The Dominican Republic’s 28th iteration of the Santo Domingo International Book Fair (FILSD 2026) wrapped up its 11-day run on Sunday, delivering milestone metrics that outpace the previous edition’s turnout, according to the nation’s Culture Minister Roberto Ángel Salcedo.
In an official closing ceremony held at the Carlos Piantini Hall of the Eduardo Brito National Theater, Salcedo announced preliminary sales figures topped RD$97 million, while total visitor numbers reached 714,322 — a new high mark for attendance at the annual cultural gathering. Alongside releasing the event’s results, the minister confirmed major changes for the 2027 edition: the fair will extend from its typical 11-day schedule to a full two weeks, running September 12 through 26 next year.
Held this year from September 24 to October 4 at the Juan Pablo Duarte Cultural Plaza, FILSD 2026 centered its programming around two special honorees: celebrated Dominican writer José Mármol, who served as the fair’s featured guest author, and the Central American nation of Panama, named the event’s official guest country of honor. Over the course of the fair, organizers put on more than 700 cross-disciplinary cultural activities, spanning author conferences, industry panel discussions, new book launches, poetry recitals, creative writing workshops, film screenings, and live theatrical performances, offering something for casual readers and cultural industry professionals alike.
The 2026 gathering drew a diverse international cohort, bringing together more than 70 globally recognized writers, 32 publishing houses from outside the Dominican Republic, 21 local Dominican publishing brands, and 44 independent local bookstores. This broad participation created unique networking and collaboration opportunities for authors, bibliophiles, publishing executives, and other cultural workers to connect and exchange ideas.
To advance the fair’s core mission of expanding public access to literature, organizers launched the Bono Libro initiative, which distributed 7,000 free books to school students who took part in scheduled fair activities, helping to nurture young reading habits across the Dominican Republic.
The closing ceremony also included a special recognition segment, where the annual “Lifetime Achievement in Books” award was presented to Juan Emilio Báez Melo, a veteran Dominican bookseller and researcher. The honor was granted in recognition of Báez Melo’s decades-long contributions to the national publishing sector, Dominican literary production, and the preservation and celebration of Dominican cultural identity. Along with the professional distinction, the award carried a RD$300,000 cash prize.
Panama’s role as guest of honor extended far beyond literary programming, with the Panamanian delegation organizing a full slate of events highlighting the nation’s diverse cultural heritage, including live music performances, traditional gastronomy showcases, national film screenings and more. Panama’s Culture Minister María Eugenia Herrera was in attendance for the closing ceremony, joined by the Panamanian writers and artists who participated in the fair’s activities over its 11-day run.
In his closing address, Salcedo commended the work of FILSD 2026’s entire organizing team for executing a successful, accessible event. He emphasized that the record turnout and sales confirm the fair’s enduring importance as a platform to promote reading, elevate Dominican and international literature, and foster connection between the country’s cultural and publishing communities. Salcedo closed by reaffirming the Dominican Ministry of Culture’s ongoing commitment to supporting the national publishing sector and expanding public initiatives that encourage lifelong reading habits across all age groups.