Debrecen4U
September 10, 2026
Térey Book Festival to Return in September
With the support of the Municipality of Debrecen, the Méliusz Juhász Péter Library is organising the Térey Book Festival for the seventh time, engaging with the work of Debrecen-born writer, poet and literary translator János Térey. The focus of the 2026 Book Festival will be Térey’s Ultra, published 20 years ago and regarded as the pinnacle of his poetic oeuvre.
Published in 2006, the volume – which also evokes the poet’s experience of Debrecen in several works – creates a distinctive, sweeping poetic world by connecting historical, cultural and urban experiences, while giving voice to classical forms and rhetorical traditions in a contemporary language. One of the volume’s major innovations is its conscious reinterpretation of pathos and elevated modes of expression. The reception of Ultra has praised the collection for its linguistic richness, compositional discipline and cultural layering. A mini-conference will be organised around the volume, while an exhibition in the Térey Book Corner will bring it to life. In 2026, the Térey memorial address will be delivered by literary historian Sándor Bazsányi.
Another important aim of the Book Festival is to draw citizens’ attention to Debrecen’s literary traditions year after year. This year, we will celebrate literary historian Ibolya Cs. Nagy on the occasion of her 80th birthday, and commemorate the poet Endre Tóth, who died 15 years ago, and his daughter, the poet Éva Tóth, while the figure of Annamária Kinde will be evoked through a poetry concert. As part of the programme, the recently Térey Prize-winning Dániel Levente Pál will introduce himself, alongside two major literary figures: József Attila Prize-winning writer Krisztián Grecsó and Babérkoszorú Prize-winning poet Vince Fekete. A true highlight will also be the Debrecen debut of Szilárd Borbély’s collected volume of essays, The Memory of a Plant.
The Térey Book Festival will take place from 14 to 18 September 2026. Venues include the Méliusz Juhász Péter Library, the Déri Museum, the Térey Book Corner and Térey’s birthplace (17 Kétmalom Street).
PROGRAMME
14 September (Monday)
14.00 Ultra Redivivus I – analyses of the poems in János Térey’s Ultra. Speakers: literary historians Ágnes Balajthy, Artemisz Harmath and Gergő Melhardt. Chair: literary historian Péter Szirák. Venue: Institute Library of the Institute of Literary and Cultural Studies, University of Debrecen (Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, Main Building, 3rd floor, Room 303).
17.00 Literary historian Sándor Bazsányi’s Térey memorial address at the family home (Debrecen, 17 Kétmalom Street), with a welcome address by Deputy Mayor István Puskás. Featuring performing artist and singer Bíborka Bocskor.
17.45 Non plus Ultra. Chamber exhibition at the Térey Book Corner. Venue: Térey Book Corner (Debrecen, 2 Nyíl Street).
18.00 Ultra Redivivus II – panel discussion on János Térey’s poetry collection Ultra. Participants: literary historians Sándor Bazsányi, József Lapis and Péter Szirák. Venue: MÉLIUSZ Central Library (Debrecen, 19/D Bem tér), Main Lecture Hall on the ground floor.
15 September (Tuesday)
17.00 Time Answers – celebration of literary historian Ibolya Cs. Nagy, who turns 80 this year. Laudator: literary historian and critic László Ablonczy. The honouree will be interviewed by literary historians Zoltán Bertha and Andrea Ekler. Featuring Jászai Mari Prize-winning actress Kinga Újhelyi. Venue: MÉLIUSZ Central Library (Debrecen, 19/D Bem tér), Main Lecture Hall on the ground floor.
18.30 Come Closer – a poetry concert by the Körömvirág ensemble in memory of poet Annamária Kinde. Venue: MÉLIUSZ Central Library (Debrecen, 19/D Bem tér), Main Lecture Hall on the ground floor.
16 September (Wednesday)
17.00 Presentation of József Attila Prize-winning poet and writer Krisztián Grecsó’s volumes My Father Sent a Message and You Remain for Each Other. The author will be interviewed by Sára Szirák, a communications and cultural specialist. Venue: MÉLIUSZ Central Library (Debrecen, 19/D Bem tér), Main Lecture Hall on the ground floor.
18.30 Presentation of Vince Fekete’s volume Beautiful Apocalypse. The author will be interviewed by poet and editor Henriette Kemenes. Venue: MÉLIUSZ Central Library (Debrecen, 19/D Bem tér), Main Lecture Hall on the ground floor.
17 September (Thursday)
17.00 Confidential Confession at the Snowline – panel discussion on two József Attila Prize-winning Debrecen poets, Endre Tóth and his daughter Éva Tóth. Participants: Endre Bakó, Lajos Lakner, Béla Márkus and Heléna Várhelyi. Venue: MÉLIUSZ Central Library (Debrecen, 19/D Bem tér), Main Lecture Hall on the ground floor.
19.00 The Literary Writer Reads – an authors’ evening with Térey Prize-winning poet Dániel Levente Pál. Conversation partner: poet and critic Dominik Gyarmati. Venue: Grand Hall of the Déri Museum (Debrecen, 1 Déri tér).
18 September (Friday)
17.00 Presentation of Szilárd Borbély’s collection of essays, The Memory of a Plant. Participants: literary historian József Krupp, editor of the volume, and philosopher Tamás Valastyán. Venue: MÉLIUSZ Central Library (Debrecen, 19/D Bem tér), Main Lecture Hall on the ground floor.
Associated event
10 September (Thursday), 17.00 – Men’s Dance. A commemoration of József Attila Prize-winning poet Tamás Kiss. Welcome address by Deputy Mayor István Puskás, with a memorial address by literary historian Endre Bakó. Poems by Tamás Kiss will be performed by actor István Papp. Venue: Debrecen, Gambrinus köz, at the Tamás Kiss memorial plaque.
Throughout the Térey Book Festival: Thirteen Swans – Magda Szabó and Memory exhibition. Venue: House of Literature in Debrecen (Debrecen, 28 Péterfia Street), during the institution’s opening hours, from 10.00 to 18.00.
The organising Méliusz Juhász Péter Library reserves the right to change the programme.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
