Boodan 🇹🇹 Astrid Casimire 🇹🇹 Kevin Garbaran 🇬🇾 Jolyn Gayle 🇯🇲 Sio Lyons 🇻🇮 Kirese Narinesingh 🇹🇹 Zephrine Royer 🇩🇲/🇲🇶 Christina Katrina Smith 🇧🇧 Rea Vanterpool 🇻🇬 #bocas2026 @jacarandabooks.bsky.social .../2

As excitement builds in the lead up to the announcement of 2026’s recipient of the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, we are treated in today’s Express to a 2nd excerpt from the winner of the Poetry category: The World After Rain: Anne’s Poem, by Canisia Lubrin. #bocas2026

For poets Jannine Horsford (Jurassic Coast) and Fawzia Muradali Kane (Guaracara), a sensuous engagement with specific places unlocks memories, questions and sometimes imagined selves. At #bocas2026, they'll be in conversation with Simone Leid.

✨Own a rare piece of festival history & support the future of Caribbean literature! We're proud to release a special limited-edition festival poster of ‘The Seeker’ by celebrated T&T artist Shalini Seereeram Signed: TT$250 at @paperbasedbookshop.bsky.social bocaslitfest.com/festival-art/ #bocas2026

Writers First, #bocas2026's expanded series of FREE seminars for early-career & self-published authors, covers diverse topics in publishing and professional development, from talks by international publishers to sessions on translation, audiobooks, and publishing plays. .../2

Following the resounding success of 'Kaiso Conversations: David Rudder' we present an intimate, thought-provoking conversation with Rapso standard-bearers 3canal and music critic Nigel A. Campbell. #bocas2026 Tix: islandetickets.com/event/kaisoc... or @paperbasedbookshop.bsky.social

As excitement builds in the lead up to the announcement of this year’s recipient of the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, we are treated in today’s Express to an excerpt from the winner of the Poetry category: The World After Rain: Anne’s Poem, by Canisia Lubrin. #bocas2026