The World Poetry Day that will be held on March 21^st , is an international celebration launched by UNESCO in 1999  with the aim to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and to increase protect endangered languages. Today, World Poetry Day is the occasion to honour poets and celebrate one of humanity’s most treasured forms of cultural and linguistic expression. Practiced throughout history – in every culture and on every continent – poetry speaks to our common humanity and our shared values, transforming words into a powerful catalyst for intercultural dialogue and peace.

This year, on March 21^st 2018, 14 UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature of Granada, Baghdad, Barcelona, Krakow, Dublin, Edinburgh, Heidelberg, Iowa City, Ljubljana, Nottingham, Óbidos, Prague, Reykjavik and Tartu have coordinated across the world to commemorate this event in an extraordinary way.

The WPD project, on the proposal of Granada, involved 14 Creative Cities of literature who prepared the initiative, connecting different celebration with each other cities through social networks and a common communication’s strategy. In Granada, 25 bookshops will hold a long-range poetry recital led by 60 poets with personal or professional experiences in the city. In addition, Nottingham will send to Granada its poet Georgina Wilding; while Ljubljana will do likewise with its poet Anja Golob.

Moreover, the opening event of will see the special presence of  Ms. Francesca Merloni, the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Creative Cities.