With the support of Creative Europe, fwd aims to forward a new generation of European books to the next generation of readers. While CELA focuses on talent development, fwd focuses on helping emerging European writers reach international audiences through translation, publication and promotion.

fwd offers publishers early access to a selected set of recently published books by emerging European literary talent with strong international potential. By participating in fwd, publishers become part of a European network dedicated to literary discovery, translation, and cross-border collaboration.

The programme increases the visibility of selected titles through international branding, coordinated promotion, and reader-focused campaigns, including presentation through an app specifically designed for fwd readers where readers can engage with each other, the translator and the writer, sharing their perspectives on the fwd books.

At its core, fwd is designed to create sustainable connections between publishers, translators, writers and a new generation of European readers. fwd offers grants to publishers, writers, translators. literary festivals and professionals.

fwd focuses on prose books from small language markets and currently consists of 15 literary organisations from 13 European countries and is coordinated by International Literature House Wintertuin from Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

fwd grants 2026

• Mobility grant for literary artists, festivals and professionals: grants to support
  and encourage international exchange and the promotion of emerging literary
  artists on international stages. For fwd writers, translators and professionals and
  CELA writers, translators and professionals before 2026. Apply by 30 November 2026.

Fwd grants in 2027

• Pitching grant for translators: selected translators receive 1.400 euro to create
  sample translations, cover letters and take part in an international pitching
  campaign. Next call opens on 1 September 2027.
  
• Kickstarting grant for publishers: publishers that acquire the translations rights
  of one of the books pitch through fwd, and work with the selected fwd translator
  can apply for a €2,000 grant to support the realization of the translation. Next
  call closes on 28 February 2027.
• Promotion grant for publishers: selected publishers receive up to €3,000 to
  support the promotion of the fwd book. Publishers are selected based on market
  opportunities in June 2027.
• Literary tour grant: connected festivals, bookshops and selected publishers can
  apply for a grant up to 2.000 euro to support the participation of author and
  translator in a book promotion tour. Next call opens on 1 July 2027.

Find out more on the fwd European Books that Move website.