La Madrid Book Fair The Retiro Park will once again be filled with stalls, readers, and authors between the end of May and mid-June, in an edition that maintains its popular character while reinforcing its professional and cultural dimension. Once again, the Paseo de Coches will be transformed into a grand literary boulevard where major publishing groups, historic bookstores, independent presses, and less conventional projects will coexist, as will the Valladolid Book Fair.
This 85th edition focuses on the humor as a common threadWith the motto "Reading and laughing: two ways to resist," the event aims to establish itself as one of Madrid's essential spring cultural events. For over two weeks, it will feature bestseller signings, activities for all ages, an international program, and an atmosphere that invites both leisurely strolls and the discovery of unexpected books.
Dates, times and location in El Retiro
The Madrid Book Fair It will celebrate its 85th edition from Friday, May 29th to Sunday, June 14th, maintaining its traditional location in the Paseo de Coches of El Retiro Park, similar to the Paseo de Cánovas in the Cáceres Book FairThere will be 17 days of continuous activity in one of the capital's most emblematic green spaces, which can be accessed freely and without charge.
The opening hours to the public will be as follows: Monday to FridayThe booths will be open in the morning from 10:30 to 14:00 and in the afternoon from 17:00 to 21:00. Saturdays and Sundays The afternoon slot will remain from 17:00 PM to 21:00 PM, while the morning slot will be extended until 15:00 PM, from 10:30 AM to 15:00 PM.
The fair will occupy, as usual, the Retiro Car RideLocated in the area also known as Paseo del Duque de Fernán Núñez, very close to the rose garden and easily accessible from various points in the park. The setting combines walking areas, lawns, and trees, making it a pleasant spot for many people to stop and read or relax between signings.
Access by public transport will be a particularly recommended option, especially on busier days. The stations of metro The closest are Retiro (L2), Ibiza (L9), Atocha and Estación del Arte (L1), in addition to various bus lines that circle the park via Menéndez Pelayo, O'Donnell or Puerta de Alcalá, and the stations of Suburban Rail of Recoletos and Atocha.
This year the organization reminds everyone that the park has specific protocols In case of a weather alert. In the event of strong winds or other inclement weather, there may be temporary closures or schedule adjustments, which will be communicated via screens and notices within the venue, attempting to salvage, whenever possible, any activities that can be relocated.
A fair with more than 400 booths and hundreds of exhibitors
This year's edition will feature a very significant number of booths: they have announced 431 stalls and more than 500 exhibitors along approximately 1.200 meters of the Paseo de Coches, as also occurs in the Badajoz Book FairThis includes bookstores of different profiles, publishers of all sizes, distributors, official bodies and spaces managed by the Fair itself.
Within that total, 123 booths will be for bookstoresThe event will be roughly divided equally between general and specialized bookstores, showcasing the latest releases and backlist titles. The publishers' section is expected to include... more than 300 publishers' booths, some of them shared between several imprints, which increases the number of brands represented.
There will also be room for 12 distributors, mostly from Madrid, which will group stamp books without their own booth, and for 16 booths belonging to official bodies and public institutions which will give visibility to projects from different autonomous communities and cultural entities.
A key part of this edition will be the expansion of the space reserved for small and medium-sized publishersThe organization has announced the participation of several dozen labels with relatively small but carefully curated catalogs, with the aim of allowing visitors to find everything from major bestsellers to risky bets or very specific niches.
As usual, books will be sold with a discount throughout the Fair. 10% discount, one of the big draws for those who take advantage of this time of year to get a head start on their summer reading, acquire new signed books, or complete pending collections, as happens in the Torrejón Used Book Fair.
Humor as a motto: "Reading and laughing: two ways to resist"
The 85th edition is structured around a very clear thematic axis: the humor understood as a life attitude and as a tool for critically reading the world. Under the motto "Reading and laughing: two ways to resist," the Fair's management celebrates the humorous tradition of Spanish literature, from classics like Don Quixote to contemporary voices in narrative, essay, and graphic novels.
