UNESCO designates Medellín as World Book Capital for 2027
20 March 2026: UNESCO has designated Medellín, Colombia, as the World Book Capital for 2027. The city saw a 542% rise in bookstores over the past seven decades, leading the country’s national reading index. The designation follows the recommendation of the World Book Capital Advisory Committee, composed of booksellers, publishers and authors.
“Books tell more than stories. They are a source of creativity and learning. Medellín has become an international reference for urban and cultural transformation, where books and libraries play a crucial role in bringing positive social change. The designation of Medellín as World Book Capital 2027 is a powerful message on how culture can build peace and social cohesion.” said Khaled El-Enany, UNESCO Director-General.
As Colombia’s second-largest city, Medellín is home to over 110 bookstores and 25 libraries, many of which were transformed from former prisons and police facilities. Once affected by prolonged periods of conflict, the city is now internationally known for urban and cultural innovation, where books and libraries serve as essential sanctuaries and spaces for resistance.
UNESCO and the World Book Capital Advisory Committee have recognized Medellín for its strong commitment to cultural mobilization and demonstrated capacity to host major cultural initiatives. UNESCO’s World Book Capitals are committed to promoting books and reading for all, and to advancing the values of dialogue, creativity, education and cultural diversity, with particular attention to young people and vulnerable communities. It also reaffirms the vital role of books as catalysts for more inclusive, equitable and peaceful societies.
As the twenty-seventh city to bear the title since 2001, Medellín will host a series of activities to strengthen the city’s public policy on reading, writing and storytelling. The year of celebrations will start on 23 April 2027, World Book and Copyright Day.
About the World Book Capitals …..
Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital undertake to promote books and reading for all ages and groups, within and across national borders, and to organize a programme of activities for the year. As the twenty-seventh city to bear the title since 2001, Medellín follows Madrid (2001), Alexandria (2002), New Delhi (2003), Antwerp (2004), Montreal (2005), Turin (2006), Bogota (2007), Amsterdam (2008), Beirut (2009), Ljubljana (2010), Buenos Aires (2011), Erevan (2012), Bangkok (2013), Port Harcourt (2014), Incheon (2015), Wroclaw (2016), Conakry (2017), Athens (2018), Sharjah, (2019), Kuala Lumpur (2020), Tbilisi (2021), Guadalajara (2022), Accra (2023), Strasbourg (2024), Rio de Janeiro (2025) and Rabat (2026).
www.unesco.org
