How Nordic Exposure turned Bucharest into a literary hub

For five days, Bucharest became a vibrant hub of Scandinavian literature, music, and art. Here is a look back at the inaugural edition of Nordic Exposure and the vision that brought five countries to the Romanian capital.

Vlad Palcu, 04.10.2026, 14:00

The inaugural edition of Nordic Exposure: A Journey into Nordic Literature took place in Bucharest from over September 16-20, bringing voices from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden directly to Romanian readers. Designed around four distinct sections, Nordic Close-Up, Special, Stage & Screen, and Forum, the festival went beyond simple book launches to explore thematic debates on post-communist identity, crime fiction, architecture and translation networks across diverse venues in the capital.

In this special coverage, festival director Tudorița Șoldănescu shares the story behind building a multi-country Nordic cultural event from the ground up in Romania. From intimate author meetups to bilingual poetry readings and film screenings, the festival highlighted the growing connection between Nordic authors and Romanian audiences, setting a strong foundation for future editions.

For further information, go to https://nordicexposure.ro/