Dear Friends of WoW,

Thank you: Thank you for being here today, thank you for igniting the discourse, and thank you for making WoW Gstaad Literature Festival so magical.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you all to the WoW Gstaad Summer edition 2025. Each year we grow a little bigger and become a little better known but one thing remains the same: the absolutely stellar line-up of talented authors in conversation on the World of Words stages. You’ll find all the information about them in this program along with useful information to get you through the weekend.

I and the whole WoW Gstaad team are so looking forward to this weekend of learning, thinking, sharing and, of course, eating and drinking together! I’m confident you’re going to have a great time and, if you do, then spread the word about WoW Gstaad because it’s you all, authors and audience, who will be the ones to make real our goal:

Preserving Literature, Supporting Writers,

Encouraging Readers

Sincerely Yours,

--- THOMAS D.GOMMES ---

VIDEO COMING SOON

Matt Riordan
Topic: Fiction, Nature, and Human Nature

Martin Boujol
Topic: Social Media: An Inspiration to Read

Miguel Bonnefoy
Topic: Literature As Need Not Luxury

Ben Macintyre
Topic: Stranger than Fiction (In conversation with Will Smith)

DBC Pierre
Topic: How to Win A Booker Prize (In conversation with Louise Doughty)

David Walliams
Topic: Tales of Comedy, Writing and Imagination

Our Partners for Summer WoW

Logo with the word 'Diogenes' in red font
Gerax Real Estate Gstaad logo, featuring a spiral graphic and text 'Since 1970.'
Logo featuring an open book with a classical building's facade as the upper part, representing the John P. Gommes Foundation.
"CADONAU" logo with a red heart and the words "My Store" inside the heart.
Illustration of a quaint bookstore with wooden architecture, labeled 'Librairie des Alpages,' set in a snowy scene. The image is encircled with the text 'Saanen Gstaad.'
PAYOT Libraire logo on white background.
Logo of The Alpina Gstaad with decorative emblem above the text.
Logo of Fondation Jan Michalski on a white background.
Logo of Posthotel Rössli Gstaad, featuring a horse silhouette and text "Since 1845."

Our Book Partners for Summer WoW

Person in a dark blazer holding a glass of water and a magazine in an indoor setting.
Several copies of the book "Happiness Falls" by Angie Kim displayed on a table, with one standing upright.
Group of people at a social gathering, engaging in conversation in a warmly lit room.
A man sitting in a beige armchair, reading a book, with a small table holding a water pitcher, glass, and small plant beside him. A lamp is positioned on the left side.
A conference or interview event taking place in a wood-paneled room with large windows, where two men are seated on a stage in chairs engaged in conversation, and an audience is attentively listening.
A person reading a program or brochure at an event, focused on the page showing sponsors and partners.
A man with glasses and dark hair speaking into a microphone at a podium during a presentation or conference, with a blue banner reading "Word of Words" behind him.
A panel discussion at a conference with three men seated on stage and one taking a speaker's podium. Audience members seated in front are listening.
Two men sitting in orange armchairs on stage, engaged in conversation during a panel discussion, with an audience in front of them.
Multiple copies of the book "Caledonian Road" by Andrew O'Hagan displayed on a table, with one copy standing upright showing the cover and others stacked or lying flat.
A person taking a photo of two women sitting on stage during a panel discussion, with audience members watching.
An indoor conference or seminar with an audience seated, attending a panel discussion on stage with two speakers, in a room with wood ceiling, large windows, and curtains.
Two people seated on stage in conversation, with audience members in the foreground, beige curtains in the background.
A woman signing a book at a table covered with multiple stacks of books. Several books titled 'Happiness Falls' are on display. The woman has long brown hair and is wearing a black top. There is a person in a brown jacket standing in front of her, ho
Two women interviewing a young man at an event, with a photographer taking their picture. The women are wearing black jackets with 'TALK TO ME' and a QR code on the back, and the young man is speaking.

  • "It is an amazing feeling, when you finally fit in the room. A very rare combination of exclusivity and intimacy, which helps you to meet new people, get fresh ideas and just enjoy sophisticatedly curated words of this world. Thank you Thomas and the team. And see you next year! "

    Diana

  • "I hadn’t realized how enriching it could be to spend a weekend listening to authors share their backgrounds, inspirations, and life stories. What stood out most to me was the incredible variety of communication styles, each offering something unique and memorable. It was also my first time bringing my nine-year-old, and I admit I was worried she might find it boring. To my surprise, she was captivated. Watching her engage so naturally with the event made the experience even more meaningful for us. We left not only inspired, but also grateful for such a wonderful festival that speaks to all generations."

    Juliana

  • "Each author brought their own flavour to the event creating a beautifully rich serving of food for thought. The diversity of the audience, and open communication between the both audience and the authors throughout the course of the event, fed directly into a spread of connections and ideas. "

    Angela

  • "What a wonderful event and so glad to have discovered WOW Gstaad! The program and organization were amazing, and each author and discussion had such interesting insights. And the spirit of the event led to so many great conversations and meaningful connections. It is so refreshing to see the written word celebrated and lived. Already looking forward to the next edition! "

    Cindia