In Moscow, as part of the II World Public Assembly, in the hall of the III Congress of the World Organization of Writers (WOW), the WOW 2016 Award was presented. Among the laureates are outstanding literary figures from different parts of the world, and Fernando Rendón occupies a special place in this group: he is a poet, a cultural creator, and the founder of one of the largest literary festivals in Latin America.
The WOW Award, established by the World Organization of Writers “WOW”, “LIFT”, the Assembly of Peoples of the World, and the Pan‑African Writers’ Association (PAWA), recognizes authors whose work embodies universal spiritual and moral values and promotes dialogue between cultures. In 2026, the award emphasized that literature is an art and a form of humanitarian diplomacy capable of connecting civilizations. Fernando Rendón receives it in the category “For the Poetry of the Spirit and Service to World Poetry.”
Margarita Al, President of the World Writers’ Organization, delivered a speech when presenting Fernando Rendón with the WOW Gold Medal. Her words combined personal gratitude and broad public recognition:
“The world has never seen people like Fernando Rendón. He is truly a giant of foresight and a harbinger of the future. For thirty‑six consecutive years, the most famous, most widely read, and most remarkable literary figures have come to his hometown — and all of this is thanks to his annual and daily labour, to the inner discipline and love for the word that he invested in every single day of his work.
Through his efforts, he turned the city in Colombia into the City of World Poetry. Against the backdrop of this grand creation, his own poetic voice may seem quiet and unobtrusive — but how deep and majestic it is! What a vast horizon opens up around each of his words and thoughts! In this quietness lies immense power: the power of a person who did not seek dazzling brilliance but built a space where others could more easily find their voice.
I am proud to call Fernando Rendón a friend and comrade. And today, it is a special honour for me to present him with this award — as recognition of his poetic talent and as a token of respect for his dedication.
The World Writers’ Organization proposes that the 37th Festival in Medellín be dedicated specifically to its founder and to his achievements. Attending this festival is a special honour, and further details about the event will be announced later. May this festival be both a tribute and a continuation of his work: a space where poetry continues to connect people, cities, and eras.
Thank you, Fernando, for showing us that poetry is labour, responsibility, and the ability to create a cultural field around you year after year, day after day, so that others may come to it. You have proven that one caring heart can change the cultural landscape of an entire city.
The WOW Gold Medal will be presented personally at the opening of the 37th Poetry Festival in Medellín.”
The Medellín Festival, founded by Fernando Rendón, has become more than just an annual event — it is a living tradition that has transformed the perception of the city. Over 36 years, it has brought together writers, translators, researchers, publishers, and readers from dozens of countries, turning Medellín into a focal point for the global literary community.
What makes Rendón’s approach special is that he did not rely on one‑off, high‑profile spectacles. His strength lies in consistency: in the daily work of building cultural infrastructure, in the ability to see each participant not merely as a guest but as a co‑author of a shared endeavour. That is why the festival is perceived as a space open to all who are ready to speak and listen in the language of poetry.
For Rendón himself, poetry is an ethical stance. His own poems, often restrained in tone, are marked by depth and precision: they do not aim to impress the reader with flashy effects, but rather to address what truly matters — memory, time, and human dignity.
Fernando Rendón’s creative work cannot be separated from his public activities. For him, poetry is action: a sustained effort to create an environment where the word is valued, where it is heard, and where it can change reality.
His poems and his organisational work form a single semantic whole: while his poetry explores the inner world of the individual and its connection to history, his festival work creates the conditions for these meanings to be heard. This reveals a rare integrity of character — a poet who does not separate word from deed, but makes his life a continuation of his lines.
Presenting the WOW Award to Fernando Rendón is a recognition of both his poetic voice and his cultural feat. In the 2026 list of laureates, he stands alongside authors from China, Nigeria, Russia, Tajikistan, and Colombia — and this, too, has meaning: the award celebrates a constellation of voices that together shape a new literary landscape.
Fernando Rendón connects cultures through local yet deeply rooted action: he shows how one person can transform their city into a space of dialogue, where poetry becomes a shared endeavour.
Fernando Rendón — a Colombian poet and founder of a major literary festival in Medellín. Laureate of the WOW 2026 Award in the category “For Service to World Poetry.” For 36 years, he consistently developed the literary infrastructure of his hometown, transforming it into a significant hub for international literary dialogue. Author of poetry collections in which a restrained tone is paired with profound ethical reflection. The 37th Festival in Medellín will be dedicated to his contribution to the development of world poetry.
