La Valladolid Book Fair This year's edition focuses on those who will fill the libraries of tomorrow: children and young adults. For ten days, the Plaza Mayor is transformed into a large open-air stage where books, comics, storytelling, live music, and participatory activities come together, designed to make families feel right at home.
The competition doubles down on a ambitious and diverse programmingThis event brings together established names in storytelling, leading figures in contemporary illustration, and artists experimenting with new forms of expression. All share a common goal: to introduce reading to new generations through play, creativity, and a blend of disciplines.
The Plaza Mayor, epicenter of books, comics and illustration
The official start will be on Friday May 29The Plaza Mayor will be transformed into a multidisciplinary meeting point where bookstore and publisher stands will share space with workshops, stages, and live creative areas. The fair will run for ten consecutive days, with a continuous program of morning and afternoon activities and free admission until the main pavilion reaches capacity.
The organization wanted this year the participatory illustration It will have a leading role from the very first minute. Therefore, the starting gun will be fired by the collective creation of the so-called Illustrated Wall, a graphic intervention open to the public coordinated by illustrators Jorge Consuegra and Alberto Sobrino, scheduled for Friday the 29th at 6:00 p.m.
This large-format proposal serves as a calling card for the spirit of the fair: a space where children, young people and adults can draw, experiment and tell stories with other languages ​​different from text, but intimately linked to the world of the book.
During the ten days, the Plaza Mayor consolidates itself as an authentic open-air cultural venuewhere the usual stroll between booths is accompanied by storytelling sessions, concerts, talks and illustration demonstrations, encouraging the public to stay longer and discover proposals they may not have had in mind when they arrived.
This edition also reinforces the presence of comics and graphic storytelling, two formats that have gained ground among young readers and that are fully integrated into the programming with workshops, meetings and master classes.
Creative workshops to introduce comics and publishing to young people
One of the key aspects of the fair is its comprehensive offer of workshops for children and young peopleThese activities are designed so that young children not only listen to stories, but also create them. Among the most striking offerings is the La Oveja Estelar printmaking workshop, scheduled for Sunday the 31st at 7:30 pm, where participants can experiment with inks, textures, and stencils to design their own graphic pieces.
The comic will have a specific weight thanks to the presence of Juanjotagé, an illustrator from Granada known for his work on the series Clumsy DetectivesThe author will give masterclasses in graphic storytelling in two sessions: Saturday the 6th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday the 7th at 11:30 a.m. In these sessions, he will demonstrate how to build characters, give rhythm to a story in panels, and combine text and image to engage the reader.
These types of activities go beyond mere anecdotes: they aim to help children and teenagers understand that process of creating an illustrated book or a comic It involves many different skills and steps, from the initial idea to the final edition. The fair's intention is that those who attend these workshops will leave wanting to keep reading… and also to keep drawing.
Throughout the ten days there will be no shortage of others specialized workshops linked to illustration, creative writing or picture books, with special attention to family schedules so that little ones can participate without haste and in a close environment.
With this approach, the Valladolid Book Fair is consolidating itself as a space where the reading encouragement It does not limit itself to recommending titles, but relies on practical dynamics that make the young public the protagonist of the creation.
Storytelling, oral narration and reference authors in the pavilion
The Fair Pavilion, set up in the Plaza Mayor itself, becomes a refuge for the spoken word and oral narrationIts stage will host some of the most renowned storytellers and companies on the national scene, with offerings for both family and adult audiences.
Among the most anticipated events is the presence of Los Titiriteros de Binéfar, who will present their award-winning show "The Embrace" On Saturday the 30th, in two sessions at 11:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Their puppet theater, music and humor is already a classic at festivals and fairs throughout Spain, and their visit to Valladolid reinforces the itinerant and popular nature of oral storytelling.
Accountant Félix Albo will offer two separate sessions, adapted to different audiences: one especially designed for adults on Saturday the 30th at 7:30 p.m., and another for families on Sunday the 31st at 11:30 a.m. With his presence, the fair reminds us that the tradition of listening to stories It is not exclusive to the little ones, and stories told aloud can continue to surprise listeners of any age.
