Alicante Noir, the crime fiction festival, returns to its roots and dedicates its third edition to the darker corners of literature and its subgenres, stepping away from audiovisual edits after last year’s influx. The encounter with the crime narrative will unfold from September 22 to 23 inside Seneca Space, bringing together 28 national and local authors with an ever-expanding audience. The events will fill three days with a growing attendance already surpassing a thousand participants.
The festival organizers unveiled their lineup this Tuesday, highlighting a programming slate designed to deepen the festival’s focus. Accompanied by a Criminologist and Cultural Council Member Nayma Beljlali, who describes herself as a “crime fiction lover,” the artist noted that the discipline is rising in TV series, films, and novels that keep readers and viewers awake at night. Beljlali emphasized the importance of strengthening the new edition to meet rising interest and the strong presence of Alicante authors.
Michel Messina, director of Alicante Noir, pointed out that the festival thrives on a balance between revelatory writers and best-sellers within a traditionally minority field that has grown mainstream. He recalled the festival’s three pillars: parity among authors, a strong local focus, and promotion of literature beyond just crime to mystery and other related genres and subgenres. On the other hand, festival commissioner Jose Carlos Dominguez stressed the value of strong storytelling over sheer sales, a mix of major and independent publishers, and a social dimension where crime literature remains rooted in character and narrative rather than sensationalism.
The festival this year features familiar faces alongside new guests, retaining beloved figures such as Marias, Monica Rouanet, Susana Rodríguez Lezaun, Tony Hill, Benito Olmo, Paco Gómez Escribano, Charles Salem, and Alicante favorites Manuel Avilés and Blas Ruiz Grau. Among the well-known participants are Victoria Sánchez Torralba, Pilar Ruiz, Ana Ballabriga, Natalia Gómez Navajas, Elvira Feral, Teresa Carona, Maite Ochotorena, Nuria Deaño, Chus Sánchez, and Esther Abellán, all connected to the Alicante literary scene.
First-time visitors to Alicante Noir include Fernando Benzo, Azorín Prize 2023 winner, Ulises Bértolo, Santiago Díaz, Víctor Claudín, Salva Alemany, and Daniel Hernández Chambers, all based in Alicante. They will participate in roundtables moderated by journalists Cristina Martínez, Daniel Terol, and Miquel Hernández, spanning investigations, suspensions, cops and robbers, perversions, drugs, thrillers, corruption, murders, and terror. After each session, authors will sign their books for attendees.
The winner of the Alicante Noir 2023 Award will be announced on Saturday, September 23, with finalists revealed as the event unfolds, featuring candidates such as the novel What the Rain Drags and Santiago Díaz with Download. The festival celebrates a blend of sharp storytelling and social commentary, inviting readers to explore the hidden motives behind crime through diverse voices and perspectives.
Programming
The festival kicks off Friday, September 22, at 18:45 with a roundtable that features Victoria González Torralba, Benito Olmo, and Ana Ballabriaga, focusing on Crime, Mystery, and Detective genres, followed by a discussion at 19:00. The Alicante-based writer Monica Rouanet will participate in the session titled Investigation and Suspension, alongside Fernando Benzo.
On Saturday, September 23, activities begin at 12:00 with a roundtable on Murder, Crime, and Mystery featuring Victor Claudin, Pilar Ruiz, and Nagore Suárez. Next up is Cops and Robbers with guests Teresa Cardona, Natalia Gómez Navajas, and Aro Sainz de la Maza.
Saturday afternoon continues with a discussion about tension and corruption with Maite Ochotorena, Susana Rodríguez Lezaun, and Toni Hill, starting at 20:00. A roundtable on Perverts and Drugs will follow, with Paco Gómez Escribano, Ulises Bértolo, and Nuria Deaño, alongside the Alicante Noir 2023 Prize presentation.
Sunday, September 24, begins with Deaths and Terror, where three Alicante authors will participate: Esther Abellán, Chus Sánchez, and Daniel Hernández Chambers. The panel Judges, Bulls, and Priests will be held in the presence of another Alicante figure, Manuel Avilés, plus Elvira Feral and Salva Alemany. The closing discussion on total killers will feature José Carlos Domínguez, Carlos Salem, and Blas Ruiz Grau as guests.
Free admission
Entry to all program events is free, but capacity is limited. Attendees may visit the venues directly or reserve a spot in advance through the festival’s official channels once announced. All seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to those who secure a reservation ahead of time.