Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya, April, 15, 16, 17, 2026

Noir fiction is a widely popular literary genre worldwide, as evidenced by library loan figures, sales at fairs and bookstores, and the large number of specialized festivals both in Catalonia and worldwide. It is therefore not surprising that academia is interested in this phenomenon and seeks to study it. The various perspectives we aim to present are designed to explore all facets, proving that popular literature is rich in all cultural aspects. For this reason, the consolidated research groups at UVic-UCC, Glossa, GETLIHC andTRACTE, with the collaboration of the Verdaguer Chair of Literary Studies, have decided to bring the theme into their own fields of work and include this type of literature within their specific lines of research (cultural studies, publishing, translation, education, literary geographies, gender studies, audiovisual studies, etc.).

The main objective of the second edition of the Vic Negre congress is to promote the study of noir fiction and popular narratives, as well as the subgenres that have emerged from them. This edition aims to place special emphasis on the treatment of geographical space in literature, a topic that has garnered academic interest for several decades now. The analysis of spatial aspects is present in most events organized around literature, regardless of their nature or genre, including popular fiction (noir, crime, horror, fantasy, science fiction, and erotic). For this reason, the literary route, walk, or itinerary becomes a tool that offers great results in both educational and touristic contexts. Therefore, all proposals that address the geographical space where the fiction takes place or that develop literary routes will be welcomed.

Moreover, this second edition of Vic Negre will be especially significant, as it will be held jointly with the 5th International Congress on Literary Geographies, organized by Glossa and the Literary Geographies 3.0 research group from the University of Valencia. This collaboration brings together efforts and enriches analytical perspectives by uniting two events with shared interests in popular literature and the spatial dimension of fiction. In doing so, it creates a shared platform that fosters interdisciplinary dialogue and expands opportunities for scientific and academic exchange among researchers from around the world.

We believe this congress will provide an opportunity for researchers and professionals to share their findings and establish a strong research network. To achieve this, an international scientific committee has been formed to attract national and international experts in the field, making this congress a notable meeting point within the study and dissemination of this literary genre.

In this way, the congress has been structured around a general framework, which we have further subdivided into the following lines of research:

• Literary Geographies Academic Work
• Literature and Popular Genres
• Audiovisual Media and Transmedia
• Women, Literature, and Translation
• Language and Literature Didactics

CALL FOR PAPERS

Presentations at the 2nd Vic Negre Congress will be 15 minutes long. Contributions will be accepted in Catalan, Spanish, and English.

Paper proposals may be submitted from October 1 to December 15, 2025, to the email address vic.negre@uvic.cat. Proposals should be no longer than 400 words and may include key references. They must clearly indicate the title of the presentation, the name(s) of the author(s), and the institutional affiliation of each.

Only one proposal per participant will be accepted. All individuals listed as authors of accepted papers must register for the Congress. Under no circumstances will presentations by third parties be allowed.

Congress registration will be open from January 15 to April 3, 2026.

PRICE

Until February 28, 2026:

• Communicators 150 €
• Students and audience member 50 €

Starting from March 1, 2026:

• Communicators 200 €
• Students and audience member 50 €

VENUE

The 2nd Vic Negre Congress will take place in the city of Vic on April 15, 16, and 17, 2026, at the Segimon Serrallonga Hall of UVic-UCC (Masia Torre dels Frares, Carrer de Perot Rocaguinarda, 17, 08500 Vic, https://goo.gl/maps/xxLNwna6vQaqAv9c9) and in othe adjecent venues that will be announced in due course.

Organizing Committee (UVic-UCC, Glossa, Càtedra Verdaguer, PDI)

• Sebastià Bennassar
• Núria Camps-Casals
• Ricard Giramé
• Mia Güell
• Pere Quer
• Angel Raluy Alonso
• Irene Solanich-Sanglas
• Julieta Torrents i Sunyol
• Kata Varju
• M. Àngels Verdaguer