The Feria Internacional del Libro (FIL) de Guadalajara confirmed on October 8 that Salman Rushdie, Siri Hustvedt and Karl Ove Knausgård are among the more than 900 authors from 41 countries taking part in its 40th edition, which will run from November 28 to December 6 at Expo Guadalajara. Italy returns as guest country of honor after 18 years.
The announcement came during the official presentation of the program, led by the fair's director, Marisol Schulz, who noted that the 40th edition will encompass "more than 3,000 activities that over nine days will center the conversation on literature, thought, scientific outreach, art, music, film, gastronomy, comics, the publishing business, programs for professionals and, of course, the formation of readers." For Mexican publishers, FIL is the leading marketplace for buying and selling rights in Spanish: it is where translations and transfers are negotiated and later reach the country's bookstores. Proceso reported that more than 18,000 industry professionals and 650 titles presented are expected.
The British-American writer Salman Rushdie will open the program with a keynote lecture on November 28 at 17:30 at the Auditorio Juan Rulfo of Expo Guadalajara, with pre-registration required and a special security protocol. Nicaraguan writer Gioconda Belli will receive the 2026 FIL Prize for Literature in Romance Languages, and Italian author Alessandro Baricco will open the Salón Literario Carlos Fuentes. American writer Siri Hustvedt will take part in the Cátedra Latinoamericana Julio Cortázar. The fair will pay tribute to Juan Rulfo 40 years after his death, with an immersive pavilion devoted to the universe of "Pedro Páramo" and a panel featuring Juan Carlos and Juan Pablo Rulfo, the writer Elmer Mendoza and the photographer Rogelio Cuéllar. Julieta Venegas will close the edition with a concert on December 6.
El Universal reported that the organization expects revenues of close to 147 million pesos. With 40 editions behind it, FIL remains the annual appointment that orders the publishing calendar in Spanish. The full program and pre-registration for events with limited capacity will be announced on the fair's website in the coming weeks.
This article was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence based on verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.
