The atmosphere comes alive with the arrival of more visitors
A busier and more lively atmosphere reigned yesterday morning at the Santo Domingo International Book Fair 2026, with visitors in the pavilions and stands, while groups of students toured the grounds as if for school activities.
From early hours, the Juan Pablo Duarte Cultural Plaza began to receive a greater flow of people, including young people, adults and students who moved through the different spaces to learn about the publishing offer that this new edition brings and participate in the scheduled activities.
The presence of schools was one of the elements that contributed to the feeling of greater movement and flow of people in the venue.
During the tour, some visitors were asked about their expectations and assessment of this 28th edition of the book fair. The majority highlighted the wide variety of titles and the interest generated by these types of cultural activities, particularly as a way to encourage young people to read.
Junior Méndez, 24, expressed interest in discovering new books that tell stories from bygone eras. He also emphasized the importance of people starting to read to enrich their minds.
“I believe that every human being should give themselves the opportunity to start reading, reading whatever they like. You have to discover what topics interest you and give them a chance,” he said.
Ernesto Betancourt, a retired teacher, shared the same opinion, calling on young people to come to the book fair to seek knowledge regardless of their individual criteria and tastes.
“In my role as a teacher, I always made sure to bring my students and encouraged them to buy books and seek out culture,” the professor recalled.
They complain about the high prices
Despite the variety offered at this year’s FILSD, some visitors felt that the prices of certain books were a bit high, a perception that, they said, might limit their ability to buy several books during their visit. “I wasn’t expecting these prices, because it’s supposed to be a book fair, I think the prices are a bit high,” said Pablo Henríquez.
