Grenada Book Festival 2025: Stories, Workshops, and a New Writing Prize Ignite the Nation’s Literary Spirit

This October, Grenada’s literary community came alive once more with the return of the Grenada Book Festival, now in its second year.

Presented in partnership with the Grenada Office of Creative Affairs (GOCA), the festival offered writers, readers, and culture lovers of all ages a rich programme of workshops, readings, and communal storytelling, helped which cement Grenada’s place as a credible home for Caribbean literature.

What’s New This Year

The 2025 edition, a two-day event running from October 3–4, introduced several initiatives that expanded on last year’s baseline. The festival opened with “The Business of Publishing”, a free professional development workshop for writers at all stages. The aim: to demystify the publishing landscape, from editing and cover design to distribution and contracts.

Saturday, October 4, was Book Fair day. Held at the Grenada Trade Centre Annex, the fair showcased more than 30 local authors and artisans, including a Children’s Corner, where storytelling, interactive writing, and arts-and-crafts sessions aimed to seed a love of books in younger audiences.

The most significant addition to the 2025 event is the Grenada Writers’ Prize, a national short story competition open to residents of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique. Submissions closed on October 15. There are two categories: one for adult writers (21 and over), and another for young writers (ages 15–20). Winners will receive cash awards, exposure, and mentoring opportunities.

Cultural Significance & Community Impact

As Kara Benjamin, Marketing & PR Officer at GOCA, emphasised, “Grenada is a nation of natural storytellers, and it’s only fitting to give those voices their time to shine.” The festival isn’t simply about books; it’s about identity, heritage, and the power of narrative to bind a community.

Sponsors such as the Grenada Trade Centre, Sandals Grenada, and the Grenada Co-operative Bank provided vital backing. The latter has specifically aligned its corporate social responsibility efforts with the promotion of reading, literacy, and cultural preservation.