Dominican Book and Culture Festival attracts thousands in New York

New York.- The 2026 Dominican Book and Culture Festival concluded Sunday after three days of cultural activities that attracted thousands of visitors to the George Washington Educational Campus in Washington Heights, New York, further establishing the event as a leading showcase for Dominican literature, arts, and culture abroad.

The closing ceremony was led by Minister of Culture Roberto Ángel Salcedo, who announced that the next edition of the festival will take place on July 11–13, 2027. He highlighted the event’s continued growth and the strong support of the Dominican community, cultural organizations, and participating institutions.

Organized by the Directorate of Dominican Culture Abroad (DCDEX), the festival featured more than 120 activities, including book presentations, lectures, workshops, poetry readings, exhibitions, theater performances, concerts, documentary screenings, and children’s programs.

This year’s event also brought together more than 50 national and international publishers, over 100 writers from the Dominican Republic and the diaspora across the United States, South America, and Europe, as well as numerous cultural and educational organizations.

A major focus of the festival was the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the death of Dominican founding father Juan Pablo Duarte, with more than 10 events celebrating his life, legacy, and contributions through lectures, book launches, documentaries, and artistic performances.

Held under the theme “Reading is Flourishing,” the festival reaffirmed its mission to promote reading, education, and Dominican culture while strengthening New York’s role as a key cultural hub for the Dominican diaspora.