Creative Translation in the Age of AI

University of East Anglia, Norwich, 28-29 May 2026 and ONLINE

Plenary Speakers: James Hadley (Trinity College Dublin) – Lily Robert-Foley (Université Paul Valéry–Montpellier III) – Ricarda Vidal (King’s College London).

The PETRA-E Network is delighted to announce its third open conference on literary translation, hosted by the British Centre for Literary Translation.

There is much discussion at present about the impact of generative artificial intelligence on the world of literary translation, and translator organisations have been understandably circumspect, but as the perceived threat of AI intensifies, so too does interest in the uniquely human factors that translators bring to their work. This conference will focus on the human creativity that is resistant to the rise of AI – on the extent to which the literary translator can be considered an original author, how creativity and experimentation can be cultivated in the classroom, how a translator’s creativity might need to be constrained and how it thrives on constraints. The focus will be on two questions in particular:

• What kinds of creative approach are available to literary translators?
• To what extent is creativity in translation (still) the exclusive preserve of human translators?

The conference will provide an opportunity to review historical perspectives, take stock of recent developments and take the creative pulse of literary translation today, in theory and practice.

The organisers gratefully acknowledge the support of the University of London Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies.