Guadalajara International Book Fair celebrates 40th anniversary

The 40th edition of the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), the largest Spanish-language book fair in the world, will take place from November 28 to December 6 at Expo Guadalajara. Italy has been named the guest of honor, with Italian writer Alessandro Baricco set to open the literary program and participate in a dialogue with Mexican author Valeria Luiselli. The event will feature over 3,000 activities and approximately 900 authors from 41 countries.

Key highlights include a keynote lecture by British-Indian author Salman Rushdie, which will require pre-registration and special security protocols following his 2022 attack in New York. Other notable participants include American novelist Siri Hustvedt and Nicaraguan writer Gioconda Belli. The fair will also feature a tribute to Mexican author Juan Rulfo, including an immersive pavilion dedicated to his literary world.

Organizers expect around 950,000 attendees for the event, which includes book presentations, conferences, theater, film cycles, and art exhibitions. The program aims to foster cultural exchange between Italian and Latin American publishing markets.