Organized by the Department of Culture, the fair will offer a wide range of activities, including talks and discussions, all aimed at encouraging reading habits among attendees. Books will be the central focus of the event, highlighting the collaboration of local bookstores, as well as writers, novelists, and poets from the region.
“"It is a satisfaction to see the interest shown by our establishments; they are a prominent part of the program we have put together for this Book Fair, and I am convinced that their dedication and knowledge will provide a very interesting added value for those present."
The Plaza de las Carmelitas will once again be the nerve center of the initiative, where stalls for second-hand books and exhibition spaces for local bookstores, such as Yerma, La Lonja, Zona Norte, and for the first time, Librería Eli y Luis from Torre del Mar, will be set up. Additionally, a dedicated stall for Vélez-Málaga writers will be available, offering them the opportunity to display and sell their works, sign copies, and hold presentations in the Plenary Hall of the Town Hall.
The literary program for the 2026 edition includes the participation of prominent national and international authors. Among them, writer and philosopher José Antonio Marina, who will engage in a dialogue with writer and professor Francis Guerrero on Friday, May 8. The event will also feature writer and philosopher Javier Gomá, in collaboration with the María Zambrano Foundation, alongside Rogelio Blanco on Wednesday, May 13. A highlight will be the dialogue with novelist and Premio Planeta Espido Freire on Thursday, May 14. The popularizer and novelist J.J. Benítez and writer Paco Gálvez will conclude the series of encounters on Friday, May 15.
The fair will also host the II Meeting of Regional Reading Clubs on Saturday, May 16, at the Exile Center, with the participation of novelist Andrés Neuman. On the same day, the closing event will be “El Universo de Lorca,” a performance in the Town Hall courtyard featuring singer Lucía Espín. A tribute will be paid to local writer Margarita García Galán, and the second volume of the Joaquín Lobato Library, Infártico, will be presented, along with the volume dedicated to Salvador Rueda's Theater, featuring a theatrical performance on Saturday, May 9.
Live music and children's activities will complement the cultural offerings. There will be an educational concert on Andalusian poetry on Tuesday, May 12, performances by Trinity Plus and the Municipal Music Band, and a tribute to local poets. Children will enjoy musical theater, storytelling, and workshops, with the Department of Culture distributing free books on Sunday, May 10.
