Madrid, May 27, 2026 – The cycle “Iberoamerica, an Open Book” is set to return to the Madrid Book Fair for its second consecutive year, with an expanded program focused on cultural diversity. The initiative, organized by the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI) and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, will run from May 29 to June 14, 2026, at the Ibero-American Pavilion.
Focus on Reading in Iberoamerica
This second edition of the cycle aims to explore the central question: what does it mean to read in Iberoamerica today? Reading is understood as a way of inhabiting public space, producing knowledge, activating memories, and experimenting with new ways of relating to culture. This initiative is part of a sustained commitment by both institutions to strengthen the book ecosystem in the region, with the Madrid Book Fair serving as one of its most important manifestations.
Key Program Highlights
Among the main highlights of the program is the presentation of the Regional Study of Public Policies and National Plans for Reading, Writing, Orality, and Books in Iberoamerica. This presentation is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, at 6:30 PM, coinciding with the start of the cycle.
Another notable initiative is “Reading in Movement,” one of OEI’s most successful programs promoting reading habits in unconventional places. This year, it returns with several performative tours of the fairgrounds on May 30, and June 6 and 13. Based on the trilogy hARTas / Muy hARTas / SuperhARTas, this proposal invites a critical, collective, and accessible re-evaluation of art history, combining literature, body, and public space.
Conversations and Cultural Rights
The program also includes the discussion “Humor, Caricature, and Women Erased from the Artistic Canon,” which will take place on Sunday, May 31, at 6:00 PM. This event will bring together researchers, popularizers, and creators to reflect on processes of exclusion in cultural history and the need to build more inclusive narratives from different disciplines.
A crucial event will be the meeting on “Cultural Rights: How to Strengthen the Publishing Sector through the Rights of Creators,” scheduled for Monday, June 8, at 8:00 PM. This session will analyze how improving labor conditions in the cultural sphere can contribute to the sustainable development of the publishing sector in Iberoamerica.
Diverse Activities for All Ages
The program further encompasses workshops, roundtables, and activities designed for children and young people. It also provides spaces for reflection on public reading policies, cultural identities, diasporas, and the role of humor in literature.
Through this comprehensive program, OEI and CAF aim to consolidate the Madrid Book Fair as a privileged platform for showcasing the rich cultural and literary diversity of the Ibero-American region. This is particularly relevant in Madrid, where one in four inhabitants is of Ibero-American descent or has such ancestry, and which boasts a growing and dynamic population with origins across the Atlantic.
Impact and Future Outlook
This expanded program underscores the commitment of OEI and CAF to fostering cultural exchange and strengthening the literary landscape across Iberoamerica. By bringing these diverse voices and perspectives to the forefront, the Madrid Book Fair continues to serve as a vital hub for intellectual and cultural dialogue, reflecting the vibrant tapestry of Ibero-American creativity.
The full program for “Iberoamerica, an Open Book” at the Madrid Book Fair can be accessed here.
Source: oei.int
