1st International Conference "Nabokov in Spain"

Wed, 07/01/2026 - 17:12
1
Congreso
Nabokov
Nabokov, Marc Riboud / Magnum

The Center for Slavic Cultures, in collaboration with the Department of Greek and Slavic Philology, the Department of Translation and Interpreting, and the Master’s Degree in Literary and Theatre Studies (MELT) at the University of Granada, is pleased to announce the 1st International Conference "Nabokov in Spain". The event will take place at the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting of the University of Granada on October 1–2, 2026.

Presentation

Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977) is one of the most complex and compelling figures in 20th-century world literature. His stylistic mastery, his playful manipulation of narrative structures, and his profound exploration of the limits of reality and time, memory, and exile are fundamental to understanding the contemporary literary imagination.

The map of Nabokovian influence in the Spanish language extends across both sides of the Atlantic: from the verbal pyrotechnics of Cabrera Infante and the structural rigor of Vargas Llosa, to the obsession with memory in Rodrigo Fresán, the critical analysis of Ricardo Piglia, the narrative voice of Javier Marías, or the metaliterary adventure of Enrique Vila-Matas. Nabokov is a continuing source of renewal in narrative and literary thought in Spain and Hispanic America, as demonstrated by the recent work of Luna Miguel.

However, a striking paradox exists within the Spanish academic and publishing spheres:

Lack of Systematic Studies: Despite his enormous impact on Spanish-language writers, Nabokov scholarship in Spain has traditionally remained fragmentary and confined to isolated disciplines.

The Problem of Indirect Translation: Most of Nabokov’s early production (his crucial Russian-period under the pseudonym V. Sirin) has reached the Spanish-speaking reader through English, rather than being translated from the original Russian. Although Nabokov himself translated some of these works —occasionally rewriting them— or collaborated with his English translators, questions of authorship, originality, and the place of these works within his oeuvrehave been sidelined. At the same time, the lack of direct translations has often obscured the texture, rhythm, and nuances of his early prose.

Scant Attention to Nabokov’s Translation Practice and Theory: In addition to translating some of his own works, Nabokov translated Russian classics and developed a distinctive poetics of translation, expounded in combative essays that have significantly influenced translation theory. This aspect of his work, along with the presence of translation as a leitmotif throughout his fiction, has influenced contemporary Spanish narrative (e.g., in the novels of Javier Marías) without receiving due attention in the Hispanic academic world.

Against this background, a more sustained scholarly discussion becomes imperative. A collaborative forum is needed to analyze Nabokov’s legacy and promote direct translation from Russian to Spanish in cooperation with the publishing sector.

This 1st International Conference "Nabokov in Spain" marks the first institutional and collective effort in Spain to establish a joint endeavor, map Nabokov's reception in the Hispanic world, and outline new publishing possibilities for his work.

 

Call for Papers

The Organizing Committee invites researchers, philologists, translators, and creators to submit proposal papers (in-person or virtual) addressing Nabokov’s work from a critical, translinguistic, or comparative perspective.

Main Thematic Lines:

  1. The Russian Period (V. Sirin): Aesthetics, poetics, and analysis of novels and short stories written in the Russian language.

  2. The Challenges of Translation: Nabokov's work in Spanish and other official languages of Spain.

  3. Nabokov in Hispanic Letters: History of his reception, publishing, criticism, and influence on writers from Spain and Hispanic America.

 

Conference Languages

Spanish and English

 

Publication

The publication of the conference papers (during 2027) is planned either in a prestigious publishing house or in an indexed journal. Definitive details will be announced shortly.

Keynote Speakers

We will feature the participation of two of the world's leading figures in Nabokovian research:

  • Prof. Alexander Dolinin (University of Wisconsin-Madison), who will present the special keynote: "Vladimir Nabokov and Russian Literary Traditions" (In-person attendance confirmed).

Alexander A. Dolinin is Emeritus professor of Russian Literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he taught numerous undergraduate and graduate courses from 1991 through 2017. He is the author of nine books (all in Russian), including three on Vladimir Nabokov: Istinnaia zhizn’ pisatelia Sirina (2004; second expanded edition 2019); Kommentarii k romanu Vladimira Nabokova Dar (2019), and Ot Sirina k Nabokovu (2025). Besides, he helped to edit and annotate Nabokov’s collected works in Russian (5 vols., 1999-2000) and in French (ongoing Pleiade edition). He has published over 150 articles in four languages, with scholarly interest in Pushkin, Nabokov, Pasternak, Russian literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, cultural history, and Russian-English literary and cultural connections.

