Barcelona’s diverse literary culture takes centre stage as the city prepares to be the guest of honour at Latin America’s most important book fair.
Mayor Jaume Collboni has arrived in Guadalajara, Mexico, leading a substantial Catalan delegation to the prestigious event.
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Consequently, the city aims to present what the mayor describes as a “fiercely contemporary and very diverse” Barcelona to an international audience.
The Guadalajara International Book Fair, which begins this Saturday, has selected Barcelona as its featured city for 2025. This prominent position places Catalan culture firmly in the global spotlight. Furthermore, the fair will host over a hundred Catalan publishing houses and approximately sixty literary personalities from the region.
Barcelona’s Literary Delegation Makes Global Impact
Mayor Collboni was joined by key officials including Councillor for Culture and Creative Industries, Xavier Marcé, and Deputy Mayor Raquel Gil. Interestingly, the opposition leader, Jordi Martí Galbis, also travelled with the delegation. The mayor expressed confidence that Guadalajara would receive “the best of Barcelona” during the fair’s proceedings.
The delegation’s mission is coordinated by commissioner Anna Guitart, whose objective is to showcase “who is writing in Barcelona right now.” Therefore, notable contemporary authors like Carlota Gurt, Kiko Amat, and Marta Orriols will represent the city’s current literary scene. Additionally, the main Barcelona pavilion at the fair’s entrance will feature performances by artists including Maria Arnal and Love of Lesbian.
The cultural promotion forms part of a wider strategy to enhance Barcelona’s international profile. This initiative follows other significant local developments, such as the city’s preparations to become the World Capital of Architecture in 2026.
Two special exhibitions inaugurated the city’s participation at the Cabañas Museum. The exhibition “Vendrán las Mujeres” marks, according to Guitart, the first time the stories of Barcelona’s women writers explaining and living their city are presented collectively. Meanwhile, “Tres maneras de entrar” celebrates the literary tradition through figures like Joan Brossa and Mercè Rodoreda.
Local Mexican officials warmly welcomed the Catalan contingent. The Governor of Jalisco, Pablo Lemos, celebrated Barcelona’s arrival as a “great joy” and presented Mayor Collboni with a reproduction of murals by artist José Clemente Orozco. Similarly, the fair’s director, Marisol Schulz, predicted Barcelona would leave “an indelible mark” on the event’s legacy.
This international showcase highlights Barcelona’s evolving cultural identity. The city’s demographic landscape is changing, as reflected in recent data showing Barcelona’s foreign-born population has hit a record 35.4%. Ultimately, the delegation in Guadalajara aims to project this modern, multifaceted Barcelona’s diverse literary culture to a worldwide audience.
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