Children's literature by leading female authors will have its own space with presentations by Rachel Diaz Reguera y Susanna IsernDÃaz Reguera will present his new works on Saturday the 30th and Sunday the 31st, both at 1:00 p.m., while Susanna Isern will share her imaginative universes with the public on Sunday the 31st at 6:00 p.m., in a highly anticipated event for those who follow her illustrated albums.
In the final stretch of the program, travel writing and folklore will take center stage with the participation of Diego Magdaleno, who will bring the traditional repertoire to life on Friday the 5th at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday the 6th at 1:00 p.m., and with the narrator Ana Griottwhose performance is scheduled for Saturday the 6th at 6:00 p.m. Both proposals underscore the fair's connection to oral tradition and intangible heritage.
Comics, avant-garde and poetry: the fair looks to the future
This year's edition incorporates a section clearly focused on avant-garde and new ways of telling storiesContemporary comics will have a prominent place with a talk by illustrator and author Carla Berrocal, who will give a presentation on the language of current comics and their expressive possibilities on Friday the 5th at 7:30 p.m.
This intervention reinforces the idea that comics have ceased to be a minor format and have become a top-tier creative territorycapable of addressing everything from children's stories to complex social issues, and of connecting especially well with younger generations.
Poetry will also play a significant role in the program. On Monday the 1st at 7:30 p.m., a poetry reading will be held. recital by the Perverse PoetsA proposal that combines voice, staging, and playful language to bring verse closer to a broad audience. This poetic presence is complemented by an interactive experience. "Words on demand", which will bring together authors such as Redry, Lidia Towiz, MarÃa Sotelo and Zero on Tuesday the 2nd at 7:30 p.m.
In this activity, the public will play an active role, as the words, themes, or emotions suggested by attendees become raw material for constructing texts and readings in real time. In this way, the fair explores ways for the poetic creation be perceived as something close and participatory, far from the solemn image that is sometimes attributed to it.
With this block of comics and poetry, the program demonstrates its willingness to look aheadintegrating hybrid formats and live experiences that connect with the cultural concerns of youth, but without losing sight of the dialogue with literary traditions.
Music, live radio and a closing with a theatrical flair
In addition to books and oral storytelling, the Valladolid Book Fair incorporates other performing arts that contribute to revitalize the Plaza Mayor It already attracts diverse audiences. One of the most unique moments will be the live broadcast of Radio Clásica on Saturday the 6th at 11:30 a.m., an opportunity to peek into the inner workings of a radio program while enjoying a literary atmosphere.
Simultaneously, and during the same time slot, the CÃrculo de Recreo will host the Fernando Puga's mental challenge, a proposal that mixes intellectual play, experimentation and entertainment, and which is incorporated into the program as a nod to those who enjoy challenges of ingenuity and lateral thinking.
Music will also have its place with the singer's concert. RocÃo TorÃo, scheduled for Sunday the 7th at 13.00. Her performance will set the rhythm for the last day of the fair, creating a bridge between the morning program and the afternoon activities, and reinforcing the idea that reading and music can naturally share the stage.
The grand finale will come with the theatrical closing of Alicia Maravillas, scheduled for Sunday the 7th at 6:00 p.m. This theatrical closing serves as a festive farewell, designed especially for family audiences, and maintains until the very last moment the playful and participatory tone that has marked the entire program.
As with the other activities, the radio broadcast, the concert, and the theatrical closing will all be of Free entry until complete seats, a policy that makes it easy for anyone who comes to the Plaza Mayor to join the cultural offering without economic barriers.
With a very measured combination of books, comics, storytelling, illustration, music and poetryThe Valladolid Book Fair has established itself as one of the most dynamic literary events in Spain, especially in terms of cultivating new readers. Its commitment to children's and young adult programming, the presence of leading contemporary writers, and its openness to avant-garde approaches transform the Plaza Mayor into a cultural laboratory accessible to all citizens for ten days.