From 13 al 23 AprilThe city is once again embracing reading thanks to a new edition of Book Days 2026, a special program designed to bring books, their authors, and literary creation closer to all citizens. This event, promoted by the Network of Municipal LibrariesIt is consolidating itself as one of the key moments of the cultural calendar linked to International Book Day.
This time, the proposal comes with a notable new feature: for the first time, the nerve center of the activity moves to Montehermoso as the main headquarterswhich will host most of the meetings with writers. Over ten days, there will be presentations, talks, debates, and participatory activities in which the reading public will also play a leading role, with free admission until capacity is reached and an atmosphere designed to enjoy books at a leisurely pace.
Dates, venue and format of the 2026 Book Days
The Book Days program will run continuously between Monday, April 13th and Thursday, April 23rd, coinciding with the celebration of International Book Day. All the main activities have been scheduled for the afternoon, starting at 18:30h, to facilitate assistance after the work or school day.
The big news this year is the change of location: the initiative leaves behind its previous venues and is set up for the first time in MontehermosoThis space will become the meeting point for dialogues with authors, presentations, and live interviews. This cultural venue will offer a comfortable and accessible environment so that the public can enjoy the program under optimal conditions.
Access to the events is free and openlimited only by the capacity of the room. Furthermore, on two of the days, specifically those of 13 and 16 for April, interpreter services will be available sign language, an addition that seeks to guarantee greater inclusion and accessibility for all people interested in programming.
During these days there will also be a point of sale and book signing At the venue itself, attendees will be able to purchase works by the guest authors and have their copies signed. The aim is for the event to go beyond simply listening, becoming a space for conversation and direct exchange between writers and readers.
Encounters with authors: from thrillers and autofiction to essays
The literary program for Book Days 2026 brings together established names in Spanish and Basque literatureas well as key voices in comics and essay writing. Each day revolves around a different author or project, with interviews conducted by communication and cultural mediation professionals.
The cycle starts the Monday April 13 with the writer and journalist Precious Nativel, who arrives in Montehermoso to present his most recent novel, My children's breadIt is a work that blends intrigue, metafiction, and autofiction, seasoned with a marked sense of humor and centered on the vicissitudes of a particularly striking character. The communicator from Álava Aitziber Pérez de Karkamo She will be in charge of talking with the author, reviewing her extensive career in journalism and literature, as well as the key aspects of her latest book.
El Tuesday April 14 It will be the turn of the National Narrative Prize and the Euskadi Prize for Obabakoak, Bernardo atxagaThe writer will give a very special presentation of his novel in Basque. Enaraka project described as different and groundbreaking within his body of work. To shape this encounter, Atxaga will combine texts, images and other resources that allow you to delve into the universe of his new narrative, with suspense, humor and depth, and a light and bold use of language that is already his trademark.
The third day, the Wednesday April 15, will dedicate himself to visual storytelling and comics with Laura Pérez VernettiA pioneer of adult comics in Spain, the author will present her most recent work. The Venus of the Heelsand will take the opportunity to reflect on the difficulties women still face in breaking into a historically male-dominated sector like comics. The interview will be guided by Azucena Monge, specialist with two decades of experience in comic book language and history workshops.
El Thursday April 16 the leading role will fall to Lawrence SilvaOne of the most recognizable names in contemporary Spanish narrative, the writer will present his book. With no one and will have a chat with the journalist Naiara López de MunainThe session will review his career as an author of crime and historical novels, which have garnered over two and a half million readers, as well as the features of his new work. A sign language interpreter will also be present, reinforcing the program's inclusive nature.
The agenda resumes activity on Tuesday April 21 with a double date around the easy reading and text adaptationThe adapter Javier Alcázar and the illustrator Manu Arroyal They will present the Easy Read version of The age of anger, Nando Lopez, carried out in collaboration with APDEMA and the Basque Country Easy Reading Association. During the meeting, the process of creating more accessible texts and the importance of accessibility will be explained. images and visual storytelling to bring the story to more types of readers.
