Medellín’s 18th Annual Book & Culture Festival to Feature International Writers, Literary Agents, Editors and Literary Activities

The 18th edition of Medellín’s Fiesta del Libro y la Cultura starts this Friday, running from September 6 to 15 and will highlight the theme “A Common Beat (Un latido común),” with a focus on independent publishing. The event will take place at the Jardín Botánico Joaquín Antonio Uribe and surrounding northern areas of the city.

This year’s program features 3,000 activities across 25 event categories, with the participation of 280 national and international guests. Among them are 16 international editors and publishing agents from countries including Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Spain, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Chile.

The event’s agenda will include discussions, workshops, literary activities, and exhibitions. Notable participants include Colombian authors Mario Mendoza, Luis Miguel Rivas, and Velia Vidal. International guests include Andrés Oppenheimer (Argentina), Katie Kitamura (US), Javier Peña (Spain), Audry Magee (Ireland), Aura García-Junco (Mexico), and Carlos Manuel Álvarez (Cuba).

In addition to celebrating independent publishing, the event will commemorate significant milestones, such as the 100th anniversaries of La Vorágine and Colombian comics, the 20th anniversary of Bibliocirco, and the relaunch of the León de Greiff Prize, which recognizes contributions to publishing and literature nationwide.

The Fundación Secretos para Contar, participating for the first time, will conduct workshops at the Jardín Lectura Viva. These workshops, inspired by the foundation’s work in urban and rural areas of Antioquia and Colombia, will focus on reading promotion and narrative creation. The foundation will also unveil its ninth book collection, emphasizing the connection between rural and urban life.

Other highlights include the Cuentódromo, Salón del Libro Infantil y Juvenil, Salón del Cómic y la Ilustración, Salón de Nuevas Lecturas, Salón del Libro Universitario, and Salón de la Autopublicación. The event will also feature book launches, a national booksellers’ meeting, and seminars on editor training and comic research in Colombia.

Bibliocirco will mark its 30th anniversary with a performance on September 7, launching the latest installment in its Cuentico Amarillo series, La niña perdida espera a Peter Pan, written by José Andrés Ardila and illustrated by Yanneth Pineda.

On September 12 and 13, the Secretaría de Cultura Ciudadana and Sura will host conversations under the theme “How to Live Well Together?” These discussions, aligned with the Medellín Te Quiere 2024-2027 Development Plan, will explore social trust, civic culture, and community resilience.

The event is supported by a public investment of $9 billion pesos from the Medellín city government, which aims to promote literacy, writing, and oral traditions across the city’s 16 districts and five townships. Partnerships with organizations such as Comfenalco, Comfama, EPM, Fundación Saldarriaga Concha, and El Colombiano have also facilitated the event’s programming.