Crossing Border is thrilled to announce the first artists in the line-up for our 2023 festival, with an exciting mix of award-winning authors, up-and-coming musicians, and unique collaborations blurring the boundaries between genres.
The festival will take place from 1 - 4 November in beautiful venues across the centre of The Hague. Venues include: Korzo Theater, The Royal Theater, KABK, Theater aan het Spui, Zaal 3, Het Mauritshuis, and BorderKitchen. We are excited to add an additional venue for the literary programme this year, following high demand last year for the literary events.
Tickets are on sale now: see programme and ticketing info below, and stay tuned for more announcements in the coming weeks!
Literature Programme
Confirmed authors include Zadie Smith, who makes her first foray into historical fiction with The Fraud, the intertwined stories of a Scottish housekeeper in 1873 and a Jamaican former slave.
Also appearing is Nigerian-American author Teju Cole, whose highly anticipated new novel Tremor weaves a mosaic of literature, music, race, and history to explore what constitutes a meaningful life.
In an intriguing pairing, Max Porter will read from his best-selling novel Shy accompanied by Belgian composer and musician Nicolas Rombouts, whose improvised beats will create a fitting backdrop for Porter's multi-voice tale of a depressed teenager escaping into the night.
Other confirmed writers include Deepti Kapoor, whose best-selling Age of Vice is a New Delhi-set novel exploring wealth disparities that is equal parts thriller and family saga. And Pilar Quintana, one of the greatest Colombian authors of her generation, will discuss her new novel Abyss, a story of family dysfunction told through the eyes of an eight-year-old.
Also joining us are: Adania Shibli (Pal.), Tahir Hamut Izgil (China), Paulina Flores (Chili), Jim White (US), Astrid Roemer (NL.), Richard Milward (UK), Sally Hayden (Ireland), Anthony Passeron (Fr.), Benjamin Moser (US), Ginevra Lamberti (It.), Drago Jančar (Slo.), Miroslav Sekulic (Cro.), Jeroen and Boris de Leijer (NL), Emilienne Malfatto (Fr.)
Music Programme
Musicians taking the stage include Britain’s singer-songwriter Dave Okumu & The 7 Generations, whose astonishing new album I Came From Love explores ancestry, the legacy of slavery, and what it means to exist in an unjust society.
Dutch rapper and pop artist Sef and the El Salvador Ensemble will be performing music from his new album accompanied by a 10-piece orchestra, while Naaz will enchant audiences with mesmerising music combining her Kurdish roots with western influences.
And Youth Lagoon, the alias of US singer-songwriter Trevor Powers, will be performing songs from his new album Heaven Is a Junkyard, exploring an America of love, drugs, storytelling, and miracles.
Also joining us are: muva of Earth, caroline, Leyla McCalla, Jim White.
Ticketing and Programme information
Tickets for the evening programmes on 3 and 4 November and day programme tickets for 4 November are now on sale.
The evening programme will be held once again in the Korzo Theater, while a new venue (to be announced) will be added for the literary evening programme.
The exact locations of the day programme will all be in the centre of The Hague, and will be announced in September. Venues include: The Royal Theater, KABK, Theater aan het Spui, Zaal 3, Het Mauritshuis and BorderKitchen.
