The Xilòfag Literary Festival has established itself as one of the most unique cultural events in inland Castellón. Since its inception, it has been defined as a “book-devouring” event that uses great authors to reflect on society. In previous editions, the festival explored mystery with Agatha Christie, gender identity with Virginia Woolf's Orlando, or post-war literature. This 2026, the event will strip away the myth of the procuress to build bridges between the 15th century and the problems of the 21st century.
The program will begin on Thursday, April 23, coinciding with Book Day, with the screening of Gerardo Vera's film. However, the core of the edition will arrive on Friday, April 24, when literature intersects with social reflection. Talks by psychologist Puri Lietor and expert Carolina López will analyze the “double truth” of the prostitution system and human trafficking, themes intrinsic to the subtext of Rojas' work.
The weekend will offer a total immersion in Vilafranca with various activities. In the field of literature and art, the exhibition “Libros prohibidos – Libros de amor” will be inaugurated in the Gothic Halls, and the novel Mi nombre es Celestina, by Desirée Baudel, will be presented. Citizen participation will be key with the audiovisual “La Celestina en el siglo XXI”, starring local residents, and the performance Akelarre, by La Xalera in the Church Square. In addition, the traditional Literary Dinners at Forn Gastro will once again be the meeting point where gastronomy will be inspired by the Celestina universe.
The festival will close on Sunday, April 26 with a proposal full of symbolism. In the morning, the “Banco de La Celestina” will be inaugurated on Llosar Avenue, followed by a guided tour focused on censorship (Xilòfag censurado), led by Guillem Monferrer. The grand finale will be the theatrical performance by the company Calema Producciones, followed by a post-show discussion to unravel the nuances of this contemporary staging. With this sixth edition, the Xilòfag reaffirms its commitment to critical culture, demonstrating that Vilafranca not only reads the classics but inhabits, savors, and questions them.
