A Sense of Home. PEN Ukraine's Focus Theme for 2026

Відчуття дому. Фокус-тема Українського ПЕН 2026

Year: 2026

Coordinator: Anna Vovchenko

Project Design: Sofiia Afanasieva

Project description

"A Sense of Home" is the focus theme that PEN Ukraine members and guest authors will reflect upon in 2026. This marks the sixth time the PEN community has selected a guiding theme to shape our thoughts for the entire year. Previously, we have explored and written on topics such as "Bridges to Replace the Walls" (2018/2019), "What Shall Give Us Power?" (2019/2020), "Culture on Hold" (2020/2021), "Reclaiming Our Names" (2021/2022), and "Our Being in the World" (2025/2026).

The relevance and significance of this year’s focus theme are explained by Iya Kiva — a poet, translator, journalist, and PEN Ukraine member:

"Having a sense of home — at the frontline and in the rear, in Ukraine and abroad — is the critical infrastructure of Ukrainian existence and survival. And it takes one human being to build, repair, or restore it for another. What about the repair and construction work — is it happening at all? Are we aware that the reconstruction of our human and social ecosystems won't take place 'someday,' but must be carried out right now, or rather, yesterday? Do we have someone to multiply ourselves by, as Izdryk wrote? Are we ready to take inventory not only of our resilience but also of our weakness? Are we willing to speak honestly not only about our places of strength but also of our vulnerabilities? To speak — to pave new paths of humanity where Russians destroy them every day and every night."

The complete text of Iya Kiva’s essay is now available via the link.

The curator of the "A Sense of Home" focus theme project is Anna Vovchenko, a translator, cultural manager, and member of PEN Ukraine.

The media partner for PEN Ukraine's 2026 focus theme is Suspilne Kultura.

Project design by Sofiia Afanasieva. The illustrations for the theme will feature photographs from the personal archives of the contributing authors.

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