The 28th edition of the São Paulo International Book Fair (Bienal Internacional do Livro de São Paulo) officially opened on September 4. The opening ceremony, attended by authorities from both countries, inaugurated the area dedicated to Spanish culture, launching ten key days for the international promotion and outreach of Spain's publishing sector.

Under the slogan "Confluences," Spain's participation as Guest Author of Honor highlights the historical, linguistic, and cultural ties with Brazil, fostering a direct dialogue between contemporary Spanish literature and major figures of Brazilian letters.

During the opening, Minister of Culture Ernest Urtasun emphasized that this pavilion "will be a place from which to forge publishing alliances, but above all to champion the power of reading itself as one of our fundamental cultural rights." The inauguration was also attended by the Director General for Books, Comics, and Reading, María José Gálvez; the curator of the literary program, Marta Sanz; and the space designer, Pablo González.

Spain's participation is coordinated by the Ministry of Culture's General Directorate for Books, Comics, and Reading, in collaboration with Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), the Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), and the Spanish Federation of Publishers' Guilds (FGEE).

A Pavilion Inspired by Cultural Dialogue

Located at the Distrito Anhembi venue, the Spain Pavilion covers an area of 500 m² designed by PeiPe Estudio SL. Inspired by the work of the renowned landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, the design evokes a fluid geometry that reflects the aesthetic and linguistic diversity of contemporary Spanish literature. The space houses a book exhibition area, a zone for professional rights exchange, and an auditorium for literary and musical events.

Cultural Program and Author Delegation

Through September 13, a delegation of around 50 authors—including Bernardo Atxaga, Xesús Fraga, Alana S. Portero, Elena Medel, Sabina Urraca, Isaac Rosa, Berta Dávila, and Harkaitz Cano—will participate in a program of 30 sessions curated by Marta Sanz. The activities address key topics in contemporary debate such as identities, self-narratives, ecology, democratic memory, and comics.

The program includes diverse formats and disciplines:

Poetry Evenings and Music: Eight evenings dedicated to poetry written in Spanish, Catalan, Basque, and Galician, along with special tributes such as the centenary of Caballero Bonald. The musical lineup features performances by artist Sheila Blanco and saxophonist Carles Margarit.

Visual Arts and Exhibitions: The Instituto Cervantes venue in São Paulo is presenting the exhibition "Palmira Puig / Marcel Giró. Humanism in Brazilian Modernist Photography," complemented by a visual installation of 20 photographs inside the Spain Pavilion itself.

Workshops and Masterclasses: The schedule includes comic masterclasses, translation workshops, and activities tailored for children and young audiences.

Professional Meetings: Representatives from across the publishing ecosystem (CEGAL, FANDE, and FGEE) will host a technical agenda focused on the rights market and publishing partnerships.

Through this extensive agenda, literature written in Spanish, Catalan, Basque, and Galician will extend its reach beyond the fairgrounds through various activities hosted at Instituto Cervantes locations across Brazil.