With two weeks to go before the BIHAR International Congress begins, the organizers presented the final details together with the project’s sponsors, at Ficoba. Held under the slogan “The world emerging from languages,” the Congress will place stories and discourses on language revitalization at its center. From September 23 to 26, various topics will be explored through an academic lens, social activism, and cultural expression: identity, community knowledge, community activation, shared imaginaries around cultural revitalization, contributions of artificial intelligence…

Four days, three towns, and a large network of supporters
In total, 40 language communities from around the world will be represented, and more than 200 people will take part in this first edition. Alongside daytime talks and panel discussions, open cultural events will be held in the evenings to draw a wider audience (concerts, dance performances…). On September 26, to mark European Day of Languages, a collective, traveling “raising” of languages will be organized. All citizens who support Basque and other languages undergoing revitalization worldwide are invited to take part.

The BIHAR project has received support from several public and institutional bodies: the Basque Agency for Development Cooperation of the Basque Government, the Basque Government’s Department of Culture and Language Policy, Euskarabidea – Government of Navarre, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, the Provincial Council of Biscay, the City Councils of Bilbao and Beasain, and the Basque Cultural Institute.

The organizers’ aim is for BIHAR to serve as a turning point and a starting point — renewing discourse around language revitalization and strengthening collaboration among communities worldwide. In an increasingly troubled context, the aim is to bring forth from our languages and cultures a world that is more diverse, more equal, more just, more sustainable, more united…

Congress programme:

• September 23: BILBAO (Euskalduna Palace). Opening ceremony.
• September 24-25: IRUN – HENDAYE. Daytime at Ficoba: talks, panel discussions, workshops… Evenings at the Borderline factory: concerts, shows, entertainment… free of charge.
• September 26 — HENDAYE: Collective, traveling “raising” of languages, presentation of the declaration, and closing ceremony.

You can check the full programme of talks, evening events and the mobilization HERE.