Alicante Noir Grows into a Premier Crime Fiction Festival
Alicante Noir returns for a second edition in September, relocating to Seneca Space from the 21st to the 25th. The festival is expanding its reach beyond books, weaving together literary and other artistic expressions. The program shines a spotlight on film noir this year and features a diverse lineup of cultural events, including author conversations, conferences, roundtables, and film screenings.
The event enjoys the backing of the Alicante City Council through the Culture, Equality and Youth departments, and support from the Alicante Provincial Council via the Costa Blanca Tourism Board. It is distinct from Mayo Negro, a separate black literature event that has recently entered its fourteenth edition in the city.
Cultural consultant Anthony Manresa notes that the festival continues to make literature a central pillar as it unveils new programming elements. The festival’s director explains that preparations are underway for a premier guest appearance that will set a strong tone for genre culture in Alicante. The inaugural edition brought together about thirty authors, including well-known names in the crime fiction scene, contributing to a vibrant opening chapter for the festival’s evolving story.
The schedule will feature creators from various corners of crime writing, spanning multiple subgenres. Attendees can expect novelists, editors, filmmakers, producers, booksellers, screenwriters, agents, journalists, and investigators to participate, mirroring the broader ecosystem that sustains crime storytelling in contemporary culture.
The goal for the second edition is to reinforce the festival as a reference point in crime fiction, while expanding the program beyond last year’s offerings to accommodate a wider audience. The event aims to be welcoming to all kinds of cultural, social, and entertainment actors and to invite participation from audiences who enjoy the program’s activities across disciplines.
One of the festival’s core aims is to maintain a balanced presence of both established and emerging writers. At the same time, organizers plan to keep promoting young local talent alongside seasoned figures, recognizing the importance of fresh voices in the crime fiction landscape.
City officials express pride in the festival and reaffirm a commitment to making Alicante a hub for the literary industry. Through related cultural events and ongoing efforts to support reading and storytelling, the city intends to broaden visibility for Alicante’s literary scene and attract visitors who are drawn to crime fiction programming and associated cultural experiences.