IPA is delighted that UNESCO’s Director General, Khaled El-Enany, designated Medellín, Colombia, to become 2027 World Book Capital for its promotion of positive social change through books and culture.
According to UNESCO, Medellín saw a 542% rise in bookstores over the past seven decades, leading the country’s national reading index. The city is home to over 110 bookstores and 25 libraries, many of which were transformed from former prisons and police facilities. In this context, books serve as a means of promoting peace and reconciliation in the country.
Khaled El-Enany said, “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”.
The year of celebrations will start on 23 April 2027, World Book and Copyright Day.
About the World Book Capital Cities
Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital undertake to promote books and reading and to organize activities over the year. As the twentieth city to bear the title since 2001, Kuala Lumpur follows Sharjah (2019), and Athens (2018). Past winners include Madrid (2001), Alexandria (2002), New Delhi (2003), Anvers (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).
The World Book Capital Cities Advisory Committee comprises representatives of the International Publishers Association (IPA), the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), and UNESCO.