The Assembly of Literary Translators

Literary translators assemble!

Limber up for LBF 2026 with a thought-provoking, day-long programme looking at how we (as literary translators) present ourselves, our work and our value. Gather with your peers for a day of discussions and networking on Monday 9 March in central London.

Getting to the venue

The event will take place at Holborn House (35 Emerald Street) in central London. Located just a few minutes’ walk from Russell Square and Holborn tube stations, and close to multiple bus routes, the venue is easily reached on foot or by public transport.

Emerald Street is a pedestrian-only alley best accessed from Lamb’s Conduit Street. It is on the east side of the street and immediately south of Rugby Street. You will find signage on the lamppost that reads “Bedford House Community Centre”. The venue is a few paces down Emerald Street in the glass-fronted building on your right, opposite the bicycle repair shop. The door will be staffed at the start of the event but is locked during the day, so when you arrive you may need to give us a wave through the window to gain access.

Refreshments

Tea and coffee will be offered during breaks, and a delicious, freshly prepared vegetarian lunch is included. We also hope you’ll be able to stay for our networking reception at the end of the day.

SEEN, HEARD, TRANSLATED
A day for literary translators to explore their visibility, profile and public presence. We’ll reflect on how we present ourselves and our work, engage with audiences, support translated books and shape our professional identity.

PROGRAMME

Visibility and the Literary Translator

Sarah Ardizzone and Daniel Hahn reflect on how they became literary translators with a public profile. This session will discuss how they have come to embrace the translator’s visibility, cultivate a public presence, and the opportunities that a profile like this can facilitate, as well as exploring what the landscape is like for translators trying to build a profile today.

Translating Yourself for the Audience

This session explores how translated books are marketed and ways in which translators can contribute to those efforts. Topics include: opportunities for translators to appear in public and engage with audiences, how visibility can support a book’s success, and why a translator’s profile matters to publishers, festivals and readers alike. Speakers will reflect on practical strategies, share insights from their own experience, and consider how we can work together to bring more translated books to wider audiences.

Shaping Your Professional Self In Response To Others

This workshop explores the story of our ‘professional self’ as literary translators in response to others. What do we tell the world about ourselves, and how can we reshape that narrative as the profession changes? Christophe Fricker will lead an interactive, hands-on ‘reverse lecture’, guiding participants through exercises and discussion to reflect on visibility, profile, and professional identity.

The Write Profile

Be inspired to share your work and your profession in ways that spark curiosity and connection. This session explores how translators write about themselves and their work. Speakers will discuss how to communicate in a way that highlights their own work, the profession and the wider literary world.

Looking in the Mirror

This structured networking session offers time to reflect on how we see ourselves and what we’ve taken from the day. Choose your preferred flavour and get ready for open exchange and fresh insights. Come prepared to share ideas, ask questions, and connect with fellow translators in meaningful ways.