The Polar Festival returns to Pau in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region for its 18th edition, taking place on Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4, inside the Médiathèque André Labarrère. This year, the festival will focus on Spanish authors, following its previous emphasis on British mystery and thriller writers in 2025. Around thirty authors are expected to take part, with notable figures like Rosa Montero, a Spanish novelist and event godmother, participating. Montero described polar literature as a reflection of life's dangers, anxieties, and uncertainties, while also offering potential solutions or escape routes. The festival will feature a variety of events, including limited seating reading sessions and debates held in the building's auditorium. These discussions will explore themes such as friendship and obsession, with nine debates planned over the weekend. For younger audiences, an escape game designed for children aged 8 to 12 will take place in the library on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and on Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The festival's digital brochure promises "guaranteed chills from the first ten minutes" during the game. As part of a partnership with the daily newspaper Libération, two prizes will be awarded to novelists participating in the event: one to a French author and one to an international author. The winners will be announced at the festival's opening ceremony on Saturday, October 3, at 11 a.m. In addition to the main event in Pau, the festival will extend to other locations in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, including Mourenx, Garlin, and Denguin, where meetings with authors will be held. The complete schedule of events is available online for those interested in attending.