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Rabat – Rabat came alive on Friday as the 31st edition of the International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL) opened its doors to the public. Visitors began to fill the expansive venue from early morning, walking through aisles of books, meeting publishers, and taking in the first moments of what promises to be 10 days of cultural exchange, discovery, and conversation.
This year’s edition runs from May 1 to May 10 and brings together a wide international presence. The fair hosts 61 participating countries and a total of 891 exhibitors, including 321 direct exhibitors. The fair stands stretch across a 17,000 square meter area, as it offers everything from literature and social sciences to children’s books and academic publications.
Visitors walked from stand to stand, looking through books, asking questions, and speaking with publishers. It was a place where bibliophiles and writers could meet, and where Morocco connects with the wider world.
Morocco World News (MWN) spoke with Rabiaa Marhouch, director of Africamoude publishing house, and Rita Badou from Bouillon de Culture publishing house. They are part of the Collective of New Moroccan Publishers (CNEM), a group of 13 independent publishers.
It was created in March 2025 to support a more ethical, creative, and sustainable publishing scene in Morocco.
Marhouch and Badou invited people to visit their stand, saying “It’s the first day and we are so excited. We are waiting for you.”
“We have books for young people and adults, including coffee table books. Our authors will also be here, so you can meet them during these 10 days,” they added.
Their stand shows an important trend at this year’s fair, which is making books accessible for everyone. There are books for different ages and interests, with the goal of reaching more readers and encouraging people to read.
Beyond Morocco, SIEL 2026 is also positioning itself as a platform for African publishing and collaboration. Ernest Oppong, Executive Director of the African Publishers Network (APNET), traveled from Accra, Ghana, to take part in the event.
“This is my second time here, so we came to see it, to explore, to understand the people, and maybe to try to organize something similar elsewhere in Africa,” he told MWN.
APNET represents publishers from 42 African countries, and its presence reflects the growing importance of intra-African cultural exchange. Oppong emphasized the organization’s goals at SIEL. “We are here to promote books from different African countries to the Moroccan people, so they can know what others are publishing. Some people in Morocco may not know APNET, so this is also about visibility and awareness.”
He also pointed to the business side of the fair. “We are here to have meetings with people who are interested in working with APNET to execute projects. We are happy to interact with more people at this book fair.”
This mix of cultural and professional engagement is central to SIEL’s identity. The program includes more than 200 cultural activities across different themes, ranging from literature and translation to economic and cultural issues. The fair also includes dedicated spaces for professional meetings.
Following Ibn Battuta’s path
One of the highlights of this year’s edition is its thematic focus on Ibn Battuta and travel literature to celebrare exploration and storytelling across cultures. This theme resonates strongly with the international nature of the event, where books become a way to travel across borders and perspectives.
France is the guest of honor for this edition, which further strengthens cultural ties and brings a rich program of literary events, workshops, and discussions. Morocco, which was the guest of honor at last year’s Paris Book Festival, adds a reciprocal dimension to this cultural exchange.
At the same time, Rabat’s designation as World Book Capital for 2026-2027 adds another layer of significance, as it places the city at the center of global literary attention.
What stands out most on the ground is the human element. Students browse quietly next to families with children. Professionals discuss partnerships while young readers discover their first favorite books. As Morocco’s Ministry of Culture puts it, the fair aims to create a shared space where different experiences of reading coexist.
