Buenos Aires Book Fair turns 50 with a focus on memory

The Feria Internacional del Libro de Buenos Aires will return later this month at La Rural with a special programme marking its 50th anniversary, built around the theme “memory and future.”

Organisers say the 2026 edition, which runs from April 23 to May 11, will combine a retrospective on Argentina’s cultural and political past with debates and new formats aimed at exploring the role of books in the 21st century.

In the year of the 50th anniversary of the March 24, 1976 coup that ushered in Argentina’s last military dictatorship, the role of literature and human rights will be a key theme.

A central feature will focus on the country’s publishing history, including an exhibition on books and authors censored during the brutal military dictatorship, which lasted until 1983. The display will highlight banned works and prompt reflection on the role of the publishing industry under repression, linking that experience to present-day challenges.

The Book Fair will also chart its own evolution since its launch in 1975. Through archives, objects and testimonies, visitors will be able to trace the development of what has become one of the most attended cultural events in the Spanish-speaking world.

Among the highlights is “50 Ferias Dibujadas,” an installation combining live illustration and graphic material that engages with the event’s visual history.

The programme includes tributes to leading figures in Argentine literature, with a particular focus on Jorge Luis Borges, 40 years after his death.

Planned activities include an interactive labyrinth inspired by his work and an international exhibition of editions in multiple languages.

Traditional fixtures will also return, including the International Poetry Festival, the Reading Marathon and the “La palabra indígena” space, all integrated into this year’s commemorative programme.

Peru will be the guest of honour under the slogan “Caminos que nos unen,” in a participation aimed at strengthening cultural and literary ties in the region. Authors from Latin America and Europe are expected to take part in panel discussions and presentations.

Organisers say the anniversary edition will also expand its formats, with new stages and interdisciplinary activities combining literature with visual arts, music and illustration.

– TIMES/NA