SIEL: 31st Edition Opens in Rabat in April

This edition takes place within a broader cultural moment, as Rabat prepares to host major initiatives linked to its designation as UNESCO World Book Capital for 2026.

Rabat – The Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication officially announced the organization of the 31st edition of the International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL), set to take place in Rabat from April 30 to May 10.

The event will be held at the OLM Souissi venue, continuing the fair’s tradition as one of the region’s most prominent cultural gatherings.

In preparation for the upcoming edition, the ministry has opened the participation process to publishers, institutions, and cultural actors.

Applications are available exclusively through online registration on the official SIEL platform, with submissions accepted until February 10.

The 2026 edition welcomes France as guest of honor, a choice that shows the longstanding literary and intellectual exchanges between the two countries.

The program also pays tribute to Ibn Battuta, whose journeys remain a reference in global travel literature and cultural history.

This edition takes place within a broader cultural moment, as Rabat prepares to host major initiatives linked to its designation as UNESCO World Book Capital for 2026.

SIEL will be a central pillar of a year dedicated to books, reading, and cultural dialogue, and reinforces Rabat’s role as a key meeting point for authors, publishers, and readers from Morocco and beyond.

Over eleven days, the fair is expected to bring together a wide range of participants and audiences, offering a platform for publishing, debate, and literary exchange, while anchoring the book at the heart of the city’s cultural life.

Each year, bibliophiles circle these dates well in advance, as the fair gradually takes on the air of a ritual rather than a mere appointment. What begins as anticipation often turns into a collective migration toward books, ideas, and encounters.

Last year’s edition drew more than 403,000 visitors. Attendance recorded a 26% increase compared to the previous year which reflects the fair’s growing place in the cultural calendar and its sustained appeal across generations.