Rabat in Morocco is renowned for its rich culture and heritage, and now it has achieved another remarkable accolade. Rabat has been honoured as the UNESCO World Book Capital for 2026. The Moroccan capital is home to a thriving local book industry, with 54 publishing houses hosting Africa’s third-largest international book and publishing fair. This prestigious recognition is poised to invigorate the city’s economy and expand access to knowledge for all. Before Rabat's designation as the World Book Capital for 2026, Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro was granted this title for 2025, and France’s Strasbourg for 2024. These cities have played pivotal roles in advocating for literature and literacy across all age groups, domestically and globally.
The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, announced the designation of Rabat in Morocco as World Book Capital for 2026, based on the recommendation of the World Book Capital Advisory Committee. “Following Rio de Janeiro in 2025, I am pleased to announce the designation of Rabat as World Book Capital for 2026,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. “Rabat is a cultural crossroads where books help transmit knowledge and the arts in all their diversity. The growing local book industry is also playing a crucial role in advancing education. These actions resonate with UNESCO's mandate.”
Rabat's book industry, with 54 publishing houses and Africa's third-largest international book and publishing fair, is crucial to the city's creative economy. It is also leading the way in making knowledge more accessible through a growing number of bookstores.
Rabat has been acknowledged by UNESCO and the World Book Capital Advisory Committee for its dedicated efforts in advancing literary development, empowering women and youth through reading, and combating illiteracy, particularly within marginalised communities. The UNESCO World Book Capital Advisory Committee comprises representatives of European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), the International Authors Forum (IAF), the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), the International Publishers Association (IPA), and UNESCO.
Rabat, designated as the World Book Capital for 2026, will launch a series of initiatives to drive sustainable economic growth and social benefits by improving access to books and bolstering the local publishing industry. The city will spearhead a major campaign to enhance literacy among all its citizens. The year-long festivities will kick off on April 23, 2026, marking World Book and Copyright Day.
Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capitals commit to promoting books and reading for people of all ages and backgrounds, regardless of national borders. They also organise a year-long programme of activities. Rabat is the twenty-sixth city to hold this title, following 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), and Rio de Janeiro (2025).