In collaboration with national partners and UNESCO bodies, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication is overseeing the implementation of a one-year program starting from April 24 of this year. As part of the initiative recognizing Rabat as the World Book Capital, activities will be intensified and expanded, taking advantage of the 2026 SIEL event, which will be held from May 1 to 10. DR ‹ › As Rabat prepares to host the 31st International Book and Publishing Fair (SIEL 2026) from May 1 to 10, the supervising ministry is stepping up its efforts. This year's edition takes place within a broader calendar dedicated to promoting reading and supporting the sector, as part of Rabat's designation as UNESCO World Book Capital 2026. At a presentation held Tuesday in Rabat, organizers outlined the main pillars of this program. A total of 342 activities are planned across 12 thematic areas, with the aim of «taking books beyond their traditional spaces by reaching citizens in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, orphanages, public squares, and even public transport». A global reach in a cultural capital Latifa Moftaqir, director of the National Archives of Morocco and commissioner of Rabat World Book Capital 2026, said UNESCO's selection was based on «a thorough assessment of historical, intellectual, and cultural criteria, reflecting the city's long-standing connection to books and knowledge transmission». «This bond is reflected in its mosques and libraries, rooted in a rich cultural tradition, reinforced by modern institutions such as universities, institutes, cultural centers, and a dynamic civil society», she added. «The evaluation also considered the vitality of Rabat's book sector, known for its large number of publishers, private libraries, publishing houses, and higher education institutions». Moftaqir also highlighted «the city's strong commitment to literacy and education, its efforts to improve the status of women and youth, and its rich heritage», noting that Rabat's UNESCO World Heritage listing in 2012 further strengthens its cultural legitimacy. Anchoring books in everyday life Rachid El Abdi, president of the Rabat-Salé regional council, said the year will be marked by regular public events aimed at embedding reading practices more deeply in daily life. These initiatives include experience-sharing, broader public access to books and authors, and school visits benefiting students across the region, particularly in remote areas. They are part of an approach combining territorial inclusion, equal access to cultural goods, and a sustainable policy placing books at the heart of knowledge development, he explained. A pillar of the creative economy Charaf Ahmimed, director of UNESCO's regional office for the Maghreb, praised the strong presence of the book sector in Rabat, now the 26th city to join the World Book Capital network. For him, this recognition is «the result of a coherent and dynamic vision in which the sector serves as a pillar of the creative economy and a guarantor of access to reading». He added that reading remains «a means of emancipation and social cohesion», noting that the momentum of SIEL 2026 and the World Book Capital program will translate into concrete initiatives supporting cultural policies in this field. Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital, organizers recalled, commit to promoting books and reading for all ages and groups, both nationally and internationally, through a year-long program of activities.
