The Alicante City Council has approved the tender for the programming, management, coordination, and execution of the 57th Book Fair, set to take place from May 12 to 16, 2027. The contract is valued at €48,418 and will be held at the Espacio Séneca and the adjacent square, lasting five days.
The contract allows for a one-time extension for the organisation of the 2028 edition. It includes the organisation of daily activities, both in the morning and afternoon, featuring at least 10 book presentations by renowned authors who have not been featured in the previous two editions of the fair. This will include writers from Alicante or those residing in the city, as well as a minimum of two conferences or discussions led by notable figures in the literary world.
Additionally, the contract stipulates at least two daily children's activities, such as storytelling sessions and workshops, aimed at fostering a love for reading and culture among younger generations. There will also be school visits during weekdays and at least one daily street entertainment activity in Plaza Séneca, which may include theatre, music, dance, puppetry, magic, and dramatized readings.
The councillor for Culture, Nayma Beldjilali, stated, “The goal is for the people of Alicante to celebrate the literature festival in the most enjoyable way possible, featuring established and top-level authors, while also encouraging children's interest in books and culture.”
The organiser will also be responsible for the original creation and graphic design of the fair's poster and branding, as well as managing the website, where scheduled activities will be published in both Spanish and Valencian. The contract requires the installation of a tent in Plaza Séneca, equipped with lighting and seating for around 100 attendees, as well as 10 fabric-covered pergolas for sun protection.
The fair's opening hours will be from 17:30 to 21:00 on the inaugural Wednesday, with morning sessions from 10:30 to 14:00 and afternoon sessions from 17:30 to 21:00, except on Friday and Saturday when it will close at 21:30.
In May 2026, over 15,000 people attended the 56th Book Fair in Plaza Séneca, which featured 200 authors and 26 official book presentations. The events drew large crowds for the works of prominent authors such as Lorenzo Silva, Marta Robles, Luz Gabás, Manuel Vilas, and Helena Resano, alongside support for local writers. The previous edition included 28 stalls, two more than the last, and 540 children attended, with 453 participating in storytelling and workshops, while 87 were school visitors.
