Instituto Cervantes Celebrates World Book and Copyright Day with Día del Libro 2026 in Manila
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To mark World Book and Copyright Day, Instituto Cervantes will bring back Día del Libro on April 25 at Ayala Triangle Gardens, with a full day of literary and cultural activities.
Set in the open space of Ayala Triangle Gardens, Instituto Cervantes’ Día del Libro returns with a full day of activities for World Book and Copyright Day, with a simple draw: every book you pick up comes with a rose.
In November 1995, UNESCO declared April 23 as World Book and Copyright Day during its General Conference in Paris, recognizing the value of books and authors. The date also marks the deaths of Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. Día del Libro, organized annually by Instituto Cervantes de Manila, brings this global observance to the city as a free cultural festival celebrating literature and language. This year’s edition takes place on April 25, 2026, running from 9 A.M. until 11 P.M.
Books remain at the center of the event, with thousands of titles across genres offered by local bookstores and publishers at discounted prices. In keeping with tradition, each purchase comes with a rose, echoing Barcelona’s St. Jordi celebration when books and flowers are exchanged. In Manila, the gesture is adapted with roses for women and Instituto Cervantes T-shirts for men, while supplies last.
Among the highlights is Escribo el Quijote, a long-running activity that invites visitors to handwrite sections of Don Quixote. The completed manuscript becomes part of the Instituto Cervantes library, continuing a project that has been going on for over a decade. Participation is open to anyone, with no registration required, and those who join receive a book from the organizers.
The program will then move through a mix of activities spanning writing, performance, and learning. These include plantable paper workshops, a storytelling session for younger readers, a public book exchange, and free beginner Spanish classes. There will also be a preview of Man of La Mancha, starring Nonie Buencamino, alongside performances featuring tango, poetry, and jazz. Workshops, book launches, and author signings will also take place throughout the day, with sketching sessions and student activities woven into the schedule, before the evening shifts to Spanish food, a live paella cooking, and a set by Brownman Revival.
In partnership with several publishing houses and the National Book Development Board, organizers are hinting at a surprise lineup of authors set to appear for book signings, with names still under wraps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Instituto Cervantes de Manila’s Día del Libro 2026 takes place on April 25 at Ayala Triangle Gardens, running from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m., marking World Book and Copyright Day.
UNESCO declared April 23 as World Book and Copyright Day in November 1995 during its General Conference in Paris, a date that also marks the deaths of Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega.
The tradition echoes Barcelona’s St. Jordi celebration, where books and flowers are traditionally exchanged; in Manila, it’s adapted with roses given to women and Instituto Cervantes T-shirts given to men, while supplies last.
Escribo el Quijote is a long-running Día del Libro activity where visitors handwrite sections of Don Quixote by hand, with the completed manuscript added to the Instituto Cervantes library as part of a project running over a decade.
The 2026 lineup includes a preview of Man of La Mancha starring Nonie Buencamino, tango, poetry, and jazz performances, plus an evening set by Brownman Revival alongside live paella cooking.
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