  • Dr. Tatiana Ponomareva (Director of the Nabokov Foundation, St. Petersburg): Coordinator of the Nabokov Readings, who will present the special keynote: "The Nabokovs: Chronicle of a Family Through the Unpublished Correspondence of Véra Nabokov and Elena Sikorskaya." (In-person attendance to be confirmed).

Tatiana Ponomareva is the Director of the Nabokov Center at the Institute of Russian Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Pushkinsky Dom) in St. Petersburg, where she also chairs the organizing committee for the annual international "Nabokov Readings" conference and serves as editor-in-chief of the scholarly series Nabokov and His Contemporaries. A graduate of the Faculty of Philology at Leningrad State University, she previously dedicated two decades (1999–2019) to her work at the Vladimir Nabokov Museum. Her research focuses on the family's correspondence, archival materials, and translation practices, with key publications including the critical edition of the correspondence between Véra Nabokov and Elena Sikorskaya. At the conference, she will present a plenary address exploring the intimate history of the Nabokov family through these unpublished letters.

  • Marta Rebón (Spanish translator of Russian literature, writer, essayist, and literary critic) – In-person to be confirmed

Marta Rebón is the translator of more than forty books, most of them from Russian into Spanish, including works by Vasily Grossman, Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Boris Pasternak, Mikhail Bulgakov, Liudmila Ulitskaya, and Vladimir Nabokov ("Letters to Vera"). She is also a literary critic and columnist for "El País" and the author of the acclaimed books "In the Liquid City" and "Cain’s Complex: Ukraine’s 'To Be or Not to Be' Under Russia’s Shadow".

 

Important Dates

  1. Proposal submission deadline: August 31, 2026 (Extended Deadline)

  2. Notification of acceptance: September 7, 2026

  3. Registration fee payment deadline: September 15, 2026

  4. Publication of the final program: September 15, 2026

  5. Conference dates: October 1–2, 2026

Venue

University of Granada

  • Faculty of Translation and Interpreting (Calle Puentezuelas, 55)

  • Center for Slavic Cultures (Calle Paz, 18)

  • Granada, Spain

 

Submission of Proposals

To participate in the conference, please fill out this form by August 31, 2026, 23:59.

Proposal Submission

Guidelines for Proposal Submission:

  • Official Conference Languages: Spanish and English.

  • Format: Interested participants must submit an abstract of their paper (maximum 350 words) accompanied by a brief bio-bibliographical profile (maximum 150 words) via the web form.

  • Submission Deadline: August 31, 2026.

  • Notification of Acceptance: September 7, 2026.

Presentation Format

  • Duration: 20 minutes

  • Q&A / Discussion: 5 minutes

Registration and Participation

Once confirmation is received, please pay the corresponding fee and send the proof of payment to cceslavas@ugr.es.

  • Payment Deadline: September 15, 2026.

Participation Modalities

The Conference will follow a hybrid format: in-person and virtual.

Participant Type (with paper presentation)

Standard Registration (until Sep 10)

 Extended Registration (until Sept 15)

 Online Participation

Professionals, Permanent / Tenured Faculty

70 €

80 €

 30€

Part-time Faculty and Researchers; PhD students

45 €

55 €

 20€

Attendance without paper presentation is free of charge.

 

Bank Details for Payment

  • Bank: LaCaixa

  • Account Holder: Universidad de Granada

  • IBAN Account: ES36 2100 8986 9102 0005 1669

  • BIC/SWIFT: CAIXAESBBXXX

  • Payment Reference (Concept): Nabokov + [Your Last Name]

Contact

✉️ cceslavas@ugr.es

 

Organizers

UNIVERSIDAD DE GRANADA

Scientific Committee:

  • María Asunción Barreras Gómez,University of La Rioja
  • Inés Goñi Alonso, University of the Basque Country
  • Antonio Jesús Alias Bergel, University of Granada
  • José Manuel Ruiz Martínez, University of Granada
  • Benamí Barros García, University of Granada
  • Enrique Quero Gervilla, University of Granada

Organizing Committee:

  • Nina Kressova Iordanishvili, University of Granada

  • Álvaro Marín García, University of Granada

 

Travel and Accommodation

Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel.

