Organised by Barcelona City of Literature and Melbourne City of Literature, Mirror Cities is a unique virtual exchange initiative connecting librarians, booksellers, and literary programmers from both Cities. 

Happening on 2–4 June 2026, the program fosters meaningful, professional relationships between equivalent literary organisations through structured online sessions and a public-facing campaign. 

The exchange will include three structured virtual sessions (8pm AEST Melbourne time and 12pm CET Barcelona time), each focusing on a specific literary sector:  

  • Session 1: Bookshops – Monday 28 September 8pm 2026. Independent booksellers, book buyers, and retail professionals from Barcelona and Melbourne discuss shared challenges and innovative practices in book retail, community engagement, author events, and sustainable business models. 
  • Session 2: Libraries – Tuesday 29 September 8pm 2026. Librarians and library professionals from both cities explore programming strategies, collection development, community outreach, digital literacy initiatives, and the evolving role of libraries in contemporary society. 
  • Session 3: Literary Programming – Wednesday 30 September 8pm 2026. Festival directors, literary event organisers, and cultural programmers from Barcelona and Melbourne share insights on audience development, artist collaboration, funding strategies, accessibility, and creating impactful literary experiences.

Each Mirror Cities participant will submit three discussion questions in advance of their relevant session, which will help shape the conversation agenda, ensuring that these sessions address the specific interests, challenges, and opportunities identified by participants. These questions will reflect current priorities, curiosities about international practice, or areas where peer exchange could provide valuable insights.   

Each room will run for a maximum of two hours.

Please note that Mirror Cities is free, but spaces are limited. 

This program will open for EOIs shortly.