One month until the 27th São Paulo Biennial

This year’s theme, “Those who read make great friends,” really sends out the right message that books are to be enjoyed, not rote-memorised to pass an exam.

Brazil is a big country, and that often means a lot of travelling for folk to get to annual events like international book fairs. Brazil solves this problem by alternating its annual publishing event between the two biggest cities, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

This year, the event is back in São Paulo, and is being billed as "the largest literary event in Latin America". although by footfall São Paulo's expected 600,000 visitors is only half of the 1.2 million that regularly turn out for Argentina's Bueno Aries International Bok Fair.

This year São Paulo is touting an investment of R$36.5 million ($6.58 million) for the exhibition, which will take place September 6 to 15 in the renovated Anhembi District.

This year’s theme, “Those who read make great friends,” emphasizes the unifying power of books, and is a welcome change from the traditional "books are for learning" we see so often in the non-anglophone markets. "Those who read make great friends" really sends out the right message that books are to be enjoyed, not rote-memorised to pass an exam.

The 27th Biennial will feature a diverse program, highlighting inclusivity and cultural enrichment. Key additions include the Education Space and the Interviews By Skeelo Space, a podcast hosted by influencers.

Per the press release as reported by my go to source for Brazilian publishing news, PublishNews, the event will span 75,000 m², a 15% increase from 2022, with 227 exhibitors from various literary genres. The program includes over 2,000 hours of cultural activities, featuring 683 national and 33 international authors. Notable international guests include Jeff Kinney and John Scalzi, while prominent Brazilian authors like Mario Sergio Cortella and Thalita Rebouças will also participate.

This year’s guest of honor is Colombia.