More than 1,126,000 visitors toured the 42,163.5 square meters of exhibition space during the 19 days of the 48th Buenos Aires International Book Fair. This massive turnout demonstrates that the Fair continues to be the biggest cultural event in Latin America and that, despite the crisis, its aisles, offerings, and activities have been packed since its opening day.
Sunday, May 12: The El Libro Foundation, organizer of the Buenos Aires International Book Fair, releases the closing figures for an edition that concludes with highly positive numbers in relation to the current socioeconomic context.
The 48th Buenos Aires International Book Fair in numbers:
✓ 1,126,351 attendees (-9.53% compared to the 47th edition)
42,163.5 m2 of exhibition space
✓ 14,140 m² occupied by stands
328 stalls
✓ 672 exhibitors (local and international).
1620 editorial stamps
✓ 9 Pavilions (Ochre, Blue, Green, Yellow, Red, White, Central, 8, and 9)
12 event rooms
✓ 10 semi-open auditoriums: Javier Villafañe Children's Zone (Library, Storytelling, Workshop), Future Zone, Explore Zone, Digital Space, Functional Diversity and Disability Space, Pride and Prejudice, Firmodrome, Semi-open Auditorium (Image of Fair and Open Interviews with Embón)
11 countries (Armenia, Brazil, Chile, Italy, Cuba, Uruguay, Peru, Paraguay, Ecuador, Spain, Ukraine) and 3 participating collectives
✓ 10 provinces present with their own stands (Buenos Aires, Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Córdoba, Corrientes, La Pampa, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, and Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands) + 2 cities (Buenos Aires and Lisbon)
12 publishers participated in Nuevo Barrio
✓ 232 exhibitors participating in CONABIP's Libro% program
✓ 840 libraries (701 of which receive subsidies) participated in CONABIP's Libro% program
Professional Days
10,470 book professionals (publishers, booksellers, distributors, illustrators, translators, among others) from over 30 countries
✓ Friend Librarian Program, with the participation of 135 exhibitors
✓ Friendly Library Program, with the participation of over 121 exhibitors
✓ National Logistics: 21,600 kg in 1,718 boxes dispatched to bookstores across the country
International Logistics: 8,500 kg in 200 shipments to bookstores worldwide, with main destinations including Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile
Cultural and teacher programming
✓ 665 cultural events in venues
✓ 532 cultural events in spaces of the Fundación El Libro
✓ 414 acts in the stands
✓ 13 acts in halls and 65 at their stand, organized by Lisbon, Guest City of Honor for this edition
✓ 3667 signatures registered
✓ 24 signatures (the most appealing) in the Signature Stadium
✓ 496 teachers participated in the three educational activities and in Teacher Zone
437 storytellers participated in the International Oral Storytelling Gathering
✓ 23,304 students along with 2,698 accompanying teachers from 603 institutions
Media and Social Networks
2,222 journalists accredited in the room
✓ 431 accredited bookfluencers in room
✓ 332,000 followers on Facebook
194,000 followers on Instagram
✓ 78,000 followers on X
✓ 7,091 followers on TikTok
✓ 13,000 YouTube subscribers
10 activities with streaming
64 talks uploaded to YouTube
✓ Two interview series produced by the Fundación El Libro and recorded entirely at the Fair: “Imagen de Feria” and “Reportajes Abiertos con Embón”
✓ 26 interviews with writers in “Imagen de Feria” cycle by Osvaldo Quiroga
✓ 9 interviews with political and cultural figures on “Open Reports with Embón” by Horacio Embón
Featured News
✓ The lecture series “Indigenous Word. Dialogues by Indigenous Writers”
The “Feria's Closing Debate” on Sunday, May 12th, to exchange ideas on the role of culture in times of crisis
From Monday to Thursday during the second and third weeks, starting at 8 PM, admission was free and open to the public, an initiative that complements the free access of the traditional Fair Night.
The Reading Marathon was held for the first time in Zona Futuro.
Tribute to Paul Auster with music and readings, just days after his passing
Fair Samples
✓ The Light Side: Bioy Photographer
✓ Mafalda: A 60-Year-Old Girl
✓ Mesmeread: Virtual Reality Demonstration (Oculus) with excerpts from the texts: House Taken, by Julio Cortázar and The Invention of Morel, by Adolfo Bioy Casares
✓ Poster Exhibition “Komplett Kafka”
✓ Museum of Graphic Illustration. The Conquests of the Ephemeral – Graphics and Industry in the Times of Caras y Caretas
✓ Fernando Pessoa House
✓ Portrait gallery of Portuguese authors
✓ Show the Alameda, tram for a virtual tour of the city
Awards and distinctions
Critics' Award
The award went to El náufrago sin isla by Guillermo Piro, published by Interzona.
Sixth Edition of the El Libro Foundation Literary Award
First Prize: Creatures of Nubia Bado
2nd Prize: Marc Collel's muzzle
✓ 3rd Prize. Impressions of Gustavo Gros
Book Professionals Award
✓ Editor of the Year Award: Aurelio Narvaja, from Ediciones Colihue
✓ Tito Lafalce Award for Traveler of the Year: Jorge Mega, from Grupo Editorial Planeta
✓ Elvio Vitali Award for Bookseller of the Year: José “Perico” Pérez, from Homo Sapiens
✓ Foreign Visitor Friend Award: Juan Fernando Orozco Patiño, from Icaro, Colombia
Isay Klasse Education Book Award
✓ Theoretical Work Award: Disability and Human Rights. Historical Journey, Art, Sexuality, and Diversity, by Patricio Huerga, published by Homo Sapiens Ediciones
✓ Practical Work Award: Teaching Reading and Writing. A practical (and balanced) guide to navigating the pandemonium of early literacy, by Beatriz Diuk, published by Siglo XXI Editores
Events in packed halls of a thousand attendees
✓ Inauguration of the 48th International Book Fair
Gabriel Rolón presents “Happiness, Beyond Illusion”
A conversation with Mariana Enríquez
✓ Florencia Bonelli presents Neville's House 1 and 2
Marian Rojas Estapé presents her new book Recover Your Mind, Reclaim Your Life
Book Presentation: The Happiest Days: Peronist Economic Plan by Guillermo Moreno
✓ Magalí Tajes presents Animal Spirit
Other convening acts
✓ Tribute to Mafalda
Book presentation “Being Human” by Pablo Melicchio and Adolfo Perez Esquivel.
✓ Tomás Rebord presents “Commentaries on the Naucratis”
✓ Presentation of “Myths of Argentine History: Anniversary Edition” by Felipe Pigna
Longer signatures
The longest author book signings were by Mariana Enriquez, Magalí Tajes, Florencia Canale, Florencia Etcheves, and María Florencia Freijo.
Next Buenos Aires International Book Fair
The 49th Buenos Aires International Book Fair will take place between April 22 and May 12, 2025, at the La Rural Exhibition Center.
✓ The 39th Professional Conference will be held from April 22nd to April 25th, 2025.