MANILA — Book lovers, students, educators and publishers are set to gather once again as the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) 2026 returns from September 9 to 13 at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City.

Carrying the theme “Get Lit: Reading in a New Light,” this year’s fair will bring together books, learning, publishing and creative communities across two floors of exhibition space. The event will be open daily from 10AM to 8PM. 

More than 160 exhibitors are included in the official 2026 directory, ranging from local and international publishers and bookstores to educational institutions, cultural organizations, media groups and industry partners.

Among the participating organizations are Adarna House, Anvil Publishing, Ateneo de Manila University Press, Komiket Studios, Lampara Publishing House, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, Instituto Cervantes, the Embassy of Sweden in Manila and Frankfurter Buchmesse, among many others.

Beyond book shopping, visitors can attend book launches, author signings, discussions, workshops and activities for readers of different ages.

The fair opens on September 9 with the Gintong Aklat Awards, which recognizes excellence in Philippine book publishing. Other scheduled activities throughout the five-day event include discussions on artificial intelligence and Filipiniana collections, literacy and education programs, comics and creativity sessions, poetry performances, and author meet-and-greets.

General admission is P50, while students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities with valid IDs may avail of the P35 discounted rate.

MIBF has been held for more than four decades and draws more than 120,000 visitors annually, making it one of the country’s largest gatherings dedicated to books, reading and publishing.

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