Sellers and writers highlight the attendance of young people and commercial activity at the Book Fair

Santo Domingo.- The presence of young people, students, and families is being felt at the XXVIII Santo Domingo International Book Fair 2026, where vendors and writers positively value the flow of visitors and the interest in acquiring different literary genres.

The fair, which runs until October 4th at the Juan Pablo Duarte Culture Plaza, features Panama as the guest country of honor this year and dedicates its edition to the Dominican poet and essayist José Mármol. The program includes more than 700 activities and the participation of national and international writers, publishers, and bookstores.

For Clara Morel, a vendor at the fair, the conditions of the space have contributed to the public being able to walk through the different stands with greater comfort.

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Morel especially highlighted the climate control of the areas, considering that it facilitates the stay of visitors and encourages touring the spaces where the books are exhibited.

The saleswoman also expects an increase in the number of visitors over the coming days and noted that traditionally the flow of the public increases towards the end of the fair, especially with the arrival of schools and families.

In addition to fantasy literature which, as he explained, generates interest among young people, Morel highlighted the presence of works related to social sciences and the Dominican reality, including titles by Alfredo Lozano, Domingo Matías, and Josefina Saltero.

Meanwhile, the educational psychologist and writer Carlos Catalino Veras presented his latest work, The Power of Self-Esteem to Achieve Your Dreams, a book of personal development and motivation in which he shares experiences, poems, and opinion articles.

Veras explained that one of his goals is to motivate young people to set goals, believe in themselves, and work toward their personal projects.

The writer spoke positively about the organization of the fair and urged Dominicans to visit the Plaza de la Cultura and take advantage of the opportunity to purchase books and strengthen the habit of reading.

The fair got off to a good start

For his part, writer Guarionex Alcántara described the movement he has observed in the first few days as positive and highlighted the presence of students of different levels, university students, business people, and intellectuals.

Alcántara stated that the Dominican public maintains an interest in reading and considered it necessary to continue strengthening that habit, understanding that books contribute to personal growth, knowledge, and understanding of the environment.

The writer also presented in this edition Dominican Republic, Land of God, a historical investigation that, as he explained, he developed over more than a decade and in which he addresses events in Dominican history from his perspective on faith and the creation of the Dominican State.

Meanwhile, vendor Oneyda González also highlighted the presence of young people in this edition and assured that she has observed interest in different genres, including Dominican literature, novels, short stories, and poetry.

González indicated that sales have been flowing progressively since the beginning of the fair and expressed his expectation that they will continue to increase during the remaining days.

The XXVIII Santo Domingo International Book Fair brings together this year more than 70 international writers, 32 international publishers, 21 national publishers, and 44 Dominican bookstores, in addition to a program that includes book presentations, conferences, workshops, meetings with authors, and activities aimed at children and young people.