Getting to Granada

  • Granada Airport: The Federico García Lorca Granada-Jaén International Airport is located near the city. It operates flights to Madrid, Barcelona, and other Spanish cities. Bus No. 245 runs between Granada Airport and the city center (check timetables).

  • Málaga Airport: Located 1.5 hours from Granada, it receives multiple international flights. A regional bus runs directly from Málaga Airport to the Granada Bus Station. Route: Málaga Costa del Sol Airport - Granada Bus Station (check schedules and buy tickets at alsa.es).

  • By Train: Trains operate between Málaga and Granada. If you choose this option, you must take a commuter train (Cercanías) to the Málaga María Zambrano RENFE Station and catch a connecting train to Granada. Check schedules here: renfe.com.

Hotels in Granada

Cultural Program

The organizing committee is preparing a cultural program, which will include a night visit to the Alhambra. Details will be announced shortly.

Granada uniquely fuses the splendor of its Andalusi past with Christian Renaissance and Baroque art. To enjoy it to the fullest, you must visit the Alhambra, stroll through the historic Albaicín neighborhood, and experience its famous culture of free tapas served with every drink.

Must-See Places in Granada

The Andalusi Legacy: The Crown Jewel

  • The Alhambra and Generalife: A medieval palace complex that includes the breathtaking Nasrid Palaces, the gardens and summer palace of the Generalife, and the Alcazaba fortress. It is mandatory to book tickets months in advance through the Official Patronato Website.

  • Palace of Charles V: Located within the Alhambra grounds, this Renaissance palace stands out for its grand circular courtyard, unique in Europe; access to the courtyard is free.

  • El Bañuelo: Remarkably well-preserved 11th-century Arab baths located at the foot of the hill.

Charming Historic Neighborhoods

  • The Albaicín: An ancient Arab quarter of labyrinthine, cobblestone streets flanked by cármenes (traditional houses with orchards and gardens).

  • San Nicolás Viewpoint (Mirador de San Nicolás): The city's most famous spot to watch the sunset, offering an iconic view of the Alhambra with the Sierra Nevada mountains in the background.

  • Sacromonte: A neighborhood known for its traditional cave houses and zambras (Gypsy flamenco shows).

  • Paseo de los Tristes: Officially named Paseo del Padre Manjón, it runs parallel to the Darro River, offering spectacular views of the elevated monumental complex.

The Christian and Commercial Center

  • Granada Cathedral: An impressive masterpiece of the Spanish Renaissance designed by Diego de Siloé in the 16th century. Individual tickets can be booked directly on the Tickets Granada Cristiana website.

  • Royal Chapel (Capilla Real): Attached to the Cathedral, this Gothic mausoleum holds the remains of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand.

  • La Alcaicería: The former silk market from the Nasrid era, today converted into a network of narrow streets packed with craft and souvenir shops.

  • Corral del Carbón: A 14th-century former caravanserai (merchants' inn), notable for being the only building of its kind fully preserved in the Iberian Peninsula.

  • Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción "La Cartuja": One of the summits of Spanish Baroque architecture, famous for the striking contrast between its austere exterior and dazzling interior decoration (16th century).

 

University of Granada

The University of Granada was founded in 1531, continuing a long teaching tradition that connects with the Madraza of the last Nasrid Kingdom.

The University is deeply integrated into the city of Granada, enjoying its beautiful surroundings and a privileged geographical location due to its proximity to the Sierra Nevada (featuring an excellent ski resort) and the Mediterranean coast, home to major tourist destinations such as Motril, Almuñécar, or Salobreña.

Over 60,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students study at the UGR, with another 10,000 taking complementary, language, or summer courses. It employs 3,500 professors and more than 2,000 administrative, technical, and service staff.

The University of Granada is internationally recognized for the quality of its teaching, research, and international outreach, consistently ranking among the top 400 universities in the world in various international rankings.

 

Website photo credits: ©Marc Riboud / Magnum Photos