Guatemala Book Fair opens with 800+ activities, Germany as guest of honor

Guatemala's International Book Fair, Filgua 2026, has launched its 23rd edition under the theme "Let's strive for a nation of readers." The event brings together authors, readers, and publishers for a celebration of literature, featuring an extensive program of over 800 activities.

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In Guatemala, Filgua has grown thanks to the vision of the Gremial de Editores, which understood that the book does not exist in isolation, but is part of a true book ecosystem.

Germany participates as the guest of honor, contributing over 140 events to the fair. This collaboration aims to foster a rich exchange of culture and ideas. The fair's core mission is to strengthen reading habits, develop critical thinking skills, and create a vibrant literary community.

This year's edition holds special significance as it honors Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum with a dedicated agenda. Additionally, Filgua 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the Peace Accords, a key historical milestone for Guatemala. The fair will also present 175 new book titles and distribute 30,000 books to students from public schools, including editions in seven Mayan languages.

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Under the premise that peace is the daughter of coexistence, education, and dialogue, our country prepared the program 'Stories that build bridges,' with which we will promote exchange around education.

César Medina, president of the Association of Guatemalan Editors, emphasized the fair's growth as a testament to the belief in the transformative power of books. He highlighted the importance of the book ecosystem in Guatemala. The German Ambassador to Guatemala, Friederike Hellner, noted that Germany's program, "Stories that build bridges," focuses on educational exchange, aligning with the belief that peace is built on coexistence, education, and dialogue.

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Receiving an honor in life, in the land that saw me born, represents a huge honor and I feel like a small footprint in time.