International Book Fair Opens in Rabat
The 31st edition of the International Salon of Publishing and Book (SIEL) commenced on May 1st at the OLM Souissi venue in Rabat, Morocco. This year's event pays tribute to the renowned traveler Ibn Battuta, featuring an impressive lineup of 891 exhibitors from 61 countries. The fair is particularly significant as Rabat has recently been designated as the UNESCO World Book Capital for 2026-2027, enhancing the city's status in the literary world. The event is expected to draw over 500,000 visitors and will run until May 10, showcasing more than 130,000 titles and hosting 204 events with 720 speakers, making it a landmark occasion in the realm of literature and publishing.
Coordinated by the French Institute of Morocco, the French pavilion aims to engage young readers with a series of 125 activities featuring prominent authors such as 2022 Nobel Prize winner Annie Ernaux and celebrated youth literature figure Timothée de Fombelle. Notably, this year’s fair follows the launch of the "Rabat, Capital of the World of Books 2026" program on April 24, which includes a robust schedule of 342 events throughout the year. This interchange of cultural diplomacy highlights France's role as a guest nation, succeeding Morocco, which was honored at the Paris Book Festival in April 2025.
Reviving Youth Interest in Literature
The overarching theme for this edition centers around the figure of Ibn Battuta and the art of travel writing. The fair will display unique manuscripts, maps, and contemporary sculptures dedicated to the 14th-century Moroccan explorer. The initiative seeks to reignite the reading culture among the youth, a demographic that, according to French Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier, spends ten times more time in front of screens than engaging with books. The French Minister of Culture, Catherine Pégard, is expected to attend the inauguration, marking her first international trip since her appointment in February. Furthermore, the event will extend beyond the fairgrounds with a cinema cycle featuring renowned director Michel Ocelot and an author tour across various cities in Morocco.
Despite the excitement surrounding the fair, recent studies indicate a substantial challenge: 64.3% of Moroccans did not purchase a single book in the past year, underscoring the need for an initiative like this to foster a stronger reading culture. The Minister of Higher Education, Azzeddine El Midaoui, has echoed this sentiment, stressing that the reading habits of Moroccans lag behind those of European nations. Over the course of ten days, the Capital of the Book aims to reverse this trend and encourage a renewed passion for literature.
As reported by maroc-hebdo.com.
