Through various programmes organised to boost the international book trade, more than 4,000 meetings are expected to be scheduled at the fair
Liber is inviting 700 key buyers, agents and decision-makers from 70 countries to Barcelona
By strengthening its internationalisation programmes, Liber has invited more than 700 key players from the publishing sector in 70 countries to take part in the business meetings at the trade fair, which will be held from 29 September – 1 October at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue. This initiative aims to maintain the momentum of Spanish book exports and boost the buying and selling of rights in priority markets.
The Spanish Federation of Publishers’ Associations (FGEE), in collaboration with Spain’s Economic and Commercial Offices abroad, has finalised the list of participants. These include buyers, distributors, booksellers, decision-makers, literary agents, librarians and international publishers. Through these programmes, the organisation expects to schedule more than 4,000 meetings with exhibitors at the trade fair.
For Manuel González, president of the FGEE and Liber, strengthening these initiatives “enables us to expand Liber’s international reach and attract key figures from strategic markets, with the aim of boosting both exports and the sale of rights. Furthermore, it demonstrates the growing global interest in Spanish, which is increasingly present as a language of learning, culture and business, opening up new opportunities abroad for the publishing sector and for Spanish creative works”.
Four programmes
As part of the international buyers’ programme — funded by the Ministry of Culture, ICEX Spain Export and Investment, the Government of Catalonia and the Spanish Reproduction Rights Centre (CEDRO) — 500 participants from 59 countries have been invited. Meanwhile, the Priority Industry Influencers Programme (PICE), promoted by Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), features 50 specialists from 24 countries.
In addition, the programme aimed at US librarians, developed in collaboration with ICEX Spain Export and Investment and the Spanish Economic and Commercial Office in Miami, brings together more than thirty professionals.
Finally, the Publishers and Literary Agents Programme, which was introduced last year to boost the buying and selling of rights, is the fastest-growing. Also benefiting from institutional support and sponsorship, it has issued 120 invitations to specialists from 46 countries.
Dual strategy
The composition of these programmes reflects Liber’s dual international strategy. On the one hand, the programmes for buyers and influencers maintain a strong focus on Latin America (19 countries), which accounts for the majority of the invited professionals and remains the main destination for Spanish book exports.
Moreove, the programmes reflect the growing global interest in Spanish, with over 600 million people using it as their first language – making it one of the most widely spoken languages in the world – and with its increasing use as a second language for cultural, educational and business reasons. In this regard, there is broad representation from Europe (28 countries) and North America (the United States and Canada), as well as a growing presence from other strategic markets, particularly Asia (12 countries), Africa (4), the Middle East (4) and Australia.
Furthermore, the dedicated programme for publishers and literary agents reinforces the European and Anglo-Saxon presence, with the aim of boosting the sale of rights and the internationalisation of publishing catalogues. These invited professionals will take part in the Rights Fair, where pre-arranged meetings will take place.
According to the latest figures from the FGEE, sales of Spanish books abroad reached €381 million in 2024, representing a slight increase of 1.16 per cent compared with the previous year. Latin America remains the main destination, particularly countries such as Mexico and Argentina, followed by the European Union, with France, Italy and the United Kingdom leading the way.
By segment, children’s and young adult literature remains the largest export segment, followed by adult literature and religious works. At the same time, the sale of rights has also shown a positive, albeit moderate, trend, rising from 66 million euros in 2014 to just over 72.5 million in 2024.
About Liber
Internationally recognised as one of the leading events for Spanish-language publishing rights, exports and international business, Liber will bring together 250 publishers and companies this year to showcase their catalogues and new releases, as well as products and services related to the marketing and distribution of books. In addition, the fair includes an extensive programme of professional seminars to discuss and reflect on current issues within the sector linked to the book value chain.
Liber 2026 is organised by Fira de Barcelona and promoted by the Federation of Spanish Publishers’ Guilds (FGEE). It is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, ICEX Export and Investment, CEDRO, the Government of Catalonia, Barcelona City Council, and supported by Acción Cultural Española AC/E, the Guild of Publishers of Catalonia and the Association of Publishers in the Catalan Language.
Barcelona, July 2026
Images (Liber 2024 in Barcelona) here
Further information here
Maria Dolores Herranz
Fira de Barcelona Press Office – Liber
Tel. +34 93 233 25 41
[email protected]
Gerardo Miguel / Sonsoles Martín
FGEE Press Office
Tel. +34 91 576 52 50
[email protected]