The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced last Tuesday the designation of the city of Rabat as World Book Capital 2026.
“The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, announces the designation of Rabat (Morocco) as World Book Capital 2026, on the recommendation of the World Book Capital Advisory Committee”indicates a press release from the UN Organization, taken up by the MAP agency.
Quoted in the press release, Ms. Azoulay welcomed the announcement, emphasizing that “Rabat is an important cultural crossroads where books contribute to the transmission of knowledge and the arts in all their diversity”.
The booming local book industry also plays a crucial role in improving education, she added.
With 54 publishing houses, the 3rd largest international book and publishing fair in Africa and a growing number of bookstores, the book industry is not only a vital part of the city’s creative economy , but also a powerful engine for the democratization of knowledge, notes the press release.
And to specify that UNESCO and the Advisory Committee of the World Book Capital have recognized Rabat for its « engagement clair » in favor of the development of literature, the empowerment of women and young people through reading and the fight against illiteracy, particularly in the least advantaged communities.
As World Book Capital for 2026, Rabat will carry out a series of actions to provide access to books and support the local publishing industry. It will also launch a major initiative to strengthen access to literacy for all its citizens. These actions will contribute to sustainable economic growth and social progress in the city, according to UNESCO.
The year of celebration will begin on April 23, 2026, on the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day, notes the same source.
Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capitals commit to promoting books and reading for all ages and groups, within and across national borders, and to organizing a program of activities for the year.
Twenty-sixth city to bear this title since 2001, Rabat succeeds Madrid (2001), Alexandria (2002), New Delhi (2003), Antwerp (2004), Montreal (2005), Turin (2006), Bogota (2007), Amsterdam (2008), Beirut (2009), Ljubljana (2010), Buenos Aires (2011), Yerevan (2012), Bangkok (2013), Port Harcourt (2014), Incheon (2015), Wroclaw (2016), Conakry (2017 ), Athens (2018), Sharjah, (2019), Kuala Lumpur (2020), Tbilisi (2021), Guadalajara (2022), Accra (2023), Strasbourg (2024) and Rio de Janeiro (2025).
The UNESCO World Book Capital Advisory Committee is composed of representatives from the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), the International Authors Forum (IAF), the International Federation of Library Associations and Libraries ( IFLA), the International Publishers Association (UIE) and UNESCO.
