The highly anticipated 2026 Santo Domingo International Book Fair (FILSD 2026) is set to welcome thousands of book lovers and literary enthusiasts between September 24 and October 4, hosted at the iconic Juan Pablo Duarte Cultural Plaza. To ensure a safe, smooth and enjoyable experience for all attendees, Dominican national security and emergency response agencies have finalized a comprehensive security plan that will see over 500 trained personnel deployed across the event venue and surrounding areas. This year’s edition of the fair carries special significance: Panama takes on the role of guest of honor, and the entire event pays tribute to celebrated Dominican writer José Mármol. With a packed program offering more than 700 cultural and literary activities, the fair has attracted an impressive line-up of participants, including more than 70 acclaimed international writers, 32 global publishing houses, 21 local Dominican publishers and 44 independent local bookstores. The large-scale multi-agency security operation brings together key national bodies: the Dominican Armed Forces, National Police, state intelligence services, and the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD). Under the operational plan, authorities will set up permanent fixed checkpoints at key access points, and maintain continuous roving patrols both across the fairgrounds and in the surrounding neighborhoods. External security coverage will extend to three major local thoroughfares: Máximo Gómez Avenue, César Nicolás Penson Avenue, and Pedro Henríquez Ureña Avenue. Additional personnel will be permanently stationed at high-footfall areas across the venue, including exhibition pavilions, public auditoriums, on-site museums, and other spaces projected to draw large crowds of visitors. All pedestrian entry points to the fair will implement mandatory security checks: every attendee will pass through screening with handheld metal detectors, and carry-on bags will undergo visual inspection. To preserve public safety, a clear list of prohibited items has been published, including all firearms, bladed weapons, alcoholic beverages, glass containers, and other potentially dangerous articles. Authorities have also added extra restrictions to maintain the event’s focus on literature and culture: political or religious propaganda not directly related to the fair’s official programming, unlicensed street vending, and unauthorized vehicles are all banned from the venue premises. Traffic management forms a core part of the operational plan, with Dominican road safety agencies Digesett and Intrant rolling out a special temporary traffic scheme around the Cultural Plaza. The scheme is designed to keep vehicle traffic flowing smoothly, separate vehicle lanes from pedestrian areas, and protect visiting pedestrians as they enter and exit the event. To eliminate parking congestion for attendees, authorities have negotiated access to more than 1,300 public parking spaces with nearby public and private institutions, including the Universidad Apec (Unapec), Universidad Iberoamericana (Unibe), the Palace of Fine Arts, the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Mescyt). On-site parking at the Plaza de la Cultura will be reserved exclusively for authorized official and event vehicles. Beyond security, the comprehensive operational plan integrates full medical and emergency response capabilities. A centralized Unified Command Post will lead cross-agency coordination for any emergency incidents. 911 response units, DAEH emergency services, ambulances and trained paramedic teams will be stationed at pre-identified strategic locations across the venue to enable rapid response. Additional support will be provided by the Dominican Civil Defense and the National District Fire Department, both of which will deploy trained personnel and specialized communications equipment to the site. The plan also prioritizes support for vulnerable groups: authorities have confirmed that senior citizens, people living with disabilities, and organized school groups will receive priority assistance at all times. A dedicated special protocol has also been established to quickly locate and reunite lost or disoriented children with their guardians, giving visiting families extra peace of mind during the event.
More than 500 security personnel to be deployed for Santo Domingo Book Fair 2026