The director, Eva Orúe, has emphasized that humor is not intended as a mere entertainment addition, but as a way of dealing with realityto allow dissent and foster conversation among those who think differently. The Book Fair aims to remain one of the few cultural spaces where one can read challenging authors, discuss ideas, and still share a stroll among books.
This approach will be present in roundtables, family activities, recitals, and meetings that will address humor in its many facets: such as political satire, literary irony, stand-up comedy, graphic novels, and screenwriting. Special attention will also be paid to authors who work in comedy from essays or popularization.
The official poster for this edition, signed by the illustrator Miguel PangIt perfectly captures that spirit. The image shows a group of readers in absurd poses around a large pine tree, one of the characteristic trees of the Paseo de Coches in El Retiro Park. The result is a dynamic composition that aims to elicit a smile and reflect the playful nature of the event.
Programming, spaces and special activities
The official program of the Fair brings together nearly 400 activities The events will be spread across various pavilions, booths, central spaces, and partner venues both inside and outside the Retiro Park. The aim is to combine book sales with presentations, panel discussions, workshops, recitals, and more experimental formats.
Among the usual spaces are the Pavilion of the Community of MadridThis year, the Europa pavilion, the Ibero-American space, and the Children's pavilion, in addition to the CaixaBank area and other sponsored venues, will have a special role with a program aimed at young, adult, and family audiences; the Europa pavilion, the Ibero-American space, and the Children's pavilion.
One of the most striking features will be the space UntamedDedicated to independent publishers, artists' books, fanzines, and unconventional projects, this area will bring together more than forty publishers, bookstores, and publishing production centers, in collaboration with literary initiatives and festivals that champion less conventional formats, such as... Asturian Publishing Fair.
The Fair will also overflow the limits of the Paseo de Coches to extend its program to other points in the city. The Eugenio Trías Library —located in the Retiro Park itself—, the Casa de Vacas Theatre, CaixaForum, the Bertelsmann Space, Casa de América, Casa Árabe or Casa Cantabria will host presentations, series of talks, screenings and parallel activities.
Also on the agenda is the XI Workshop on Journalistic Books, taught by Martín Caparrós in collaboration with the Gabo Foundation, which will take place from June 8 to 12, as well as the meeting Read Iberoamerica ReadThe event, scheduled for June 2-5, will feature guests from more than a dozen countries. These gatherings reinforce the international character of the Book Fair and its focus on narrative journalism and Ibero-American book networks, as demonstrated by the participation of provinces like Jujuy in the Buenos Aires International Book Fair.
Author signings: seven spaces and a very busy schedule
Book signings will continue to be one of the main attractions. The organizers have decided expand the specific signature points from five to seven. spread throughout the route, incorporating two new areas —named Oak and Yew— to respond to the growing demand from authors, publishers and readers.
During the 17 days of the Fair, it is expected that there will be firms practically from opening to closing of each day. In addition to the bookstore and publisher stalls, these centralized spaces will serve to concentrate meetings with highly sought-after writers, avoiding congestion in specific sections of the promenade.
Among the names already announced by major publishers and bookstores are leading authors of Spanish-language literature and literature from other countries. Planeta de Libros has announced the presence of Eduardo Mendoza, Sonsoles Ónega, Fernando Aramburu, Inma Rubiales, Manel Loureiro, Alice Kellen, Pedro Simón, Máximo Huerta or Emma Gil, among others.
Lists of book signings from bookstores like Casa del Libro have also begun circulating. Casa del Libro will have booths featuring popular authors of fiction, essays, popular science, young adult, and children's literature. Long lines are expected for bestselling authors and media personalities known for their presence on television, radio, or social media, as is common at regional book fairs with extensive programs, such as the Jaén Book Fair.
In addition to these large houses, numerous independent publishers Local bookstores will be publishing their own calendars featuring authors specializing in specific genres: historical fiction, essays, comics, poetry, philosophy, or popular science. It is generally recommended to check the updated schedules, as they may be subject to change due to organizational reasons, weather, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Professional space, podcasts and new formats
The Madrid Book Fair wants to remain more than just a large open-air book market: it aims to act as a professional meeting point among publishers, booksellers, agents, institutions, and creators. To this end, alliances are being strengthened with festivals, universities, embassies, and cultural organizations in Spain and other countries.