El Wednesday April 22 The series of meetings with authors will conclude with the presence of the historian Mikel Sotowho will present, in Basque, his essay dedicated to the figure of the poet Jon Mirande: Mirande, herriminez, ezin-minezTo delve deeper into the character and the historical and cultural context surrounding him, the author will be accompanied by Anjel Elustondo Honey, an expert in the field and recognized for his work as an interviewer in the cultural sphere.
Awards ceremony and commemorative activities
El Thursday April 23Coinciding with International Book Day, the 2026 Book Days will come to a close with a symbolic and participatory event. That day will be celebrated... Awards ceremony for the literary competition "Letters for Memory", organized by the Martxoak 3 Association with the collaboration of the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council.
This competition has been designed with a dual objective: on the one hand, to bring the events of March 3, 1976 and their context closer to the public through literary creation; on the other hand, to encourage the participation of people of different ages and interests in the creation of stories and texts that engage with historical memory. It is part of a broader program of commemorative activities for the 50 anniversary of those events.
The awards ceremony will offer a firsthand look at the winning entries and showcase the work of all participants in the competition. In this way, Book Days connects literature with... reflection on collective memorydemonstrating that books can also be a tool for understanding the past and debating the present.
Throughout the event, attendees will be able to approach the signature points These sessions will take place at the end of the events, where authors will sign their works and have the opportunity to briefly discuss them with the audience. In this way, the program combines the institutional aspect of the events with a more personal and direct approach.
Participatory actions in the Library Network: recommendation murals
Alongside the main programming in Montehermoso, the Network of Municipal Libraries has organized a participatory action that will take place throughout the week of Book Days, from 13 al 23 AprilThe goal is to transform libraries, both for adults and for children and young people, into living spaces of cultural exchange where the reading community has an active role.
Each library will be equipped delimited physical spaces —for example, windows or walls marked with decorative tape— intended to Gather public recommendationsUsers can leave their reading suggestions in written or illustrated format, from titles and authors to comments, impressions, or drawings inspired by their favorite books.
As the days go by, those spaces will become a large collective mural that reflects the tastes, emotions, and reading experiences of the public. It's not just about listing books, but about sharing why they have marked, accompanied, or surprised those who recommend them, thus creating a spontaneous map of significant readings.
This dynamic aims to transform readers from mere recipients of recommendations into active participants. prescribers and protagonists of the celebration. At the same time, it is a useful tool for discovering new titles in a personal way, based on the real experience of other library users, beyond official lists or commercial rankings.
Detailed information on all these proposals, as well as any possible schedule changes or new additions to the program, can be found in the specific section of the Book Days on the municipal website, where the agenda will be updated as the campaign progresses.
A program that links reading, diversity and urban life
The design of Book Days 2026 reflects a clear commitment to the diversity of formats and for building bridges between different forms of written creation. The program includes thrillers and autofiction, narrative in Basque, adult comics, accessible reading, historical essays, and memoirs, showcasing a wide range of voices and genres.
The presence of figures like Nativel Preciado, Bernardo Atxaga, Laura Pérez Vernetti, Lorenzo Silva and Mikel Soto It guarantees a remarkable literary level, but the approach to the events avoids a purely academic format. Each session is conceived as an open conversation, led by journalists, specialists, and mediators who help make the works and careers of the guests accessible to the general public.
The inclusion of projects such as the Easy-to-Read adaptation of "The Age of Anger" It also emphasizes the desire to make reading accessible to people with varying reading abilities or accessibility needs. Along with the presence of sign language interpreters in several sessions, it raises the idea that written culture should be a shared resource, not a restricted space.
Furthermore, the connection with historical memory initiatives, such as the competition "Letters for Memory"It shows how Book Days can go beyond the specific celebration of Book Day to become a framework from which to address social and political debates through writing and critical reading.
Taken together, the combination of events in Montehermoso and activities in the Municipal Library Network creates a choral celebration of readingwhere both literary giants and everyday readers who fill the murals with their recommendations are welcome. Anyone who visits during those days will find an atmosphere conducive to discovering books, listening to stories, talking with authors, and ultimately, realizing that Book Days 2026 is much more than just a date on the cultural calendar.
