The 2026 Madrid Book Fair features over 400 booths, a packed program of activities, and several major authors already confirmed, so it’s worth planning your visit in advance.
The 85th edition takes place from May 29 to June 14 in El Retiro Park, with free admission and humor as the central theme under the slogan “Read and Laugh: Two Ways to Resist.” The confirmed hours are Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. During these days, books will be sold at a 10% discount—a major draw for getting a head start on summer reading or picking up signed new releases.
How many booths will there be and who will be setting them up?
This year there will be 431 booths and more than 500 exhibitors, occupying some 1,200 meters of El Retiro’s Paseo de Coches. Of those 431 booths, 123 belong to bookstores (60 general and 63 specialized), while 312 are for publishers, 12 for distributors, 16 for official organizations, and the rest correspond to spaces organized by the Fair itself.
The Community of Madrid stands out this year with its own pavilion and an “enticing program” for young people, adults, and families.
Featured authors and book signings
Among the authors featured this year are names such as Beatriz Serrano, Inma Rubiales, Manel Loureiro, Barbara Arena, Leila Guerriero, Emma Gil, and popular science writer David Uclés. There will also be a strong presence of comedians, including Eva Soriano, Igantius Farray, Edu Galán, Carolina Iglesias, and illustrator Flavita Banana.
Last year saw a strong presence of international authors such as Vivian Gornick, Katie Kitamura, Catherine Lacey, and Caitlin Moran. This year’s edition will feature stars of Spanish-language literature such as Fernando Aramburu, Rosa Montero, Juan Gabriel Vásquez, and Marta Sanz. You can view the complete guide at the following link.
Program and Special Activities
The 2026 program includes, in addition to the usual authors and presentations, several notable spaces and activities. One of them is the Indómitas space, dedicated to independent publishers, artist books, fanzines, and unconventional projects, which will bring together 44 publishers, bookstores, and publishing production centers.
The 11th Journalistic Books Workshop, led by Martín Caparrós in collaboration with the Gabo Foundation, will also take place from June 8 to 12, as well as the Leer Iberoamérica Lee 2026 event, from June 2 to 5, featuring 24 guests from 13 countries. The Community of Madrid announces that its pavilion will host family workshops such as ¡Ay, qué risa! and ¿De qué te ríes?, poetry readings such as Poemas a la carta, and roundtable discussions focused on humor as a tool for criticism and understanding the world.