Santo Domingo Book Fair draws 714,322 visitors and tops RD$97 million in sales
Santo Domingo.- The 28th Santo Domingo International Book Fair (FILSD 2026) concluded Sunday with preliminary book sales exceeding RD$97 million and 714,322 visitors, surpassing attendance recorded at the previous edition, according to Culture Minister Roberto Ángel Salcedo.
Salcedo presented the results during the closing ceremony at the Carlos Piantini Hall of the Eduardo Brito National Theater and confirmed that the 2027 edition will run from September 12 to 26, extending the fair to two weeks.
FILSD 2026 was held from September 24 to October 4 at the Juan Pablo Duarte Cultural Plaza, featuring Dominican writer José Mármol as the honored author and Panama as the guest country of honor. The fair offered more than 700 activities, including conferences, panel discussions, book launches, recitals, workshops, film screenings and theatrical performances.
The event brought together more than 70 international writers, 32 international publishers, 21 Dominican publishers and 44 local bookstores, creating opportunities for exchanges among authors, readers, publishers and other cultural-sector professionals.
Among the initiatives designed to expand access to books was Bono Libro, which distributed 7,000 books free of charge to students who participated in activities at the fair.
The closing ceremony also featured the presentation of the “Lifetime Achievement in Books” award to bookseller and researcher Juan Emilio Báez Melo for his contributions to the publishing sector, literary production and Dominican cultural identity. The distinction included a RD$300,000 prize.
Panama’s participation extended beyond literature, with its delegation presenting activities related to music, gastronomy, film and other cultural expressions. Panama’s Culture Minister María Eugenia Herrera attended the closing ceremony alongside writers and artists who participated throughout the fair.
Salcedo praised the work of the organizing team and said the results demonstrated the fair’s role in promoting reading, literature and interaction among the country’s cultural and publishing communities. He reaffirmed the Ministry of Culture’s commitment to strengthening the publishing sector and expanding initiatives that encourage reading.
