Expanded initiative regarding theology and existential issues at Gothenburg Book Fair

26.5.2026 09:09:35 | Church of Sweden | Press release

Canadian crime writer Louise Penny will be one of the most brilliant international names at this year’s Gothenburg Book Fair. She has been specially invited by Archbishop Martin Modéus. One of her two major appearances will be a conversation with the Archbishop on the Church of Sweden’s Se människan (Behold the man) stage.

“I look forward to and highly appreciate Louise Penny’s visit to this year’s Gothenburg Book Fair,” says Martin Modéus. “Her writing raises issues of morality, faith and human dignity, themes central to our times and crucial to public discourse.”

The same stage will also host the traditional presentation of the forthcoming edition of the Archbishop’s Lenten Book, which will be the fifteenth in the series. The author of next year’s book is culture journalist Ulrika Knutson; she and the Archbishop will be discussing the book, titled Det dumma äpplet (The Stupid Apple), which highlights characters who have “quarrelled with God” in various ways throughout history.

As usual, the Se människan stage will also host a wide and varied range of current authors, including Klas Östergren, Elizabeth George, Niklas Rådström and Susanna Alakoski.

Burning issues on a new stage

Teo i tiden (Theology in our Time) is the name of the new stage that will be located next to the Church of Sweden’s Se människan stage. It will feature programme items tackling burning contemporary issues from a clear theological perspective. The church and nationalism, the challenges of biblical interpretation and the impact of AI on humans are themes that will be highlighted in various ways.

Teo i tiden is an initiative of the Sigtuna Foundation, the Teo Talks lecture forum in Umeå, Lund Mission Society and the entrepreneur Joachim Berner, in collaboration with the Church of Sweden.

Space for children’s creativity

Lilla livsrummet (The Little Room of Life) is the name of a new area at the Gothenburg Book Fair where children’s curiosity will take centre stage. A place for creativity and creation based on the symbols and forms of expression of the church, as well as for tackling the big questions of life and death through play.

Behind Lilla livsrummet is Gothenburg diocese and Gothenburg Masthugg parish.

New Bible translation to be launched

One of the main events at this year’s Gothenburg Book Fair is the official launch of NT 2026, the new Swedish translation of the New Testament of the Bible. The launch will have an impact on all four days of the Gothenburg Book Fair – on the Church of Sweden’s stages and on several others, in seminars and at other events addressing the importance of the Bible in Sweden today. The Swedish Bible Society is behind the new translation.

“We are looking forward to the broadest programme in many years, one that also clearly grapples with the big issues of our time,” says Mikael Ringlander, who heads the Se människan programme. “We are particularly pleased with the expanded cooperation and initiatives on the part of other actors within the Church of Sweden that have made this possible.”

The Church of Sweden’s full programme for this year is available here (swedish).

The Gothenburg Book Fair will take place between 24 and 27 September. This year’s themes are Popular Education, Games and Quebec.