The Power of Words

Words can preserve a memory, awaken an emotion, create an entire world—and sometimes change the way we see our own.

CLF Literati 2026 celebrates the enduring power of words and the extraordinary possibilities of literature.

From the quiet intimacy of poetry to the expansive worlds of fiction, from the voices of memory to the journeys of stories across languages, literature allows us to imagine lives beyond our own, question what we know and give expression to what often remains unsaid.

At a time when words surround us in unprecedented abundance, CLF Literati invites us to pause and rediscover their depth—the beauty of language, the craft of storytelling and the power of a well-chosen word.