Each February, Havana’s International Book Fair transforms the old Spanish fortification San Carlos de La Cabana that overlooks the Havana harbour into one of the biggest book parties in the world. It takes place in Havana City for 10 days before continuing on to the other cities for two more weeks. The book fair ends in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba.
The festival consists of book vendors, poetry readings, children’s activities, art exhibitions, and concerts in the evenings. It is considered Cuba’s premier cultural event, as well as the event with the highest attendance in Cuba: the XX International Book Fair drew over 2.3 million people to the Capital City!
Apart from the established locations at the Royal Fortress of La Cabaña and The Fortress of El Morro, the 25th Edition of the Havana Book Fair 2016 will also have several paralleled venues among those the centrally located Pabellón Cuba, Casa Del Alba Cultural and Dulce Maria Loynaz Cultural Centre, where literary, artistic and academic events will take place.
Along with the public, the book fair is attended by Cuban and international authors, publishers, and political officials. Over 100 publishing houses present catalogues of books, including Casa de las Américas. Each book fair is dedicated to a genre, issue, or author, and also a guest of honour. Since 2000, each book fair has been dedicated to Cuban authors and intellectuals.
Authentic Cuba Travel warmly invites North American Librarians, Bibliophiles, Educators and Writers to attend the Official Havana Book Fair Cuba Tour 2016 and celebrate together the 25th Anniversary of this world-acclaimed Cuban international festival.
The Republic of India was the Guest of Honor at the XXIV International Book Fair Cuba 2015. Under the traditional slogan Leer para Crecer (To Read is To Grow), the 24th edition of the Cuba's Book Fair was also dedicated to Cuban authors, Olga Portuondo Zúñiga - 2010 National Social Sciences Prize laureate and Leonardo Acosta - 2006 National Literature Prize Laureate.
The 25th International Book Fair of Havana will take place in Havana City from February 11 to February 21, 2016, and then it will spread east and west of the capital to all provinces of the country. The book fair will end in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba.
Over 1.7 million books were sold in the XX International Book Fair in 2011 according to Zuleika Romay, President of the Cuban Book Institute.
Cuban publishing houses stock the fair with hundreds of thousands of copies of books at accessible prices for the local population. Foreign entrepreneurs sell merchandise directly to the Cuban people. For most Cubans, it is a once-a-year opportunity to buy foreign magazines or titles that are otherwise unavailable in the country.
Cuban academics and intellectuals attend lectures and book presentations, while families and teenagers are drawn to the live music, food and party atmosphere. Most go home with a book or two under their arms. Why don't you too!