Pablo Téllez de la Poza, 49, died late Thursday night in a motorcycle crash at the intersection of Calle Los Artesanos and Agrupación Córdoba in Madrid. He led Verbo Servicios Culturales and was set to direct Cosmopoética 2026. Emergency crews received several calls around 22:30 and arrived quickly. They could not save him. Spanish media, citing emergency services, reported the details.
His death came just before the festival opened, with international guests due to arrive. Municipal sources told EFE that Cosmopoética will go ahead as planned. The opening event, featuring American writer Siri Hustvedt, winner of the 2019 Princesa de Asturias de las Letras, remains scheduled for Friday night. Córdoba city officials told Spanish media there would be no changes to the program.
The opening ceremony at Teatro Góngora, featuring Hustvedt, had sold out before the news of Téllez de la Poza’s death. More than 70 poets from around the world are taking part in this year’s Cosmopoética, making it one of the largest editions to date. David Eloy Rodríguez coordinates the festival. The 2026 edition honors Jorge Luis Borges, 40 years after his death, under the slogan "Inventar la alegría." The mood is somber, but the festival’s program remains unchanged.
Téllez de la Poza also helped build events including Cordoblack and the Festival de Novela negra del Sur. He trained in scenography at the Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático de Córdoba and became a basic figure in Spain’s literary scene. Cultural commentators credited his vision with helping put Córdoba on the map for new festivals.
Colleagues and guests will feel his absence during the festival. Organizers’ decision to continue reflects their commitment to the artists and audiences who rely on these gatherings, along with the dedication Téllez de la Poza brought to his projects. Cosmopoética and festivals like it provide a setting for creative exchange in Spain.
