Catalan Book Week fair kicks off

This year's 36th Edition will run until September 16 and features guests like Nigerian writer Ayobani Adebayo

Participants in the Catalan Book Fair expo prepare their stands on September 7 2018 (by Pere Francesch)
Participants in the Catalan Book Fair expo prepare their stands on September 7 2018 (by Pere Francesch) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

September 7, 2018 08:16 PM

Readers, rejoice: a whole week of books awaits at the Catalan Book Week fair, running from September 7 to the 16 in Barcelona, at the Avinguda de la Catedral.

This fair includes stands with literature galore, as well as workshops, debates, and more. There are 250 editorial novelties.

Additionally, a new addition to the event means that no book will be featured in more than one stand, which has led to an increase in those exhibiting of 25.2% (now at 210).

Special guests include Nigerian writer Ayobani Adebayo and illustrator from the United States Sarah Anderson. The event also includes family spaces and spaces for children's books.

President of the Catalan Book Week Joan Sala explained that this 36th edition of the fair will also focus on "defense of freedoms" and have the objective of "obtaining more readers.

Book sales in 2017

Sale turnover for books in Catalonia for the year 2017 was for 484,746 million euros, of which 235,760 million was for books in Catalan. This makes up some 48% of sales, according to data from the 'Interior Commerce of Books in Spain.'

According to the president of Editors.cat Catalan language publishers association, Montse Ayats, subjects sold most shows a growth of 1.80% in sales of children and young adult books, with a growth of 2.20% in literature (novels, poetry, and theater) for adults.