Along these lines, the following gains importance: presence of podcasts and radio programsRadio Nacional de España will once again broadcast part of its programming from the Book Fair, becoming almost another pavilion, with interviews, literary debates, and live connections with authors and the public.
The book clubs They will also occupy an increasing space. There will be meetings organized by bookstores, libraries, and institutions that use the Fair as an opportunity to bring together their reading communities, discuss books, and discover new titles as a group. This format seeks to solidify the idea of the Fair as a place for conversation, and not just for occasional purchases.
Collaboration with international festivals and organizations—from Ibero-American projects to European cultural centers—will allow for the participation of foreign authors, as well as activities that connect Madrid's literary scene with other circuits in Europe and Latin America. The goal is for visitors to be able to to perceive the Fair as a node of cultural networks larger than that of the city itself.
All of this is combined with more traditional proposals, such as presentations of new publications, themed panels, poetry recitals, screenings, writing workshops or training activities for specialized and general audiences.
The Retiro Park as a living stage: advantages, risks and accessibility
Since its first edition in the 1930s, the Fair has maintained a close relationship with El Retiro Parkwhich has become its natural setting. The choice of this environment offers clear advantages: shade from the trees, wide pedestrian areas, rest areas, and an atmosphere that invites reading or leisurely strolling.
However, the organization points out that holding the event in a historic park also implies taking responsibility for the risks involved. certain limitations and protocolsIn the event of weather alerts, especially for wind, temporary closures of the venue may be ordered to ensure the safety of visitors and exhibitors. These decisions are made in coordination with the City Council and park management.
In response to these contingencies, the following will be installed information screens Throughout the fairgrounds, signs will be posted to communicate announcements, schedule changes, or potential evacuations. The goal is for those inside the fair to know what's happening at all times and to be able to plan their visit with as much peace of mind as possible.
This year, the event will also coincide with other major events in the cityThis may hinder mobility on certain days. Although the specifics of traffic arrangements depend on the relevant authorities, the Fair's management encourages authors, exhibitors, and the public to maintain their commitment to the event, planning their journeys in advance and prioritizing the use of public transport.
The entrance to the Fair will remain free and open, without the need for prior reservation or shifts. Only in very specific cases will some activities with limited capacity require registration or collection of an invitation, something that will be clearly indicated in the official program and on the organization's information channels.
Sustainability and organization: towards a more responsible fair
The organization of the Madrid Book Fair has been incorporating a series of changes in recent years. measures to reduce your environmental footprintThe overall budget is around 1,9 million euros, in a structure that combines the contribution of exhibitors with the support of sponsors and public and private collaborators.
Among the most notable actions is the use of electricity with a 100% renewable guarantee of originas well as the progressive replacement of fossil fuels with renewable alternatives in the generators still needed for the operation of the technical infrastructure.
More than 200 solar panels Agreements have been established with transport companies to ensure that a significant portion of book shipments are carried out in vehicles powered by renewable fuels. According to the organization's estimates, these measures could result in a significant reduction in emissions, amounting to several tons of CO₂.
Furthermore, since exhibitors were asked to avoid enter the park with your carsThe Fair claims to have significantly reduced its carbon footprint. This line of work is complemented by awareness campaigns on the responsible use of resources, waste management, and respect for the Retiro Park environment.
The combination of an ambitious cultural program with an effort to limit the environmental impact aims to consolidate a model of a major literary event that takes into account both the visitor experience and the conservation of a space as sensitive as El Retiro.
With humor as its hallmark, a calendar full of activities, More than 400 booths and hundreds of authors Signing copies, the new edition of the Madrid Book Fair is preparing to transform El Retiro Park once again into a veritable city of books. Those who visit these days will find discounts, unexpected encounters, something for all kinds of readers, and that very Madrileño feeling that strolling among the stalls is also a way to participate in the city's cultural life.
