The Festa do Livro in Belém returns for its 9th edition between September 17 and 20 at the Gardens of the National Palace of Belém, maintaining the meeting between readers, authors, publishers and booksellers as the central axis. The initiative, promoted by the Presidency of the Republic in collaboration with the Portuguese Association of Publishers and Booksellers (APEL) since 2016, is dedicated to the promotion of the book and Portuguese-language authors. The 2026 edition features 70 participants, representing 346 publishing brands distributed across 123 stalls, and expects the presence of close to 400 authors over the four days.
The program kicks off on September 17 with a tribute to António Lobo Antunes, featuring a concert by Katia Guerreiro and Vitorino Salomé on the Main Stage. The author's presence in this edition takes on particular significance following his death in March 2026. The event also includes performances by ÁTOA, NAPA and, for the closing, GNR, in addition to initiatives from participating publishers and booksellers.
The 2026 edition begins a new institutional cycle under the presidency of António José Seguro, who decided to continue an initiative created during the term of his predecessor, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The event has partnerships with Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa for the accessibility and inclusion component, with Sociedade Ponto Verde for the environmental aspect and with Rádio Belém as a local partner. In 2025, the Festa do Livro recorded close to 27,000 visitors.
The organization provides accessible pathways in the gardens, platforms for people with reduced mobility near the Main Stage and Portuguese Sign Language interpretation at the debate panels. Entry is free, subject to the venue's capacity, through the Shop of the Museu da Presidência da República or the Jardim Botânico Tropical.
