Rabat is preparing to host a major international cultural sequence with the launch of the “UNESCO World Book Capital 2026” program/
The Moroccan capital will also host the International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL) as part of activities linked to its World Book Capital status starting April 24.
This would be followed by the 31st edition of SIEL, scheduled from May 1 to 10, according to a statement from the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication.
Held under the patronage of King Mohammed VI, these events will position Rabat as a cultural and publishing hub at both African and international levels in the medium and long term.
The UNESCO designation highlights, according to authorities, the city’s “sustained commitment” to promoting reading and access to knowledge. Rabat is home to more than 54 publishing houses and a growing network of bookstores, reflecting the dynamism of this industry.
The year-long program includes 342 activities structured around 12 themes, with a clear objective: expanding access to reading by reaching diverse public spaces, including hospitals and transport networks.
Within this framework, SIEL represents a key highlight of the program.
Organised by the ministry, the event will bring together 890 exhibitors from 60 countries, including 320 direct participants, and will showcase over 130,000 titles.
France is the guest of honour this year, while a tribute will be paid to Ibn Battuta, the historic explorer, with programming focused on travel literature.
On the cultural front, more than 204 events are planned, featuring 720 participants, including authors, researchers, and creatives. Discourses will notably interrogate the transformation of cultural industries and contemporary reading practices in the context of digital change in the publishing sector.
Beyond the national scope, the initiative is part of UNESCO’s World Book Capital program, which encourages selected cities to promote reading for all audiences.
Rabat becomes the 26th city to hold this title since 2001, following Accra in 2023 and Rio de Janeiro in 2025.
MK/AK/Sf/lb/as/APA